Van Halen, 1984 released 25 years ago today!

[Andy Taylor]

Listening to the whole thing. Not one of my Top 5 Halen albums though. I think it would have been better if Jump were left out and just released as a single. It doesn't go with the hard rock flavour of the rest of the album.

Just four songs I actually bother to listen to: I'll Wait, Top Jimmy, Girl, Drop Dead Legs. Panama, H4T and House on the rare occasion.

[Seshmeister]

Listening to the whole thing. Not one of my Top 5 Halen albums though.

If it's not one of your top 5 then you think it's the worst.

[Andy Taylor]

That would be Balance.

[VAiN]

I was 10 years old in 1984 when I first heard Panama & Jump. I was an instant believer... I remember going out and getting VH II and Diver Down on cassette shortly after... imagine my dismay when Dave exited in 1985. I was unfortunate enough to 'grow up' during the spammy gaygar era... Even at the tender age of 10 I knew it would never be the same. I started playing guitar around 14 years of age and spent countless hours listening to and playing along with the original 6-pack. CVH was one of the biggest driving forces in my formative years... I totally subscribed to the VH mindset and swagger. You either get it, or you don't.

I think the entire album is so solid from front to back. Stand outs for me are Drop Dead Legs, Girl Gone Bad and House of Pain... all totally underrated CVH tracks.

[GAR]

"Drop Dead Legs" has a great groove, I forgot about that one because the mix of the whole album is so thin I've written it off entirely!

Why I really never bought 1984 has more to do with protest over Sammy Hagar joining because I didn't have the time or money to buy the thing, and it never went on sale. It was always 7.99 no matter where you went, and I was too cheap to fork over the dough.

And then Ronald McFuckin' Donald joined the group, and ruined it. Who buys into a dead franchise, not me! And so I forgot about 1984 and vowed to buy it when Dave was back in.. but now I vow to buy it when Mike's back in.

howdya like that..

[Coyote]

Actually it's in a few more days 1/9/84.
Let's take the time to stroll back down memory lane...
Where were you when you first heard the album?
What was your first reaction upon hearing it?
The little fucking angel smokin' a stoogie is turning 25 years old!!
Post all the your thoughts about 1984 here!!!

The year itself was nice, given I was a little under 6 months old. Apparently I was also drinking heavily back then 'cause I can't remember shit from then...

But the album? It gets better after the first two tracks, year after year...

[78/84 guy]

Too bad this was it for them. Sometimes I'm happy Dave left or we wouldn't have Eat Em' & Smile or Skyscraper for that matter !! Eat Em is still one of the most killer rock discs of all time !!! 1984 is great shit but Jump has ruined it's image for alot of people. Girl gone bad is Ed's best playing ever if you ask me.

[Blackflag]

Girl gone bad is Ed's best playing ever if you ask me.

Word, bitch.

[78/84 guy]

I also think the demo version of House Of Pain with the car horn blows away the album version !! I think it sounds faster or something. I guess they wanted to update it. And RWTD already had the horn.

[ULTRAMAN VH]

I remember being in the basement with all my stereo and guitar equipment and my jock cousin comes downstairs with a copy of 1984. I was pissed because I was a huge VH fan and couldn't believe he got it before I did. Being a sound junkie he let me record it and I put it on a reel to reel tape. The playback on the open reel recorder had more balls than the original LP. Needless to say, I wore that tape out. I went out and purchased it on album, cassette and later cd of course. I liked 1984, but the writing was on the wall and you could tell Ed was headed in a lighter direction. His guitar tone was losing it's raw edge and sure enough the Hagar years came and VH was transformed into Journey. Luckily I got to see the 1984 tour in DC before disaster struck in 85. I remember being disappointed that they didn't play Top Jimmie or Drop Dead Legs live.

[binnie]

Well, I was 2 in 1984, so I obviously came to the CVH train much later.

Surprisingly, no 25th Anniversary edition has been released - I, for one, would have liked to have heard outtakes, alternative mixes, etc......

[Seshmeister]

That would be Balance.

Ah I thought you were talking about Van Halen...

[Ally_Kat]

Fuck we're getting old

yeah, we are

[vaijuju]

"1984" put the CD it was 12/31/1983

I remenbered in France The vinyl was liberate for 04/01/1984 I bought mine 01/14/1984

[SNIPER]

Jump ON MTV