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Tuesday
Nov162010

Van Halen

It took three weeks to record this album (Warner Bros. 3075, 1978 [35:03]) at a cost of $40,000. The album was released on 02/10/78. It spent 169 weeks on the charts, reaching #19 on the U.S. charts (03/11/78) and #34 on the U.K. charts (05/27/78). 10.3 million copies of this album have been sold in the U.S., making it Van Halen's bestseller. It was certified gold on 05/24/78, platinum on 10/10/78, platinum five times over on 10/22/84, platinum six times over on 02/01/89, seven times platinum on 09/29/93, platinum eight times over on 07/11/94, and ten times platinum on 08/07/96. It was certified diamond on 03/16/99. The album was remastered and rereleased in a Gold Edition on 09/29/98. It was rereleased again in remastered form on 09/19/00.

The cassette version of this album ends with Ice Cream Man, while the CD and vinyl versions end with On Fire.

Production had to be rushed on Van Halen, because Eddie had mistakenly let the band Angel hear You Really Got Me at drummer Barry Brandt's house before the album was finished. Both bands raced to put out the song.

25 songs were brought into consideration during the Van Halen sessions.

This was the only album for which the band handed complete control over to the producer, Ted Templeman.

Sometime in late 1977 or early 1978, four videos were filmed for this album at the Whisky A GoGo in West Hollywood, CA: You Really Got Me, Runnin' with the Devil, Jamie's Cryin', and one unknown, which may have been Eruption. Warner Brothers paid for the sessions in an effort to decide which song to promote as the first single. The videos were planned for release as a promotional set, but for unknown reasons, the set never materialized.

The band's performance in the videos was quite humorous and provided a rare glimpse at their performance persona in its developmental stages. Smoke machines, star filters and other cheap camera and lighting techniques were used. The band's over-exaggerated moves and slightly off lip-syncing combined with the leather and disco-shirt clothing combinations added even more amusement.

Tracks:

Singles/Promos:

Serial #: WBS 8515
Label: WB
Tracks: A: You Really Got Me, B: Atomic Punk
Highest Chart Position: 36 (USA), 34 (UK)
Country: USA and UK
Release Date: 01/28/78
Format: 7" vinyl

Serial #: P-226W
Label: WB Pioneer
Tracks: A: You Really Got Me, B: Atomic Punk
Country: Japan
Release Date: 1978
Format: 7" vinyl

Serial #: WBS 8556
Label: WB
Tracks: A: Runnin' with the Devil, B: Eruption
Highest Chart Position: 84 (USA, 05/20/78), 52 (UK)
Country: USA
Release Date: 05/06/78
Format: 7" vinyl

Serial #: WBS 8631
Label: WB
Tracks: A: Jamie's Cryin', B: I'm the One
Country: USA
Release Date: 05/16/78
Format: 7" vinyl

Serial #: WBS 8707
Label: WB
Tracks: A: Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love, B: Feel Your Love Tonight
Country: USA
Release Date: 10/25/78
Format: 7" vinyl

Serial #: WB 17.604
Label: WB
Tracks: Runnin' with the Devil, You Really Got Me
Country: Holland
Release Date: ?
Format: ?

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