Women and Children First

This album (Warner Bros. 3415, 1980 [33:13]) was recorded in seventeen days and released on 03/26/80. 4.3 million copies have been sold in the U.S. It reached #6 on the U.S. charts (04/19/80) and #15 on the U.K. charts (04/06/80). It was certified gold on 05/29/80, platinum on 06/02/80, double platinum on 10/22/84, and triple platinum on 08/04/94. The album was remastered and rereleased on 09/19/00.

Parts of this album were recorded on an Ibanez Destroyer borrowed from Chris Holmes of W.A.S.P.

One version of the album was released on a special cassette form along with Fair Warning.

Included in the album (reportedly only the first million pressings) was a three-foot black and white poster of David Lee Roth, bound to a chain-link fence. The photograph was taken by famed fashion photographer Helmut Newton. It was used for shock value. Dave didn't want fans to think they had a handle on the band. Newton did not charge Roth for the photo session, only for the supplies used by Newton's assistants.

This was the first album Van Halen went into the studio to record for unprepared, prompting the band to revive songs from their early demo tapes which was something Eddie wasn't happy doing.

In 1995, a collection of unused material from this album was leaked to the public in the form of a bootleg recording titled Women and Children First Studio Sessions. These recordings revealed an instrumental with a strong bass line that was not used on this or any other Van Halen album.

The album's title came from Dave. One morning, after a typical Van Halen-style rampage, Dave awoke to distant screams of, "The ship is sinking!" Dave replied, "Women and Children First!" The phrase stuck.

Gene Simmons once proclaimed this to be his favorite album.

Tracks:

• And the Cradle Will Rock...
• Everybody Wants Some!!
• Fools
• Romeo Delight
• Tora! Tora!
• Loss of Control
• Take Your Whiskey Home
• Could This Be Magic?
• In a Simple Rhyme
• Growth

Singles/Promos:

Serial #: ?
Label: WB
Tracks: A: And the Cradle Will Rock, B: Could This Be Magic?
Highest Chart Position: 55 (USA, 06/28/80)
Country: USA
Release Date: 05/24/80
Format: 7" vinyl

Serial #: 45-1980
Label: WB
Tracks: A: And the Cradle Will Rock, B: Could This Be Magic?
Country: Spain
Release Date: 05/24/80
Format: 7" vinyl

Serial #: P-555W
Label: WB
Tracks: A: And the Cradle Will Rock, B: Could This Be Magic?
Country: Japan
Release Date: 05/24/80
Format: 7" vinyl

Serial #: WB 17.630
Label: WB
Tracks: A: And the Cradle Will Rock, B: Could This Be Magic?
Country: Holland
Release Date: 05/24/80
Format: 7" vinyl

Serial #: WBS 49501
Label: WB
Tracks: And the Cradle Will Rock... (mono), And the Cradle Will Rock... (promo)
Country: USA
Release Date: 1980
Format: 7" vinyl

Serial #: W 17630
Label: WEA
Tracks: A: And the Cradle Will Rock, B: Could This Be Magic?
Country: Italy
Release Date: 1980
Format: 7" vinyl

Serial #: K17645
Label: WEA
Tracks: And the Cradle Will Rock..., Everybody Wants Some!!, Loss of Control
Country: UK
Release Date: 1980
Format: 7" vinyl (including logo sticker)