1. Van Halen - "Van Halen"/(Van Halen 1)

I can safely say that I am 100% sure that 95% percent of people can recall where they were located, what they were wearing, the day of the week, and the time of day it was, the first time they heard these 4 guys from any track on this album. And I can safely say that I am positive that 100% of guitar players can recall the same, the first time they heard “Eruption”. I was walking down the hallway in my childhood home, passing my room, bout 6pm in wintertime. I was in my school clothes(yellow shirt and brown pants…YUK), going to talk to my brother in his room when I heard it. It STOPPED ME IN MY TRACKS. I was entranced with about every thought a 10 year old boy could have. “How the F*&% is he doing that?”. The first thing that came across my mind, I kid you not, was he was from another planet. That moment changed my life. Guess who went out and bought an electric guitar? I could go on and on and on about Eddie. All the firsts he claimed on this album. The amp, the guitar, the 10 or 11 new techniques he brought forth. But this is not a guitar writeup. I’ll stick to the album, Eddie aside, because it is equally important to speak of.

“This was no composition of a travelling monkey”, Salieri spoke of Mozart’s music. Same applies here. You take one guy out of the mix and the structure falls. From Michael Anthony’s freight train bass playing and high harmonies(make NO mistake that Mike IS the vocal sound of this band), to Dave’s screams, and Alex’s equally unique drum sound and skins skills, this album, and band, is dependent on every member. You have the hard driving, dissonant, “On Fire”, The burlesque and sad “Little Dreamer”, and the song from planet Neptune… “Atomic Punk”. What is really amazing to me is how these guys not only compose “pop” sounding sounds with lush harmonies and melodies, but they also manage to throw in Doo wop barbershop lines in “I’m the one”.

To me, and I am sure a lot of other people would agree, this is probably one of the most important albums in music history. From any genre'. There are only about 5 albums that COMPLETELY changed how things are approached musically and culturally. This was one of them. Not to mention the genius that Eddie Van Halen had, to completely rewrite the electric guitar, amplifier, pedal board, effects, and electronics of the modern age. He is no less important than Les Paul. I recommend it just from a historical standpoint. It’s worth just having in your collection for the cover if you ask me. Kind of like a 1978 Mona Lisa. I mean, all 4 of those guys look so damn killer in their little corners. Michael Anthony’s picture much pretty says it all to me. It’s Rock n’ Roll defined in one photo. Intense!! This album cover is the Mount Rushmore of the Rock n’ Roll age. So GO GET YOU A COPY!!