
Just so everyone knows I'm not a complete hater out here exclusively spouting negative shit into the internet void about overrated wrestlers; I'm here today to preach about my rediscovery of the greatness of Van Halen, thanks to the never-ending source of joy that are the used-vinyl bins in America's ever-dwindling supply of REAL record stores.
I was watching Anthony Bourdain's 'No Reservations' on Demand, sometime last month, and while it was loading, I caught a trailer for Zombieland that featured VH's "Everybody Wants Some." I hadn't heard that song in so long and I was pleasantly surprised by how kickass it sounded after all this time.
I used to own Women and Children First (the album that features "Everybody...) on cassette, which has long since disappeared, and jam it all the time. See, vinyl and I got off on the wrong foot even back then. I'm (sadly) old enough to remember when National Record Mart (existed) and the Columbia Record Club actually still peddled vinyl, but it seemed so fragile and cumbersome that tapes quickly became my youthful recorded medium of choice. They were pocket-sized and reasonably durable, so that was that.
Back to "Everybody Wants Some"...I made a mental note to at least buy that song from Amazon but, when I did my weekly record store used vinyl bin reconnaissance, I'll be damned if there wasn't a copy of Women and Children First in above average condition for only $4!!
It was like 'Diamond' Dave smiled down through the cosmos and placed a spare copy of this album there, right when I needed it most, to perfectly compliment the first days of Spring, which we were joyously experiencing here in Parts Unknown, thereby helping me share just a small version of his Eternal California of the Mind.
A slightly more beat-up version of their first album was also in the bin for $3.
I always hear people talking about "swagger" in regards to music, usually in reference to hip-hop, but I rarely ever hear true undeniable examples of it.
The original incarnation of Van Halen oozes with it, though. They couldn't be lumbering, self-conscious and/or clumsy if they tried. David Lee Roth literally has a better flow than most of these pathetic nowadays ringtone MCs, too.
The rhythm section locks into these effortlessly swinging grooves that provide a smooth, sturdy foundation for Eddie and Dave to swagger through the tunes in their own unique ways.
They get unfairly lost in the shuffle due to the strength of the personalities on the front-line. The solid interplay between the rhythm section is also highlighted by the powerfully clean production, which suits this particular band perfectly. I usually like a more dirty, gritty production style, but I don't think it would work here. It would actually subtract from the songs.
Michael Anthony's vocal harmonies are definitely an under-appreciated ingredient in the surprisingly strong hooks found on Women and Children First. I just read that he was actually singing lead in a band called Snake when the Van Halen brothers first bumped into him. That whole reunion tour smelled funny to me after I realized he wasn't on board.
Anyways..."Fools" is a great example of the harmonies I'm talking about.
I've been spinning my way through the first 2 albums as well. Great stuff.
I think I like "Spanish Fly" more than "Eruption."
This re-discovery has been a really roundabout and circular process, because the video for "Panama" was one of the first things that hooked me on rock and, by extension, metal.
Van Halen became my first "favorite" band at the ripe-old age of 9.
My cousin Michelle and I actually wrote letters to Van Halen and asked for god knows what: T-Shirts or something, I guess.
She actually became instrumental in my musical development because she's the one who bought me the aforementioned cassette copy of Women and Children First (Christmas Gift), and more importantly she took me to my first concert: Van Halen...on the 5150 Tour.
Yeah...I missed 'Diamond' Dave by one year, one tour.
Oh well...It was still a life-altering experience. I even remember the date: May 13th, 1986 at the soon to be departed Pittsburgh Civic Arena.
We were on the left side of the stage and Sammy Hagar kept coming over and rocking out near us. I also remember that he went on about how his high-school football team were also called "the Steelers."
I'm pretty sure they played "Panama."
I actually like some of the Hagar era stuff and I wouldn't take this memory back for anything...but of course:
It would have been sick to catch the original line-up in fighting form.
It's amazing the number of great, mind-blowing, life-affirming shows I've been lucky enough to see over the years, yet I still can recount and recall the ones that got away.
The biggest one of those, that I will never stop kicking myself for missing is:
Slayer/Motorhead and Overkill at City Limits in 1988. I was still too young to go to shows by myself and wasn't old enough to drive there anyway.
Damn...
It's good to be back where I started. For now anyway.