Van Halen

Love it.

I didn’t ever think I would be saying this, but this album is amazing front to back. I like Van Halen but hearing this album came out, every single track is amazing. almost half classic singles and the non singles are amazing too. Sad I’ve slept on this album for so long

Just an amazing album and wild to think this was released in 1978 as it set the direction for music for a decade and more. The whole band are just something else

Awesome..one of the best

The V in Van Halen means 5

I see why people love them

An amazing debut album for a band that would go on to write so many hot songs. They had a sound that was all their own.

La verdadera pregunta es porque no habia escuchado este album antes.

Great album

Fantastic rock album that I've head banged to since middle school.

100% butt rock banger!

Classic

The brilliance of this group is their acknowledgment of past genres as they charted a course into new territory. The energy and clever song writing, to go along with a plethora of talent, propelled them to the hof for a reason. Opened for Black Sabbath that year? I would love to have seen that!

Saved this one for Friday. One of the all time great rock albums. Especially for a debut.

Not a bad song on this record, honestly this is a really impressive debut record. I’m not totally into VH, but there’s no denying this is some good shit.

It's Van Halen!

People talk about the monster playing of Eddie Van Halen but I'm here to talk about David Lee Roth. The Plant to Van Halen's Page, minus the Tolkien references. That screeching wail, the drawn out vowels. What a vocalist. Everyone is here for Eddie Van. Not me. I'm here for David Lee. If this record was longer than 35 minutes it might start feeling like a drag. But, it doesn't. It's tight, tight, tight. I always skip "Eruption." I'm not ashamed to admit it.

One of the best guitar albums of all time

Iconic album. Changed the music world.

All great, no filler!

07/07/2025 I've never actually listened to a Van Halen album and I enjoyed this one. No doubt there will be more to discover.

The answer to all world religions is Van Halen.

1) Runnin' with the Devil: Maybe the perfect showcase for Van Halen's sound. It just makes sense. 2) Eruption: Fitting title. The solo has an explosive energy and keeps escalating its motif. And every time you listen to it, it feels fresh. 3) You Really Got Me: A cover which arguably lacks the raw and dirty sound of The Kinks' original, but adds a certain playfulness that helps this version to stand on its own. 4) Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love: Almost entirely driven by the guitar riff. But, well, it is one damn legendary riff. 5) I'm the One: Quite interesting, incredible guitar play, and some good comedic spirit - particularly the acapella swingy shoobedooing intermission. 6) Jamie's Cryin': Most straightforward track. Also the softest, most easily agreeable, more pop than rock. 7) Atomic Punk: So over-the-top. Drifting into metal a bit. Why does it make me think of Troma flicks? Either way, it's fun. 8) Feel Your Love Tonight: Good, yet fairly standard rock song about buttering a girl up for sex. 9) Little Dreamer: Lovely song. Uplifting and addressing the "little dreamer" in all of us. It's calmness makes it a nice contrast to the other songs. 10) Ice Cream Man: Another cover. This time of a (frankly mediocre) blues song. Here very much transported into the classic rock genre, which works slightly better, but not well enough to save it from being the weakest song of the album. 11) On Fire: Fun. Great mood setter. I'd argue it would have worked better as an opener, but ending on it is nice as well. This whole album is about establishing a sound. Defining a band's style. And it excels at it. It has a bit of everything: Fast, slow. Loud, calm. Hard rock, soft rock, and anything inbetween. Sometimes blatant sexual innuendo, sometimes earnest heartfelt emotion. All of it keeps the attentive listener entertained. There isn't much you can fault it for. Incredible debut.

this is fucking AWESOME! every song is a banger and it’s so hype all the way through. so many creative and cool guitar licks placed throughout this project. lit as fuck.

It would be disrespectful of me not to rate this as a 5 when for almost every song on the album I found myself going "YOOOOOO" like a giddy teen. Van Halen was my dad's favorite band growing up - so I heard them every day - and it's crazy how many of their hits and bangers come from this specific album.

The B side doesn’t live up to the ridiculously high bar set by the four consecutive bangers on the A side, but it certainly wasn’t bad. Some all-time great guitar and just fun, high-energy rock tracks that kick ass. I can’t give this any less than 5 stars. One hell of a debut.

After a slog of albums to catch up, every track on this one slaps. The guitar licks are just gorgeous

wow ... just wow. Just about every song! This will get ya moving!

The album that started 80s hard rock.

Brilliant!! Loved it. Forgot how good they were. Meaty guitar riffs, amazing solos, classic rock at it's best

i flit between at least a couple choices for my fave van halen record and while i dont know if this is the Definitive Absolute One, its certainly the one im most likely to just throw on and listen to, and in many ways makes the most sense as a choice. bright and vibrant and just pure exuberance from a band w/ everything to prove and having a great great time proving it. even some of the songs that may appear slighter work their way into ur skin eventually just from how many freakishly memorable little moments eddie can slap out of his guitar. at least thru the david lee roth period (i cant speak for any later), that dude was just so in tune with how his instrument Sounded, the actual moment it makes contact w/ the human ear, beyond some kind of theoretical raw musical information. he could really liven up anything at this point! add to that the fact that the record is packed with classics, like yea man, in some ways this is as good as it gets!

Bands were so horny in the 70s. This is more of a 4.5 to me but I’ll give it a 5 cause there’s definitely some bangers on this album, it’s an incredible debut and I love the guitar. Also, it’s funny how they randomly became Elvis Presley in Ice Cream man

Don't Mind if I do. Classic album, always in rotation. an absolute masterpiece that nothing else sounded like. This was a debut album. EVH genius is all over it. Think about how the album starts with that walking Bass line and what is just a great hard rock song to then go to the violence and beauty of Eruption next.. Highlights are Aint' Talkin Bout Love, Eruption, Ice Cream Man - but this whole album is awesome.

Where it all started. A flawless debut.

This album rules, obviously, but you gotta try to find DLRs isolated vocals on youtube. Shit's hilarious.

I believe the term you're looking for is "kickass."

4.7/5

Awesome.

Van Halen bursts onto the scene with Eddie's inimitable guitar work and Roth's vocal calisthenics for a solid debut

Absolutely chock full of bops. Fantastic album.

The album my dad taught me to head bang to. There aren’t many albums were all the songs go hard like this one. Eddie Van Halen was one of the guitar greats and it’s proven here. A quintessential rock and roll album. I have so many fond memories of listening to this on tape as loud as the car speakers could go. I called my dad to see if he remembered everything as wonderfully as I did and he did 💛 and while this can be seen as just stereotypical rock, it started a conversation with us about the influence Van Halen had gotten from others and how their music influenced those after them. We talked Prince, Eric Clapton, the Stones, Styx. If I had to pick one album with the greatest influence on me, my music tastes, and the relationship I have with my dad, it’s this one

classic

Yeah, this still bangs

This is Van Halen's Second best album after Diver Down and has Ice Cream Man which is enough to give it five stars.

Love it!

A true rock classic. This album was way ahead of its time and still holds up 47 years later. This is one I could listen to on repeat.

Great album

A solid feel good album with great guitar, drums, perfect match with the voice. Heck of a debut.

Adored this, not sure why I’ve never listened to them before!

Probably the best debut album ever (looking at you Lynard Skynard)

All bangers. Eddie Van Halen + David Lee Roth classic combo. Put butt rock on the map!

Killer album. Legendary guitarist. Cocaine fueled madman singing. Some great tunes on here. All the hits are my favorites, along with Eruption. This is a perfect wave goodbye to the 70's and a friendly how-ya'-doin to the 80's. I'm giving this a 5.

Soo many killer songs on this. Such great creativity and energy also

Still great. I listened to this when it came out. It was great then and still is

Van Halen’s Van Halen. Not much more to say other than this album fucks. Stands for every reason hard rock is amazing. Tasty solos, breakdown points, lyrics from the gutter. So great - 9/10

One of my favorites!!

Not always what you want, but if this is what you want, nobody does it better. Ain't Talkin Bout Love still goes so hard.

Well that's just a great album. Listened to it three times straight through while layed over at ORD. The infectious riffs and hot licks cannot be denied. Guaranteed to satisfy.

love

Side 1 is one of the strongest of any album listened twice to confirm this indeed rocks

Definitely one of the best debut albums of all time - great vocals, bass and drums, amazing songs but true virtuosic guitar playing - rock guitar was never the same after this record

Surprised by the number of songs that I knew on this album. Fun guitar solos throughout. Drums support nicely.

Classic 80’s fun rock …. Nothing to ponder, just put the top down, blast it loud and head out on a ride to nowhere

Van Halen's debut album. That seems about enough.

it's perfect from beginning to end. Dave's soaring screams and outstanding lyrics. Mike's thumping bass and beach boy harmonies, Alex's restless drumming and Eddie's guitar assault. This is the one that declared disco dead and changed the game. =VH= Forever

I didn't think that I'd like this as much as I did. Hmm, maybe I missed listening to Van Halen when I was younger or maybe my tastes have evolved. Maybe both.

Growing up I had dismissed Van Halen as hair metal spandex clad horn dogs. This album was surprisingly listenable and fun. Timeless rock, shredding guitars, in your face vocals and a variety of songs. I guess I liked it. huh.

Energy, variety, good solid rock.

In my opinion, the first four Van Halen albums are their best. It is loud, down, and dirty rock and roll. The music was driven by Eddie's guitar playing, which, like Hendrix from the generation before, we had never heard the like. Many others have copied his style, but he was truly one of a kind. This is not my favorite of the first four albums, but those four make up what I call the essential Van Halen, as their music became more commercial as time passed. I was lucky enough to see them back in 1984, as well as the last time around when they reunited with Dave just before Eddie's passing. This one was easy to grade.

But you were young and bold and baby….

Eddie Van Halen is a god and this is his origin story. Incredibly revolutionary band and the older I get the more I appreciate super solid music that is 100% about having fun.

Great album, obviously a fantastic first half. Defined hard rock for the rest of the century. Great debut and just crazy to listen to.

SO SICK

amazing self entitled

Did not like.

"I'm a rocker through and through. Here's a list of my favorite bands: AC/DC, Van Halen not Van Hagar, Skynyrd, Def Leppard..."

Maybe it was the drugs, but dang. More my speed (drug reference? Who knows). I enjoyed this. A bit of fresh air for me. Eruption is my favorite song even though it’s just a massive intro.

I can smell this. 4.6.

magnificent late 70s hard rock Eddie VH was a great guitarist, Diamond Dave a great front man

Crackin stuff here. Especially love Feel Your Love Tonight (what an amazing riff - why was Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love a single, but not this?), Little Dreamer and Ice Cream Man (yes, it's a cover, but what a cover!).

GOATED album filled with classics and underrated gems. Filled with character and energy. Music is so important when it comes to self expression and an outlet to show yourself, but it also sometimes can just be dumb fun and be just as good. 9/10

It sounds cheesy now, but when it came out...

I rate Running with the devil a 4 star because its like rock and I like rock and the drums and the beat are good ⭐⭐⭐⭐. I rate Eruption a 5 star because the gutrie is going fast and its like metalica and I like metalica ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. I rate Aint talking about love a 5 star because its like rock and I like rock and the drums and the beat are good star because its like rock and I like rock and the drums and the beat are good ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. I rate You really got me a 5 star because its like rock and I like rock and the drums and the beat are good star because its like rock and I like rock and the drums and the beat are good ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.

I like the songs because i like the guitar and the drums I also like how they sound I recommend this album because its really good

The cover looks strange. I liked "Running with the devil" because it was fun. It was energized and pumped, I liked that. "Eruption" was good. The beginning was really cool with the guitar. I thought "Ain't Talkin bout love" was okay. I loved the guitar but I wasn't really into the lyrics. "You really got me" was great, I thought the music was awesome and so was the singing. Out of all the songs, I liked this one best. I would for sure recommend this album.

Favourite tracks - Eruption, Ain’t Talkin’ ‘bout Love, Ice Cream Man

Banger after banger, so full of energy, and so short, I wanted more! Stand-out: Runnin' with the Devil, Jamie's Cryin'

I'm such a sucker for this album. I know it's silly and ridiculous, but it just makes me smile no matter what. Van Halen might be one of my guiltiest pleasures

RUNNIN WITH THE DEVIIIIIIILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

What a palate cleanser after 5 straight days of 0 vocals. A classic.

A fantastic debut from a band that seemed fully cooked at inception. Eddie is already doing wild shit. Dave is already hamming it up. Anthony and Alex. There is a reason that bands wanted to sound like these guys for the next ten years, even though no one did.

Fico imaginando o impacto dessa guitarra quando ela apareceu pela primeira vez. Uma banda que impressiona logo no primeiro álbum não é qualquer banda!

Excellent album

Perfectly encapsulates what this band is and why Eddie will go down as the greatest rock guitarist of all time. The balls to have a 1:42 guitar solo as track 2 of your debut album….

The only Van Halen album you need to hear. Roth and Halen are at peak rock performance.

Great debut. Not a weak spot on the album.

The first half of this album is pretty much perfect rock n roll, though I think Eruption is overrated. The second half is still solid but not on the level of the first half. Favorites: Ain't Talkin' Bout Love, You Really Got Me, Jaime's Cryin', Little Dreamer Least Favorite: I'm the One

This is an album I know well. Love it. This is quintessential Van Halen, before the addition of synthesizers. Just straight ahead guitar rock with EVH at his best. Running with the Devil, into Eruption, and then into You Really Got Me. Doesn't get better than that. Definitely 5/5.

The worst song on this album is Ice Cream Man.

Wow, this was a DEBUT album!?! Van Halen could have been one-and-done with this album and they still would have cemented themselves as one of the greatest rock acts, with one of the most talented guitarists. But we're fortunate enough that they weren't. It's a no-skip album, where Eddie holds nothing back, track after track. What's most surprising to me, is that "I'm the One" is hardly talked about, but it has since become one of my favorites on the album. When they recorded themselves doing a little do-wop skat, followed by an electrifying guitar solo, they had to have looked at each other and went "Yeah, we're about to be the baddest thing in Rock."

One of the first albums I fell in love with as a kid, every song is flawless

One of the greatest debut albums ever

OMG. That's what I can say about this album as a whole. If only youtube reaction videos were around back in 1978!! Seriously. I would pay a lot of money to watch some of the best musicians at the time react to listening to this album the first time. It would be absolutely epic. What people need to realize is that when this album came out in 1978 NOBODY and I mean NOBODY sounded like this. To this day I have NEVER heard a guitar tone as perfect as the tone that Eddie (sorry...Edward) managed to get on this album. He was completely against pedals and effects (other than an occasional phaser or something to get a particular added funky sound for a song - like atomic punk intro), he did it entirely by hacking his guitars and amps to get them to sound this good by just plugging in with nothing. His overdrive/distortion/feedback sounds were completely natural. I absolutely love the flow of this album. Starting with Runnin with the Devil gets everyone curious like wtf is this...then to absolutely melt your face to hear something like eruption that literally NOBODY had even come close to as far as sound/technique and then to a cover you really got me with insane fill-ins/solos was like holy shit, what is this. Then you look at at the "bop baddup shooby doo wahs" in I'm the One and the funny Ice Cream Man you realize these guys did not give a flying fuck about doing what anyone else was doing and did what they wanted. They were completely in uncharted territory. They put together one of the rawest and in your face albums I have ever heard in my life. Highlights: Eruption (obviously), I'm the One solos (insane), Ice Cream Man solos (insane) and I love the rawness and the crunch of Show Your Love. End to End I listen to this album with a smile on my face. No skipping needed. Every song has its place. It is one of the best initial releases ever from a rock band. Ever. Period. It absolutely threw out every single concept you had of a guitar and the thought that everyone had pretty much done what you can do on a guitar. This was 1978. Jesus. NOBODY did this shit. Nobody sounded like this. Eddie was an absolute gift and changed guitar forever as we know it. Within 10 years everyone was tapping and doing shit like this and trying to replicate it, but NOBODY managed to pull it off like him. From a rock guitar perspective I don't think anything changed reality more than EVH. Loved listening to this start to finish on the way to work. What an absolute masterpiece.

Sorry for the delay in this review. I had to recover from the absolute MELTING of my face from the guitars on this album. Unfortunately I didn’t have insurance for this type of incident. This was an amazing album that makes me wish I could’ve experienced when it first came out. I can see my scrawny self right now standing in line waiting to go see them in concert. But honestly this album was amazing and their sound is exactly what I think of when I think of that 70’s rock sound. It’s like they put lightning bugs in a bottle, shook it up and all the light from those bugs decided to just turn into the electricity you feel from this beautiful production. Heard Before: You Really Get Me Favorite: Feel Your Love Tonight Least Favorite: Ice Cream man (although I respect the attempt) Sleeper: Eruption (The guitar spoke all it needed to) or Little Dreamer

Hell yeah brother. This album has too much rock for one hand 🤘🏻🤘🏻 Guitar has awesome tone, voice is classic classic rock, great riffs. Haven’t listened to a full album from VH before but this kicked some ass… except for ice cream man wtf was that? Heard Before: Runnin with the Devil, You Really Got Me and Jamie’s Crying Favorite: Little Dreams Least Favorite: Ice cream man 💩 Sleeper: atomic punk

Starts out with one of the best opening tracks for an album of all time, Running With The Devil and finishes with On Fire, which sums this album up perfectly. On Fire!!! In between we have an amazing guitar solo that Eddie used to do to warm up, Eruption. A cover of the classic Kings song You Really Got Me, and then classic Van Halen hits. One of the best debut albums of all time, and a standard. Van Halen followed up this album with solid work, and maybe 1984 was the only one that came close to how good this album is. 5/5

Impossible to understand historical impact of Eddie’s playing, one of the great debut albums of all time

One really cannot underestimate the impact this record had on ressurecting the hard rock genre at the end of the 1970s. The absolute swagger, self-confidence and sheer commerciality of Running with the Devil is often overlooked as, what follows with 'Eruption', is quite simply a new definition of the standards on how to play the electric guitar. Covering Kinks songs will become a feature of Van Halen with DLR on vocals but this record is just a tour de force of something very new and original. It jsut makes hard rock fun and colourful.

Familiar with the album and nice to listen to it after so long. It still holds up!

Classic hard rock album with great guitar. Not much more to be said.

This band fucking rocks, one of the greats for a reason, legendary.

This album is fucking awesome. What more could you ask? Changed the whole game when it came out. Eddie is nuts on guitar, Alex compliments it perfectly, Michael has great little bass parts beneath Eddie's monsterous guitar parts, and David just oozes charisma every step of the way. This is rock n roll! 🤘

Their best record. Everything else is downhill.

Van Halen's self titled debut is one of the defining albums of modern metal. Led by David Lee Roth's swagger, and Eddie Van Halen's stunning technique, Van Halen brought edgy, guitar driven metal to popular music. The album includes some of the band's early hits, like "You Really Got Me" and "Running with the Devil," which showcase Roth's vocals, impressive harmonies, and a strong band. The most significant element, without question, is Eddie's remarkable talent, which raised the bar for metal guitarists.

Amazing debut Album!!!!!!!

Kind of on the fence between 4 & 5. I'm going to round up just because I guess.

Awesome album! Insane guitar solos! All maybe too cohesive - felt like one huge track, but a damn good one :D

An iconic classic.

I’ve been waiting for this one! Iconic from start to finish, and definitely helped remind me why Van Halen is such a huge deal. Classic songs all around and just insanely talented all throughout.

There may be debut albums that are as captivating as this one but there's never been a better or perhaps unique one - more like a declaration of revolution than a debut. This is the greatest party around and everyone on earth and beyond are invited. If you're in a good mood, this drug amplifies it. If you're in a bad mood, it's hard to not say goddammit while a smile emerges and you're soon nodding your head and air-guitaring finger-taps. Also the minor point of introducing the greatest guitar player in history. Some have said that this was the beginning of the so-called "hair metal" era but these guys were completely on their own - a unicorn of a band. They were an (the?) outlier and an entity unto themselves in the hard rock realm. It's not their fault what spawned after them as the similarities were only in guitar flash - not in songwriting, camp, sense of humour, and overall musicianship. Absolute rock perfection in every way and one of the greatest albums - period. It's 10/10s all the way down. 5 massive stars.

Absolute banger of an album. Insane guitar from EVH, DLR has incredible vocals. Incredible album that set up a 5+ year run for epic releases for VH. Changed the way guitarists thought about playing the guitar.

I will never tire of hearing Eruption. Nor will I tire of the random interjections from David Lee Roth in Running With the Devil. I still wish that soundboard I found in 2010 existed that was just clips of him from that song. Hell of a debut album for a band.

When it comes to my childhood and some of my earliest memories, especially with music, this is probably one of the first albums I remember playing in the background. My parents were young and would have people over, drinking and having a good time. This is probably why I consider early Van Halen the ultimate party rock band. Their music is literally entrenched in a party sound. One element that will always hit me with memories is the train horn that the album begins with. Ever since I can remember, that is one sound I’ll always have a clear memory of. So now, time for my album review - this album is a classic, and it rocks!!!

There's not many better when it comes to hard rock - I love how tight this record is, 35 minutes of all killer no filler. Great band.

Great classic rock album, electrifying guitar riffs and strong drums mixed with intoxicating vocals. Many a fav in this album- the last three especially a good crescendo ending

Not really a huge Van Halen fan, always held huge respect for Eddie's talent though. This whole album is pretty rad & full of hits.

A little crazy and disjointed, sure, but cool nonetheless. There's very little to dislike about this sound, unless you think it's overdone. But really, can anything be reasonably compared to music with the Edster's epic, galaxy-rendering guitar chops? I didn't think so. 5/5 Key tracks: Runnin' with the Devil, Eruption, You Really Got Me, I'm the One

Gold standard

This album rocks. Had no idea “you really got me” was by VH. Listened twice through and thoroughly enjoyed it all both times.

Banger after banger. Great album.

“Play as loud as you can” + “Let Eddie do his thing” = a winning album. Loved this one.

One of my all time favorite bands. The first time I heard "Eruption" my brain melted into a puddle and I was hooked. One of the greatest guitarists of all time....a great band and an awesome album.

Hell of a good rocker, this one! I remember well when these guys hit the scene. I think I was still in middle school, and just beginning the move from soft rock to the harder stuff. Was never a monster fan, but didn’t turn it down either. This album just kills it! Top 5 guitarists of all time. God Bless and Keep Eddie Van Halen! You are missed.

AMAZING!

Favorite track: eruption other picks: running with the devil, you really got me, ain't talking about love

Killer playing and heralded in a new era of guitar. Love the fact this is almost a live album - not in the sense of recorded in front of a live audience but as a band at once in the studio. Was going to say four but then realised it ticks every single box of what makes a 5 star. Sometimes it's not just for personal faves (which it also is) - it's for a fully realised vision.

Perfect album. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love, I'm the One and You Really Got Me are the masterpieces! All other songs are perfect too.

This album turns everything up to 11. It's like a perfect middle ground between glam and heavy metal. It sounds really great. It's difficult to explain why, but this just sounds really fucking cool. Compare this to other similar bands around at the time and Van Halen just sound so much cooler. It's a much grittier sound, the guitar playing is fantastic, and the vocals are great. It sounds like everything is being played with such a swagger and why wouldn't it be, with material this good. Everyone is at the peak of their powers. If you're into this kind of music then I don't see any reason why this wouldn't be considered a classic. Very glad this was on the list and I got to listen to it for the first time.

All gas no breaks

One of best frontmen and lead guitarists of all time. A debut album like few others. 80s hair metal may never have been so big without this album.

A rock/blues classic

One hit after another on this album - epic. Love the vibe, guitar solos, and awesome rock music.

4.9 I think the only knock is not having Eruption start off the album and introduce your band to the world with that. EVH is #2 guitarist of all time. I listened to a re-mastered version of the album and it sounded pretty much perfect. My car stereo goes to 38 and I listened to the whole thing at 38. On fire was a bit of a banger that I wasn't familiar with

I really liked this one. It's got a lot of songs I'm already familiar with, but they hold up. Eddie Van Halen is phenomenal, and shows it throughout the album, and it's got a driving energy that carries through the album, even into the ballads.

Eruption changes the way we play guitar. You really got me is one of the great cover versions. Dave, Eddie, Alex and Michael. Just as god intended. Is it immature? Yes. Sexist? Yes. Arrogant? Yes. Should it be condemned for all of this? Probably, yes. One of the greatest debut albums? Indubitably yes. . 25 stars.

Classic by Van Halen! Why you love Van Halen!

As classic as rock metal gets

Eddie 💜

This is an album I've already listened to multiple times in my lifetime and actually just listened to it a month or so ago. But of course I listened to it again now because it is damn good. As a guitar player, I have a massive appreciation for music that shows the lead guitarist's skills. It also just so happens that I personally believe Eddie Van Halen is the greatest guitar player of all time. The stuff that man could do on guitar is nothing short of a miracle. The album just screams quintessential hard rock. The awesome lead guitar with Eddie's classic and unique sound partnered with David Lee Roth's legendary vocals....a masterpiece. Wish I could give it 6 stars.

Okay these guys shred. Catchy choruses, sick guitar solos, vocals that don't suck, and it didn't seem like they were trying to pass off the covers as their own song. Almost every song is a hit. Atomic punk is the only song I didn't like. This is classic rock at its best.

When the first song on your debut album is legendary, you know you're in for a good time.

Easy 5 star classic.

Van Halen let everybody know what they were about from the get-go, and this album is a tight 35 minute roller coaster.

Perfect album. 5/5

The first time I heard running with the devil on the radio I was blown away. There was nothing like that at the time.

Yeah, this was a fun one. Always loved Eddie Van Halen’s guitar style and David Lee Roth’s vocals.

His voice - how??? So many jams on this. Heck yeah.

Got past the radio songs, and great album

This is a fantastic album. Guitar work on every track is top notch.

No private spotify session needed, I have this on CD somewhere. This album is a lot of fun. Eddie's guitar work is transcendental and got a lot of kids playing the electric guitar, only to find out setting their goals to play Eruption was far out of reach. Eddie, rest in peace, you golden god.

FANTASTIC! IT IS THE VAN HALEN ALBUM. Put them on the map and a true classic!

Can't miss debut album that set the world on fire and made every kid pick up a guitar and want to be a rock star. Did I mention that these guys lay down a groove? That's so deep that asses have no other option but to start shaking. Van Halen stands as one of the greatest swing bands, ever to invade rock and roll.

Whoa. There's so many classics on one album. It's such a fun time playing the whole thing out and it should have even been longer. There's only one real way to describe it: it rocks.

Sounds so far ahead of its time. Eruption is here! Basically flawless

Possibly the best debut album ever. There's so much swagger on this record. Come out blasting with the first track, and never let up.

Has to be one of my all time favourite albums. You really got me was my first intro to VH and a long standing like. Some magic RIFS in this album, especially Talking About Love.

"Runnin' With the Devil" is one of my all-time favorite books about the circus life of rock superstardom. My favorite story was Eddie Van Halen sweating about a paternity test from some groupie ahead of his wedding to Valerie Bertinelli: He didn't realize it was impossible for someone to get pregnant who'd only given him a blowjob. Man, Ed was a goddamn guitar prodigy, but he obviously didn't pay attention in middle school sex ed.

Van Halen's eponymous debut album is everything a debut should be. Inventive (for the time), audacious, and perfectly executed. The first side of the original vinyl album only qualifies this for classic with Runnin' with the Devil, Ain't Talkin 'Bout Love, and their fiery highly charged version of The Kinks' You Really Got Me. That does mean that side two was lame with it including one of their biggest hits Jamie's Cryin'. This album introduced the world to Diamond Dave and especially, guitarist supreme Eddie Van Halen. The world never looked back and never forgot. The band got even better with their subsequent releases, all full of chart topping hits.

bangers everywhere

Just - WOW!

As debut albums go, it's hard to top this one. While EVH didn't invent tapping, he certainly popularized it. For fans of virtuosic lead guitar, this album set a new standard and influenced just about every rock guitarist to come after. The vocal harmonies should not be overlooked, either. They are tight as hell, even as they are sometimes ridiculous (e.g., doo wop break in I'm the One). DLR may not be the best rock _singer_, but he was a hell of a front man, and his vocals fit the material perfectly. The rhythm section is tight. MA's bass playing isn't very busy, but it absolutely doesn't need to be. And he's locked in with AVH's drum playing, which is also really creative but in a way that serves the songs. EVH's rhythm playing is probably my favorite aspect of his playing. This is a near-perfect album. 5 stars

This album has it all: the brown sound, Eruption, Runnin' with the Devil was my go to Guitar Hero song as a kid, Ain't Talkin' Bout Love is one of my favorite classic rock songs as an adult. I got to see Eddie Van Halen's Frankenstrat in the Smithsonian Museum of American History. Definitely cooler than Captain America's shield or Dorothy's red shoes for me.

Not one member of the band showed up with a faulty performance in the studio that day.

A classic.

Favourite tracks: ain't talking bout love; running with the devil; eruption; you really got me; Jamie's crying

Incredible album. No skips, no misses. Such a strong debut.

Nothing but heaters

Wish I could give it more than 5 stars

a classic, not my favorite from them but they had to start somewhere 7/10

good songs vh at their beat diamond dave is on it good lenghth not too much filler

Van Halen’s debut is a hard rockin showcase to a new era of guitar playing. Great album

Amazing album. I had forgotten just how many great songs were on this record.

Such a good rockin’ album

This rocks!

I now understand why the 80’s were like that. Everyone was trying to copy Van Halen

Another huge album by Van Halen! Some great songs here but still some new to me. Great energy, wicked guitars, all in all a fun listen with no bad songs. 4.5/5 but gotta round up due to so many hit songs

rock

This album fuckin' rips. Like holy shit it's easy to see why this was such a big deal, even aside from the guitar playing. The songs have the energy of the early punk records but the production value of the big rock bands. I'm not saying I remember every song on the record or that I'd go back to the individual tunes necessarily but, as an album, it's all killer no filler top to bottom.

As debut albums go, there can't be many this accomplished. Really ahead of it's time, being a precursor to the glam/hair metal of the 80s yet still sounding fresh and fun. Could listen to this album every day and not get bored with it.

I do love this album the only other album that is nearly as good is Fair Warning. Every song has a rushed overblown energy that works because they are trying to prove themselves.

Van Halen is so fucking cool. I recommend listening to the Running With the Devil vocals isolated, it’s hilarious. That in mind this album rules. It doesn’t feel like 1978. The worst track imo is Jamie’s Crying and that’s I think due to over saturation more than anything. I kinda loved this album. I’m the One should have been a single it’s terrific.

Absolute classic all song

Very cool, most songs are on the greatest hits, cd, goes to show you how good it is. Top 20 album all time

Perfect debut album by a close to perfect original band. The songs, the personalities, the music and the guitar…Boom!

So much energy woth so many classics.

Hell yes.

This album just goes from the jump and doesn’t really have any filler songs. Classic 💎 Dave.

I really enjoyed this one. Great album length with multiple quality tracks. I can pretty much listen to the whole album and enjoy every song. Its hard to believe this was their first album. Feels very polished. The guitar solo in eruption is a classic. Great piece of work. The cover of the kinks was very well done.

Very cool

I'll just admit that Ice Cream Man is my favorite Van Halen song. Don't judge me.

Classic metal.

Add one to the list!

Iconic

Very good album actually. Sick ass guitar playing (RIP ✌️) and kick-ass music. Great listen and great album.

love

I have this album on vinyl and I've listened to it many times. So good. Easily one of the best debut albums of all time and one of my favorite albums ever. Every track is perfect and has so much awesome feel and VH flavor. Five stars easily.

One of the best

How do you not open this album with Eruption>You Really Got Me? I'll never understand it. Still, another great debut. 5

This album fucking rocks!

Fuckin’ A. An awesome romp of an album. Eddie Van Hale ‘s guitar skills are superhuman.

This is one of the best if not the best heavy metal album of all time in my book. Remember when my older brother used to play the shit out of this record. He would let it play, both sides. The intro to Running with the debil was spooky to me as a lid that sound I had never heard before and the when Michael Nathony drops that bass line is just one of those wow music moments which are just a few in life. After the first song Eddie Van Halen drops the nastiest solo on Record in Eruption and simply just blows your mind as it was 100% sure at the time you had not heard anything like this before. The best debut album ever and including a cover that was just a masterpiece overtaking the originals impact for ever. Having a handsome crazy leadsingers who has to be regarded as one of the best rock frontmans ever, an insanly top notch drummer, one of the best bass players, composers and backing vocalist with the best guitar player ever is a recepie for success. The mix of punk and hard rock with the sound of Eddie’s guitar god sounds and how the killed the live performance made them instant legends and this album started what turned out to be the begining of the careers of one of the best if not the best hard rock band in the USA and probably the history of recorded music.

Yes. Hell yes. The stupid ass slide whistle in “Runnin With The Devil” is the greatest circus instrument interpolation of all time. This albums pulls a ton of legendary Eddie playing in to the same lane as some of the greatest 80s (before they even happened!) nonsense ever produced and it manages to make a record far greater than the 7 brain cells it took to write all the songs combined. Every single song is just background noise for a huge riff and a huge solo, and it rules. The guitar is unmatched; just completely raw and unproduced. The rest exists to elevate the playing and it does so exactly adequately. I love it.

The great Van Halen sound I love.

Blows my head off every time

Stonkin'

Classic, you can’t beat the David Lee Roth era.

9/10.

Straight fire. Still hangs together from beginning to end. No skips. Just an explosion of rock and roll. One of the best hard rock albums ever.

The only vinyl i own (it hangs on my wall). For me this is one of those rare album where i like all songs. so this one i very biased for me

Classic American Rock, Eddie and the band are superb

Eddie is probably my favorite guitarist and this record shows why. It's just a fun rock record. The type no one is making anymore. Love it.

Listened to this a million times already. Top 1% VH listeners on Spotify with only Roth era albums

Wow, that is a great album. Their worst tracks are hits for any other band in that era. Tons of swagger, skills to back it up.

Electrifying

Dude! Yes! Fuck yes. Like just fuck yeah, right fucking on. FUUUUCKKKK!!!! I love Van Halen because this is what they do to me, they give me this high-octane oversexxed hormonal bloodlust for ROCK that cannot be contained. They make me wanna punch a cop, steal his car then fuck his girlfriend in the backseat! These guys are some of the greatest to ever do this thing; they were destined to be rock gods. Diamond Dave is probably the most electrifying frontman to ever grace the stage. Not probably, is. He for sure is. And the Van Halen brothers are both untouchable on guitar and drums - their instruments having fully become extensions of their very souls. They raised the bar in a major way when they smashed onto the scene with this phenomenal debut album. The frigging guitar on Eruption alone makes this god tier. Runnin’ With The Devil is my signature karaoke song and my voice sucks, but I swear to you the spirit of Dave fills me when I sing it and the people eat it up. Anything less than 5 stars for this record is a grievous offence to all of music.

Great Iconic album!!

a classic album that already shows the pipes from the whole band and what they are capable.

Great album, solid rock. Reading some of the other reviews, man some of you are pretentious assholes.

This album changed music. It's that good.

Most impressive part of this is David Lee Roth. At this point the charisma and the voice are yet to be matched.

One of the greatest debut albums from a band that quickly moved them to legendary status. One of the best rock guitarists of all time with one of the best front men of all time. While Eddie is the Wizard Dave is the Showman. Dave brought a sort of Vaudville mentality to the rock world and really added a sense of fun and joviality to the standard flamboyance and overt sexuality of the rock and roll front man.

I grew up on these songs, so that probably influences me a bit, but all the parts just fit together so well! The swagger of the lead vocals, the virtuoso guitar, everything about this is confident and powerful and works together to make a superb hard rock album.

Amazing! This is my kind of music exactly.

I really enjoyed this album! Way more than I was expecting. I loved how fun and corny Van Halen were at times (Ice Cream Man, I’m the One) and how damn good their harmonies were. Does it deserve a 5 stars? Probably not but fuck it I’m feeling trill this morning

I was introduced to VH by my dad with the 1984 album when I was fairly young. That was a regular “pump” album for hockey and road trips. I didn’t really follow the band until I got to college, when it was time to explore my OWN musical tastes. This album is quite amazing! Love the guitars (obviously). The harmonization is always fun. This would’ve been considered pretty heavy (at least in my household) in 1983. Discovering it when I did was the perfect time. Not my favourite VH album, but so many bangers!!! Low 5!

Among the best of its kind

Can’t believe I had never listened to this entire album before. Really loved it.

Rating: 9.5/10 One of the best debut albums of all time. Amazing riffs, solos, and energy from Van Halen and the rest of the band. Favorite songs: pretty much all of them. Worst song: On Fire.

Gain, gain, and more gain! Eddie Van Halen is a guitar deity, and will be respected as such. To be honest, this record was more bluesy than I expected, but the insane tapping and shredding still carried the experience. My father-in-law would kill me if I gave this anything less than a perfect score.

Ein Heavy Metal Album, das durch seinen dynamischen Sound hervorsticht. Klare Gitarrensolos wie in „Eruption” (genial), powervolle Songs wie “Ain’t Talkin Bout Love” und Hits wie “Tou Really Got Me” machen das Album zu einem guten Gesamtkunstwerk, dass im ersten Drittel sensationell ist. Diesen harten klaren Sound will ich wiederhören. 😊

Easy, fun listen! Faves "You Really Got Me", "Runnin with the Devil" and "Jamie's Cryin" 5/5

4 stars for the music +1 for importance

A cheeky hard rock masterpiece.

MY BOY VAN HALEN WOO. insane guitar and timeless pieces.

I forgot how many amazing songs are on this album! Definitely a fun listen after hearing these songs less and less over the years.

In all it's cheese and sleaze, I've always really liked this album and honestly have a hard time finding any real fault with it. I don't consider myself a big fan but this is a solid album from start to finish. I really like the lack of overdubs and the raw feel of this. Perhaps an unpopular opinion, but Michael Anthony is my favorite member of this group. He gets overshadowed, but his bass playing is very tight and tasteful. And his backing vocals add so much flavor.

Another classic. Great songs, great musicianship. Even they never topped it.

VAN HALEN!!! 5 STARS!!! NO DOUBT!!!!

Great debut album

A 35 minute album will 5 radio hits! Talk about getting in, fucking shit up, and getting out. This album doesn't linger around. Every song is around 3 minutes long with awesome guitar riffs and great vocals. This is half of Van Halen's greatest hits, and the other songs are no slouch themselves.

Eddie Van Halen is one of those guitarists who inspired me to play but humbled me in everyday. He and Brian May were such a seminal influence on my love of rock and roll. Eddie's virtuosity right of the gate speaks volumes. I had never heard anyone play guitar like him, so expressive with impeccable phrasing. He and Brian May are masters of the phrased solo, and while he can clearly riff and lick like the rest of them, his playful interaction with David Lee Roth on this album is incomparable. I always thought of his playing as fundamentally joyful. When you hear this debut album against the Guns and Roses one from a few days ago, I think this one shines with so much more identity and personal expression. The GnR album seems manufactured, but this one seems PRODUCED. It sounds great, most of the songs are terrific and it's more than just a vehicle for a rock and roll image. Van Halen was trying to do something different with the genre, and they nailed it so completely that the album still seems new 45 years later.

Solid addition but it’s so short.

Classic Rock!

💖 ain’t talkin bout love 🗣️ 🔟

Groundbreaking record that grabs you the first time you hear it. And it stands the test of time.

Album 366 of 1001 Van Halen - Van Halen Rating : 5/ 5 Favorite Tracks : All Side 1 & Jamie's Cryin'...& Ice Cream Man Nice offering on the completion of my first calendar year (leap day) doing this. Just a classic. Simple as that. A couple of the tracks that I always felt were weaker didn't leave me feeling the same. A strong album all the way through.

Great album

When this came out, it was the hardest, baddest rock you could get. It literally *could not* be cranked up loud enough - believe me, we all tried. The number of blown car stereo speakers skyrocketed after the introduction of this music. This album specifically is responsible for at least half of the tinnitus for those over the age of 55.

Masterpiece with masterClass from Eddie. My dad owned a vinyl copy of this classic album and did not hesitate to play it really loud :)) Good memories...

Classic hard rock album. Catchy songs, charismatic vocal performance, guitar skills. What's not to like?

heck yeah!

Awesome

Great album with a lot of hits.

Now this is rock! This album fucking shreds with Eddie’s A+ guitar work and David Lee Roth’s charismatic energy in his voice. Eruption might STILL be the best guitar solo of all time. Immensely enjoyable if not a short album. 4.5 stars

Good

One of the greatest debut albums. There are so many great songs, it’s almost a best of album on its own.

Press Play

From start to finish this album bangs. Top notch Rock n Roll that brings something different with every track. Plus Eddie Van Halen is great on the guitar.

This is rock and roll

-Eddie the fucking man that you are -I’m the one / ice cream man sounds kinda bluesy -no excessive notes, it’s just that good. -idk how to say this but this makes you feel rock and roll like physically feel it. It just exceeds such raw, unpretentious passion. -I don’t understand how something that fucks this hard just feels so unassuming ?? -It feels so stripped down and modest and somehow layered together it’s incredibly fancy and explosive -there is something extremely special about bands and music with only one guitar -honestly I’m excited that this is my first 5 star

"Jump" is a great song of this Band. I like it very much.

The ultimate guitar rock album

Just a classic

Previously rated: 1984 (5/5) ********************** A near perfect hard rock album. Half the songs still get radio play on my local classic rock station, and it has my all time favorite Van Halen song, Ice Cream Man!

Jase really likes

Great album, so many classics. Running with the Devil is my favorite track, though You Really Got Me comes close. Eruption really showcases Eddie Van Halen’s absolute skill. Little Dreamer was new to me, first time hearing it. It’s a beautiful song. Ice Cream Man was a lot of fun, and shows both Dave’s range and Eddie’s skill. The album ends with On Fire, another banger. This is a straight 5. It’s a classic well deserving of the title!

If it sounds derivative, it's cos of what copied it. Absolute blueprint

Oh man, Eruption is so good! I remember hearing it first on Bill and Teds Excellent Adventure. And the intro to Aint Talkin 'Bout Love I heard first on a 2 Live Crew song. Lots of bangers on this album! That was entertaining for sure! 5 Stars

Classic Rock ‘n Roll band. Had no idea all these great songs were on 1 album.

Lots of great songs on this fantastic album. It still sounds fresh and important. This music defines the late 70’s and early 80’s culture that I grew up in. Nobody slays like Eddie Van Halen. His importance in rock music history can never be understated.

Awesome!

Super good! every track was very fun and groovy, was way better than i expected! A true classic

Got it bad- got it bad -got it bad

Every single song is a masterpiece, Eddie definitely knew how to play that guitar SOO GOOD! LOVE HIM, i know that the hole group is not just only Eddie, but he definitely gives a hole vibe to this album. The vocals, the rhytms, the solos, EVERYTHING PERFECT!

Essential album. It has the virtuosic flare of prog rock with Eddie Van Halen's classically-influenced fretboard finger taps, the distorted drive of heavy metal, and a campy - albeit memorable - crooner in David Lee Roth. Suffice it to say that countless failed novelists known as rock critics hated the album, which makes it sound even better to these ears.

Surprised. I really liked this. Listened twice

Guitar!!!!!

You know, I wasn’t expecting to give this a 5, but it’s really good at what it does. The guitar, the vocals, the rhythm, everything. So I guess this is a 5.

David Lee Roth era of Van Halen will always rock.

Has to be one of the strongest ever debut albums.

Honestly didn’t know their first album was from 1978. Thought they were an 80’s phenomenon. Anyway. A common theme among a lot of the albums I’ve rated highly so far has been that I’ve been surprised by how much I liked them. They’ve either been by artists I didn’t know much of but assumed I wouldn’t like, in a genre I didn’t have much experience with, or else by artists I had a prejudice against. This album falls into the category of artists I had prejudice against and thus assumed I wouldn’t like. But this was awesome. They honestly must’ve looked at what else was out there and thought “let’s just turn that shit up to the max.” And man did they ever. Eddie Van Halen absolutely owns this album. They knew what they had and he was let loose here to just do his thing. And it’s an absolute spectacle. I feel like the album’s thesis is revealed in the form of “Eruption.” It’s just Eddie tearing it the fuck up and it’s incredible. I can imagine being a teenager at the time of release, being into rock n roll, and hearing that and being absolutely blown away and captivated. Parts of “Atomic Punk” sound like it probably came across as alien in nature in 1978. Even on more the more generic blues rock track like “Ice Cream Man,” Eddie finds a way to leave his signature on it. And all of this isn’t even talking about David Lee Roth. Clearly from the Plant and Gillan school of rock vocals, he finds a way to somehow match Eddie in leaving his unique mark on each song. Some of those screams are straight out of the Ian Gillan playbook. Listen to Deep Purple’s “Made in Japan” and you’ll know what I mean. I can’t say enough about this. There are a few duds, sure. Every album, especially a debut album, is going to have those. But I really enjoyed this and am curious to see where they went from here (and how Roth’s departure affected them). Easy 5 stars. Standout tracks: Runnin’ with the Devil, Eruption, Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love, I’m the One, Atomic Punk, On Fire

Might be the nostalgia but love the album. Heard it countless times in the car growing up.

"Van Halen" is the debut album by American rock band Van Halen. Warner Brothers' representatives signed them to a contract after seeing them perform at LA's Whiskey a Go Go. Although, Kiss' Gene Simmons claims to have discovered them. Producer Ted Templemen recorded the majority of the album live with just a few songs getting overdubs. The album is considered one of the best debut albums of all time. It reached #19 in the US and #34 in the UK but continued to sell and has sold over 10 million copies. A collage of car horns, the bass, guitarist Eddie Van Halen's riff, a howl by lead singer David Lee Roth and we're off with "Runnin' With the Devil." I always liked a lot of the groups backing vocals and there's a good one here. Of course, Eddie has a nice solo. I think about having freedom on the road although life is not so simple on the road or at home. Drums start "Eruption" but this is obviously Eddie's showcase. He pretty much made the two-hand tappin' a thing. This song goes right into their cover of the Kinks' "You Really Got Me." They put a lot of energy into this. The tone of Eddie's guitar is fantastic. Speaking of tone, the creeping guitar intro of the fifth single "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" is another highlight. Some more great backing vocals. Some say this song was the blue print for the hair metal assault a decade later. Something to be proud of or not? I'll leave that up to you. "Jamie's Cryin'" is a break-up song. It's one of the songs where overdubs were used and we get layered guitars. A catchy, more poppy song. Can Van Halen gets corny and goofy. Enter "Ice Cream Man." It's a cover of blues guitarist John Grim. And, Van Halen does bring the blues. Roth takes it a little over the top but he's passing and stopping by, she's got all the flavors and he's guaranteed to satisfy. Oh, an outstanding Eddie solo. I song I forget was a single closes the album in "In Fire." Here, the band flexes their heavy metal muscles. A path they probably could have gone down a little more if they wanted to. If all you wanted to do was listen to Eddie Van Halen solos, there pretty much is one to three per song and makes the album worth it alone. The band overall is solid and this album rocks. There's really no dead weight and the band doesn't wear out their stay on any song. They're in and out and onto the next song. I probably would rank this as my favorite VH album; I do like the next one quite a bit too.

I probably slightly prefer the Van Hagar era but this is the best VH album with Diamond Dave as front man.

oh bessy. A beast. Huge for the time. Still chugs and dominates. Not my music type, but there's no doubt this is a miraculous creation.

I can't say enough about how good this album is. What a hell of a debut, all killer no filler. 5/5. Favorite Track: Runnin' with the Devil

Amazing

An intense album full of guitar solos. Very guitar-centric, but the vocals are not lacking in the slightest. Full rock

Yuuusssss!!! Classic Van Halen. So good.

One of the most amazing debut albums ever. Ever.