5150

Performer: Van Halen
Engineer: Donn Landee
Producer: Mick Jones
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: Van Halen: Sammy Hagar, Eddie Van Halen (vocals, guitar); Michael Anthony (vocals, bass); Alex Van Halen (drums). Recorded at 5150 Studios, Hollywood, California. Back in June of 1986, while skeptics questioned whether "Van Hagar" could deliver the goods, all doubts were put to rest as 5150 charted at #1. This was the band's first #1 record, as 1984 peaked at #2. It's also a damn good album. After hitting #3 with his version of "California Girls" in 1985, David Lee Roth went on to pursue a successful solo career, leaving Sammy Hagar to pick up where he left off. Van Halen continue in the heavy pop vein of "Jump" with the hooky "Why Can't This Be Love." By the time every long-haired guitarist on the planet had copied Eddie Van Halen's licks, the guitar whiz had taken a right-turn and added synthesizers and programming for a broader sound. His precise use of keyboards dominates "Dreams," but his six-string dominates the ode to concert parking-lot festivities, "Summer Nights." Meanwhile, brother Alex's power-percussion gives the title track the vintage Van Halen sound. 5150 rocks hard and true.

Kerrang (Magazine) (p.52) - "[T]he band's first album with Sammy Hagar marked the beginning of a distinctly saner, more melodic direction."

Van Halen rode the crest of 1970s riff-rock into 1980s abandon. Always able to produce a smile and a killer hook, their songs captured a West Coast attitude that combined Eddie Van Halen's guitar gymnastics and the high-energy antics of vocalist David Lee Roth with solid backing by bassist Michael Anthony and drummer Alex Van Halen. Following Roth's less-than-amicable departure, the band signed up reckless driver Sammy Hagar, and their success continued into the '90s. When Hagar left after several albums, the band's fate seemed uncertain, but they soon found a temporary replacement in ex-Extreme frontman Gary Cherone.

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