ARTIST SPOTLIGHT = Van Halen (5 songs)
This band formed in Pasadena CA in 1972 by Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, David Lee Roth & Michael Anthony.
#1
After none of their 1st 3 releases (all in 1978 from their self-titled debut album) reached the Top 30 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, they released this song in 1979 as the debut single from their 2nd album ‘Van Halen II’. It peaked at #15 on the Billboard Hot 100 & reached #28 in Canada. The song has been featured in several films, including ‘Private Parts’, ‘Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues’, ‘Mission To Mars’ & ‘Argo’.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPOzsCmpIA0
#2
This song [originally performed & taken to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 3 weeks (1964) by Roy Orbison] became this band’s 1st #1 on any chart when it claimed the top of the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in 1982. The single, the 1st release from their album ‘Diver Down’, notched at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 & reached #5 in Canada. It was their 4th Top 20 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart behind these songs, all released in 1981 from their album ‘Fair Warning’: “So This Is Love?” (#15), “Mean Street” (#12) & “Unchained” (#13).
#3
After releasing no new music in 1983, the band struck absolute gold with this song, their 1st release from their album ‘1984’. Their signature tune, the song claimed #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 & Mainstream Rock Tracks charts. Elsewhere, it reached the Top 10 in Australia (#2), Austria (#4), Canada (#1), France (#7), Germany (#4), Ireland (#2), Italy (#1), Switzerland (#4) & England (#7). The song was used as the opening theme song for Chicago Cubs games on WGN-TV (summer 1984). The other 3 releases from the album were “I’ll Wait”, “Panama” & “Hot For Teacher”.
#4
In late 1985, Sammy Hagar replaced founding member David Lee Roth. This song, the debut single from the band’s album ‘5150’, hit the airwaves March 1986. It reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 & claimed #1 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks charts. Elsewhere, it notched at #8 in Australia, Ireland & England. Late 1980s hits include 1988’s “Black & Blue” & 1988’s “When It’s Love”.
#5
The 1990s started with tunes like 1991’s “Poundcake”, 1991’s “Runaround” & 1991’s “Top OF The World”. This song was released 02/15/1992 as the 5th single from their album ‘For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge’. It peaked at #55 on the Billboard Hot 100 & #2 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks charts. Later 1990s songs include 1993’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again”, 1995’s “Don’t Tell Me”, 1996’s “Me Wise Magic” & 1998’s “Without You”.