Top 12 Greatest Music Albums by JuJu83 Unknown

Owing a musical (and spiritual) debt more to 1950s Little Richard, 1930s vaudeville, and 1960s L.A.-based surf rock than British Blues (ironically, guitarist Eddie Van Halen cites two of his biggest influences as Cream-era Clapton and Led Zeppelin's "Heartbreaker,") Van Halen creates danceable, funky rock and roll with a Zen-like attitude that has more depth than almost any "meaningful" lyric.

Van Halen - the original David Lee Roth/Eddie Van Halen songwriting team (1978-1984; 2012-present) - created the most innovative, uniquely American rock and roll since Hendrix.

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"Fair Warning" is the most interesting - and most uniquely American - rock and roll album released during the era between Hendrix and Nirvana.

Musically and attitudinally diverse - but, to the band's credit, of a unified and distinct spirit, mood, and sound - this dark funk/rock (with punk, new wave, reggae, and R&B motifs) is, for lack of a better precedent, "Exile on the Sunset Strip."

Whereas Mick Jagger and Keith Richards release a sprawling double-album, cataloging the earthy decadence and ambitions of the early 1970s - 11 years later, David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen release a 32-minute diorama of le déluge. The dance-'til-you-drop '70s finally dropped - and "Fair Warning" captures the thrillingly vivid (often dark) emotions associated with the decadent rise and fall (which are also universal and timeless.)
[First added to this chart: 11/21/2012]
Year of Release:
1981
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Rank Score:
697
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Seemingly born fully-formed from the head of Zeus, (i.e. David Lee Roth's wink-and-a-nod 'pirate' attitude, and the Van Halen Brothers' musical innovation and virtuosity are fully fleshed-out on this debut,) Van Halen's sole ambition in 1978 seems to be to get a rise out of its audience.

"Van Halen" (1978) might be the most revolutionarily "American" rock release post-Hendrix/pre-Nirvana, and - if you won't go that far - it's the most exuberant, American rock and roll party, waxed post-Hendrix.
[First added to this chart: 11/21/2012]
Year of Release:
1978
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Rank Score:
4,839
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The music here is familiar; there is a joyousness and integrity to it.

Van Halen's 2012 "comeback" is intended as a re-introduction to the original, David Lee Roth-era Van Halen, two decades after "1984," the group's commercial apotheosis and last album to feature the Roth/Van Halen songwriting team. (Van Halen made albums after "1984," as did David Lee Roth - but, with brilliant exceptions, both suffered for their hubris.)

"A Different Kind of Truth" (2012) - although it contains nothing as catchy as "Jump" - is as diverse a showcase of Van Halen's skills as "Women and Children First," (1980) except the songs on "ADKoT" are (overall) funkier, heavier, and more fully fleshed-out.

Also, noteworthy: although it sounds impressive on first listen - much like Led Zeppelin's "Physical Graffiti," "A Different Kind of Truth" reveals its depth and brilliance on repeated listens - lyrically as well. They come across as trite and tossed off at first, but hold up on close scrutiny... Much like the band itself.
[First added to this chart: 11/21/2012]
Year of Release:
2012
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Rank Score:
116
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Featuring former Frank Zappa/Johnny Rotten avante-guitarist Steve Vai, big band drummer Gregg Bissonette, and rock bass innovator Billy Sheehan, David Lee Roth's "Eat 'em And Smile" is the greatest Van Halen album that Van Halen never made.

Something of a forgotten classic, due to David Lee Roth's descent from international superstar to cult figure, "Eat 'em And Smile" is Van Halen-on-steroids. There are gonzo instrumental excursions, ("Shyboy," "Elephant Gun,") great rock singles, ("Yankee Rose," "Goin' Crazy,") and strutting funk, ("Big Trouble," "Ladies Night in Buffalo?")

Much like the Ramones, David Lee Roth is a likable but divisive artist - depending on who you ask, he's either a clown who can't sing, or a living representation of the most vital, rock and roll attitude. Despite its musical virtues, whether you like "Eat 'em And Smile" will probably depend on which side of the fence you fall.
[First added to this chart: 11/26/2012]
Year of Release:
1986
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Rank Score:
147
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5. (4) Down1
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"1984" contains four of Van Halen's best-known hits - "Panama;" "Jump," (US #1;) "Hot For Teacher;" and "I'll Wait." Its album tracks are arguably stronger - "Drop Dead Legs" is a Zeppelin-esque piece de resistance, and "House of Pain" encapsulates everything that Van Halen/Roth ever aimed to achieve, with Van Halen and Roth riffing, seemingly without end, as the album fades.

With "1984," Roth/Van Halen achieve an influence, commercial status, and artistic reputation as wide-reaching as Plant/Page's circa "Led Zeppelin IV" - "Physical Graffiti." Unfortunately, there would be no follow-up to "1984" for 28 years, (i.e. "A Different Kind of Truth," 2012.)

David Lee Roth's Zen/vaudevillian/hedonism and emphasis on showmanship conflicted with Eddie Van Halen's introverted, increasingly delicate musical sensibilities, emphasis on technique, and desire for overall "respectability," (a concept often antithetical to great rock and roll.) Roth left Van Halen on April 1, 1985, acrimoniously.
[First added to this chart: 11/21/2012]
Year of Release:
1984
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Rank Score:
2,109
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On Van Halen's first album of the 1980s, Eddie Van Halen and David Lee Roth push Van Halen beyond its '70s, life-of-the-party strengths. "Women and Children First" (1980) incorporates punk, metal, unclassifiable instrumental weirdness, blues, vaudeville, and even a stab at Zeppelin-esque balladry ("In A Simple Rhyme.")

No band since the Beatles is able to better incorporate would-be genre-exercises into its signature sound, resulting in an ever-broadening pallet, which touches on nearly every popular music style on the dark "Fair Warning," the summery "Diver Down," and the something-for-everyone mega-seller, "1984."
[First added to this chart: 11/21/2012]
Year of Release:
1980
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Rank Score:
599
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"Diver Down" (1983, US #3) exists due to Van Halen's contractual obligations to Warner Bros. Records - a corporate attempt to capitalize on the momentum created by the band's hit cover of "(Oh) Pretty Woman," and headlining status at the US Festival.

Created as padding for a hit single, "Diver Down" is barely 31 minutes long, featuring 5 cover songs - at least 2 of which are blatant jokes, and the rest performed a wink-and-a-nod - 3 short instrumentals, and only 4 Van Halen originals.

Against all odds, "Diver Down" is not only listenable - it's Van Halen's easiest listen, only occasionally requiring more of the listener than a sense of humor, e.g. on the warped "Hang 'em High," breezy "Secrets," and new wave piece de resistance, "Little Guitars."

A 180 in attitude from "Fair Warning" - "Diver Down" is as summery, extroverted, and fun as its predecessor was dark, introverted, and gritty. Figuratively, if "Fair Warning" was Eddie, "Diver Down" is Diamond Dave.
[First added to this chart: 11/21/2012]
Year of Release:
1982
Appears in:
Rank Score:
307
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Buy album United States
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The singles from "Van Halen II" (1979, #6) - "Dance The Night Away" and "Beautiful Girls" are more fun than anything on "Van Halen" (1978,) which is to say: they're among the most exuberant rock and roll ever produced.

Van Halen stretch themselves slightly on "Van Halen II," e.g. there's the pure punk of "D.O.A." and prog of "Light Up The Sky," but the majority of this album is reminiscent of the debut - which isn't a bad thing. "Somebody Get Me A Doctor," "Bottoms Up!" and "Women In Love..." prove that transcendence of the debut was not a one-off affair. "Outta Love Again" hints at the funk-rock that would appear on Van Halen's later albums, although it's one of the few styles that the bands hasn't fully-fleshed-out.
[First added to this chart: 11/21/2012]
Year of Release:
1979
Appears in:
Rank Score:
663
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Buy album United States
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On its release, many Van Halen/David Lee Roth fans considered "Skyscraper" (1988, US #6) a betrayal of principles; however, unlike much of the rock music circa 1988, "Skyscraper" has aged well. This eclectic, experimental album presages guitarist Steve Vai's soaring solo work more than it harkens back to the giddiness of Diamond Dave's Van Halen, or "Eat 'em And Smile" (1986.)

While proving that there's more depth to David Lee Roth than his - by then, cartoonish - MTV persona, (e.g. Roth writes arguably the best rock ballad of the '80s in "Damn Good," and crafts dynamic yet listenable neo-psychedelia with "Skyscraper" and "Hina,") the album's relatively tepid reception proves that the late '80s public did not value this depth.

Only the dreadful "Stand Up" mars what's otherwise an impressively ambitious finale for the "Eat 'em And Smile" band.
[First added to this chart: 11/26/2012]
Year of Release:
1988
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Rank Score:
193
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10. (=)
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"Van Hagar" is a better 1980s-era singles band than Van Halen was, ("Jump" being the most "Van Hagar"-esque single Van Halen ever released, was its only US #1, 1984.) Van Halen, however, never released an album as uneven, processed/dated sounding, or as meat-and-potatoes sentimental as "5150."

Many of "5150's" songs show promise and inspiration ("Dreams;" "Best of Both Worlds;" "5150;") however, filler like "The Inside," and "Get Up" undo the album's cohesion.

Van Halen did not change its band name after the David Lee Roth break-up, unfortunately, because Van Halen without David Lee Roth sounds only vaguely similar to the original band, and possesses an entirely different spirit.

This engenders a situation akin to when, during the 1980s, Coca-Cola changed its formula. If "New Coke" had been released under a new name, it might not have been as successful out-of-the-gate due to brand loyalty, but comparisons to the original wouldn't have eroded its credibility.
[First added to this chart: 11/21/2012]
Year of Release:
1986
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Rank Score:
567
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Total albums: 12. Page 1 of 2

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Top 12 Greatest Music Albums composition

Decade Albums %


1930s 0 0%
1940s 0 0%
1950s 0 0%
1960s 0 0%
1970s 2 17%
1980s 8 67%
1990s 1 8%
2000s 0 0%
2010s 1 8%
2020s 0 0%
Artist Albums %


Van Halen 10 83%
David Lee Roth 2 17%
Country Albums %


United States 12 100%

Top 12 Greatest Music Albums chart changes

Biggest climbers
Climber Up 1 from 12th to 11th
OU812
by Van Halen
Climber Up 1 from 5th to 4th
Eat 'Em And Smile
by David Lee Roth
Biggest fallers
Faller Down 1 from 4th to 5th
1984
by Van Halen
Faller Down 1 from 11th to 12th
For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
by Van Halen

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Average Rating: 
75/100 (from 2 votes)
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04/16/2018 15:06 hoyquarlow  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 3187/100
 
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From 04/16/2018 15:07
Hello, David Lee Roth
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From 11/02/2012 18:12
I think this is the first chart i've seen comprised of albums of one artist. I'm not sure how VH could be america's most influential since their first album wasn't out until 1978 -- they surely were heavily influential in the hair metal scene of the 80s.
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Best Albums of 1987
1. The Joshua Tree by U2
2. Appetite For Destruction by Guns N' Roses
3. Sign 'O' The Times by Prince
4. Strangeways, Here We Come by The Smiths
5. You're Living All Over Me by Dinosaur Jr.
6. Document by R.E.M.
7. Bad by Michael Jackson
8. Music For The Masses by Depeche Mode
9. Sister by Sonic Youth
10. Hysteria by Def Leppard
11. Substance 1987 by New Order
12. Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me by The Cure
13. Kick by INXS
14. Louder Than Bombs by The Smiths
15. Darklands by The Jesus And Mary Chain
16. Come On Pilgrim by Pixies
17. Paid In Full by Eric B. & Rakim
18. Diesel And Dust by Midnight Oil
19. Tango In The Night by Fleetwood Mac
20. Tunnel Of Love by Bruce Springsteen
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