Great Metal Albums of 1979: Van Halen II
Since I finished the tour of 1978 with their first album, I thought it was only fitting that I ended my tour of 1979 with their second one. This was definitely one of the albums that converted me to metal and some might say I’m crazy, but VHII is my all time favourite Van Halen album. It could be argued that this is because I listened to this one before I listened to their first one but still, for me, this album is Van Halen at their very best.
This album goes back to a time when they were a tight outfit and the quality of the songs on it show why. Yes, there’s the single “Dance the Night Away,” which I was told got played in a disco. (Can’t say for sure because I never went to those places.) Still, I know many a rocker, like me who really got into this song. Then there’s one of my favourite metal drinking songs, “Bottoms Up.” Great memories of trying to sing the chorus after sinking a few cold ones, okay many cold ones but you get my point. I still strain my ear when the instrumental “Spanish Fly” is played in order to appreciate the guitar work by one of the masters Eddie Van Halen. Of course, after all the other great tracks, what better way to end the album than “Beautiful Girls,” even if David Lee Roth gets shot down at the end of the song.
Track Listing:
1. You’re No Good
2. Dance the Night Away
3. Somebody Get Me a Doctor
4. Bottoms Up!
5. Outta Love Again
6. Light Up the Sky
7. Spanish Fly
8. D.O.A.
9. Women in Love
10. Beautiful Girls
Van Halen
David Lee Roth- vocals
Eddie Van Halen- guitars, backing vocals
Michael Anthony- bass, backing vocals
Alex Van Halen- drums
Before they would get entangled with in fighting and other things, Van Halen made some excellent music. Their second album is proof of this and for me, it was a great way to end the 7os. This concludes my tour of 1979 but stay tuned for we will now proceed to what I consider the golden decade of heavy metal and I hope you will come for the ride to see why I feel that way. But first, I thought I would take a little one post break, (see below).
Next post: A Rock/Metal Poll
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March 22, 2013 at 3:24 pm
There are some great songs on here. Bottom’s Up might be my favourite, I dunno, who the hell can pick a favourite? Light Up the Sky’s amazing too. This seems almost like the “lost” VH album today. A lot of lesser known classics here.
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March 23, 2013 at 12:51 pm
You’re right, very difficult to pick a favourite but if you put a gun to my head, I would probably say “Beautiful Girls.” I can certainly agree with you on the lost VH album and the loads of lesser known classics on it.
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March 23, 2013 at 12:52 pm
Beautiful Girl is one of the best “last” songs on a Van Halen album, ever. Perfect closer for a party album like this.
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March 23, 2013 at 7:48 pm
Agreed, again :o)
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March 23, 2013 at 5:26 pm
Awesome! Van Halen is always in my top, I loved every single period with all 3 singers. I should definitely write about that next! Although my favorite VH album has to be 1984! i’m excited to see what else you have to say! Would love if you would check out my blog as well, I recently wrote about the death of the guitar solo, no one can do another Eruption but it’s still lacking in today’s music! http://livingonthebside.wordpress.com/
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March 23, 2013 at 7:50 pm
Thanks, but I’m going through my tour of rock/metal history year by year, so I will be heading into 1980 next. I can assure you that I will definitely visit “Women and Children First” in that year. I’m going to have a look at your blog now.
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April 7, 2013 at 1:23 pm
Love this album and totally agree with your comment about how tight the band was. At the same time, this is also my favorite David Lee Roth album in the VH catalogue specifically because he is so wonderfully loose on many cuts — see Bottoms Up!, Somebody Get Me a Doctor, and Outta Love Again, for example.
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April 7, 2013 at 5:50 pm
Quite agree, they’re all great songs and I do like how DLR loses it for a brief second on “Bottoms Up.”
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April 7, 2013 at 5:50 pm
Quite agree, they’re all great songs and I do like how DLR loses it for a brief second on “Bottoms Up.”
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December 22, 2013 at 11:39 pm
“Light Up The Sky” is my favourite. It reminds me a bit of “The Atomic Punk.”
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