How Eddie Van Halen / David Lee Roth Beat The Sophomore Jinx In the 70s | Professor of Rock

The Story of Van Halen II the band's spectacular sophomore album. They only had a few weeks to create it. The Hijinks of Eddie and Alex Van Halen, David Lee Roth and Michael Anthony as we breakdown the album including classic cuts like Beautiful Girls, Dance the Night Away, D.O.A. and Bottoms Up.
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​#70s #Rock #Story
Hey music junkies and vinyl junkies Professor of Rock always here to celebrate the greatest artists and the greatest 70s vinyl songs of all time for the music community and vinyl community.
If you've ever owned records, cassettes and CD's at different times in you life or still do this is your place Subscribe below right now to be a part of our daily celebration of the rock era with exclusive stories from straight from the artists and click on our patreon link in the description to see our brand new show there.
After the incredible success of their debut self-titled album, one would think that Van Halen was living the dream…..Wrong!!!!
When the band came back from a year of solid touring, they were welcomed by their record label, Warner Brothers, with the sobering news that they owed the label $2 million, and…by the way…you guys owe us another record- STAT!!
P.S……Even though you're coming off a groundbreaking debut album…. we cut your recording budget…... Welcome home, gentlemen… The band had only 3 weeks to deliver their next album, or be in violation of their contractual agreement with WB.
Fortunately, VH recorded most of their music playing their respective parts live, so they could turn a record around in the studio very quickly.
The band's eponymous debut album took 7 days to complete, and Van Halen banged out II in less than three weeks- just in the nick of time to fulfill the terms of their record deal. After they turned in the finished record, they went back on the road for another leg of touring. In order to make the recording deadline, Van Halen pulled out four tracks from the original demos they recorded with Gene Simmons, and Ted Templeman.
The tracks that they dusted off were "Bottoms Up", "Outta Love Again", "D.O.A.," and "Somebody Get Me a Doctor." They also covered "You're No Good," which, only a few years earlier, was a huge #1 hit on the Billboard 100 as a remake by Linda Ronstadt Coming up with a new batch of songs in such a short period of time was what DLR called "extreme labor."
Mixing things up for VHII, Eddie created a thicker guitar sound by overloading the circuits on his amplifier. Michael Anthony used a smaller bass amp to get a sharper sound. David Lee Roth hammered the maxim of loose, organic, audacity with his full arsenal of grunts, yells, squawks, and howls. For the 'all eyes & ears are on us' follow-up to their monstrous debut, the four members of Van Halen did not put on a tense game face, and soldier into the studio with steely moxie to show the world they were not a fluke.
Instead, they decided to take it to the edge, and wing it. They arrived in the studio totally unprepared. In Dave's words, it was like "bang- stick it on the plastic- next please." Van Halen II was going to reflect the Van Halen attitude and the Van Halen lifestyle.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Poll: Van Halen had some great covers over the years: You Really Got Me, Pretty Woman, You're No Good, What do you consider to be the best cover song of the rock era, all bands, all artists?

[@killrmillr]

Jimi Hemdrix - All Along The Watchtower Judas Priest - Diamonds and Rust Grand Funk Railroad - Gimme Shelter

[@e.regular3501]

I'd say Metallica's cover of 'Turn The Page' is up there

[@charliesedor1085]

Sound of Silence- Disturbed

[@FatherAndTeacherTV]

"Going to a Go-Go" by Rolling Stones has been in my Playlist as of late. I love the original by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. But I love the Stones' live version. Also, has anyone heard the Foo Fighters' Bee Gees cover? It's the song - "You Should Be Dancing".

[@williamwilkinson381]

The Rolling Stones - "Like A Rolling Stone"

[@jamesweldon9726]

"Beautiful Girls" is a perfect example of Ed"s prowess as a rhythm guitarist. Most people talk about his skills as a lead guitarist, but he was far more than that. He had groove.

[@shantheman6879]

Beautiful girls was a microcosm of just what Van Halen was all about. Fuck, there will NEVER be another band like Van Halen!

[@fivestring65ify]

IMO, Eddie was a much better rhythm player, than lead. He was a genius at coming up with those riffs that knock you on your ass, and make you smile.

[@5roundsrapid263]

Yeah, his timing was insanely perfect. I’m so glad I got to see him live. RIP Eddie! 🤘

[@coreysmorgan8488]

Aint talking bout love is all rhythm guitar, no lead

[@shantheman6879]

@@5roundsrapid263 Legend!!

[@Jet1ranger]

No auto tune. No click track. No lining the music up on a grid! Real music! Great music!

[@darrenwillis9611]

Van Halen will ALWAYS be my favorite band. Period.

[@rbpenn]

"Dance the Night Away" remains to this day my favorite Van Halen of all time. It can make me happy no matter what crap is happening.

[@CheetahSnowLeopard]

DLR’s lyrics, spontaneity and personality were such a huge part of VH.

[@bbb462cid]

"Leather cross his thighs". I gotta admit, that lyric never really resonated with me, lol

[@CheetahSnowLeopard]

@@bbb462cid3 out of four lines ain’t bad though 😂 Blasting out the night, his cap hides his eyes One eye on the road, price upon his head One ear to the ground, he's listening to the dead

[@shantheman6879]

@@CheetahSnowLeopard That's a Diver Down hidden gem!!!

[@garytrew2766]

I've heard that DLR got his on stage presence from Jim Dandy Mangrum of Black Oak Arkansas.

[@CheetahSnowLeopard]

@@garytrew2766 just looked at some photos and that’s entirely possible! 😂

[@commonman317]

To this day the intro to "D.O.A" makes the hairs on my arms stand up. One of the absolute best guitar intros of all time. Especially when it's cranked up!

[@joewhitehouseiv3300]

Couldn't agree more

[@LambentLark]

"found a dirty faces kid in a garbage can." I so love that guitar riff.

[@mikerinaldi7170]

Amen!

[@mikes51501]

Tone on this album was so in your face!! Love that song!

[@WonkaVator72]

Agree100%. Also _love_ the Mean Street intro.

[@FatherAndTeacherTV]

1st step to getting over sophomore jinx: have Eddie Van Halen as your guitarist. This is great, Professor!

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks my friend.

[@FatherAndTeacherTV]

@@ProfessorofRock You're welcome, brother

[@MyName-pl7zn]

100 percent!!

[@FatherAndTeacherTV]

@@MyName-pl7zn 😉

[@fivestring65ify]

What a lot of people don't know, is that the songs on the first 3 albums were songs they had been playing for several years. They already knew what they wanted them to sound like. They just had to get it on tape.

[@socalrockergal3727]

Big VH fan! Grew up listening to them as my dad played their music in his car because my mom wasn’t a fan of hard rock lol! They have been a part of my childhood leading into my adulthood. So glad I got to see them several times and lastly in 2012 & at the Hollywood Bowl in 2015. I had a strange feeling that was the last time, hard to explain. I literally broke down in my office crying at work when my bestie texted me that Eddie had died 😭😢. There will never be another EVH! Long live King Edward! 🤘🏼

[@drewwin794]

The beginning of Woman in Love is the prettiest sounding guitar ever!! Ed was the most diverse at making a guitar have personality and feeling.

[@MagicRoosterBluesBand]

My favorite Van Halen album. It's one big party from beginning to end.

[@michaelrochester48]

The good thing about Van Halen is that they turned the covers into their own. “Dancing in the street” was so funky it was almost like heavy-metal meets sly and the family Stone

[@edwardpaulsen1074]

To this day, I still think that Van Halen's cover of "Dancing in the Streets" tops out the original Martha and the Vandella's version. The original was damn good and is still among my favorites, but VH somehow cranked it to 11 and made it REALLY sound like a party! From Eddie's unique guitar style for the song, to the harmonies, every member of the band infused it with something that picked you up and your feet just started to move and groove. Best tribute cover ever!! Even the eponymous Mick Jagger and David Bowie couldn't beat the party exuberance of that Van Halen cover.

[@larrybarnes1892]

My favorite is Light Up The Sky. Too me it is like a hidden gem. Just like Little Guitars from Diver Down! Eddie looks like he loved playing that song live! Thanks for the music EVH!

[@ajcass5587]

Totally agree, those are two of their best and underappreciated songs for sure!

[@christopherspohn8071]

Diver Down my favorite album from Van Halen.

[@henry4480]

So much power coming out of that riff

[@le_th_]

Little Gutars....omg....best song on Diver Down, in my subjective opinion.

[@asnark7115]

As much as any song they wrote, every member of that band lived that song from the teen-age years until today.

[@charlesmayer7097]

The outta love solo has soooooo much swing to it!!! One of my fav solos of Eddie's.

[@gneric85]

I love Ice Cream Man solo. That has SO much attitude. If slowed down, you can hear how much swing it has compared to normal speed. Such precision.

[@rich_b.1487]

That solo is also a huge favorite of fusion guitarist Scott Henderson, as noted in an interview by him.

[@charlesmayer7097]

@@rich_b.1487 thanks for sharing that.... I just googled that article. Really cool. 👍👍

[@mikerinaldi7170]

That's the only video solo I can play

[@armynurseboy]

That's his dad's influence, who was a big band/swing musician.

[@jamesholmes3499]

Please do this with 'Fair Warning.' It's such a great album. Van Halen rules!

[@stealthyBLK]

YES PLEEEASE!! without a doubt my favorite VH album and this sayin a lot ! considering I love all of the DLR albums

[@danepaulstewart8464]

YES!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ That’s the MONSTER album that terrorized the populace! You MUST be brave! You must be brave and wade into the depths with the Godzilla of rock albums - FAIR WARNING. *No love lost for our mates in the Blue Oyster Cult. We love you dudes. 🤘😎🤘

[@coltspop]

We'll "Hear about it later!

[@FredChristianImpact]

Yes Please Great Backstory w This Album

[@Thomas-ej9fz]

Yep FAIR WARNING IS THERE BEST !

[@Buddycoop1]

VH always had so many fun songs that put me in a good mood.--and some that were good when you were angry. Dave's lyrics and Ed's guitar are a perfect combo.

[@jamespyle9852]

Dance the night away was a POP song to me, everyone played in the car loud with the windows down, everybody could hear. I love that song.

[@armynurseboy]

Summer/beach/cruising song to me.

[@edwinjewell5359]

Eddie was a flat out Musical genius and The other 3 members were Great musicians that all together Made Magic together.

[@fivestring65ify]

Van Halen had this incredible ability to capture the energy of a live performance on tape. THAT is what separated them from the pack.

[@thomasjaramillo3929]

Jamie’s Cryin’ is by far my fave! It’s one of the most fun sounding records, probably for Eddie when he played it too.

[@SonnyGTA]

Yes. But that was on the first album. We are talking about VH II here.

[@murraysnowflurry]

Tone Loc would agree

[@jasheton]

My faves: “Light Up The Sky”, “Dance The Night Away”. Those (2) demonstrated their pop sensibilities. I was hooked.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Same! Loved D.O.A. too. Great album.

[@cmikesmith664]

Light Up the Sky is a great song.

[@ericroll]

Yep. Light Up the Sky is in my Top 5 favorite Van Halen songs. Don't ask me what the other 4 are! :)

[@driver4011]

"Runnin with the devil" "Unchained" "So this is love"

[@jasheton]

@W. it wasn’t?

[@jefff2223]

You never realize at the time how what or who you’re witnessing is going to be a such an important part of music culture. I’m the moment you’re just in awe and electrified by the experience. Looking back I’m so glad I got to see VH live a few times!

[@Rob-dp3vr]

I loved that they opened with Light Up The Sky in their last tour. Just melted faces old school style, right from the jump. And they did Outta Love, which made my night.

[@andersdo2925]

Outta Love is an amazing song that lets Alex show his genius drumming to match Ed’s playing. I remember hearing it as a 13 year old for the first time trying to understand what Alex was doing, I couldn’t figure it out. 40 years later I understand it but still can’t play it right! Such a monster performance by the whole band really. Alex kills it!

[@ConglomerationCat]

I never thought I'd wake up on my Friday going into my weekend from work and see someone do an analysis on my favorite Van Halen album. Thank you Adam!! This one gets often overlooked and sometimes under appreciated. Thanks for dusting it off and shining a bright spotlight that it needs.

[@califtom]

Van Halen II is actually my favorite record of all of them. Was just cranking Bottoms Up in the car earlier.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Very cool!

[@collinjamesguitar]

Yep I feel you! I listen to II more than the first record believe it or not! It’s so fucking great. They all are. 78-95 🔥

[@Stefan-Van-der-Pulst]

Mine too. They were at the top of their game. All of them. Edward was actually improving and brought some new things to the foreground, tapping on more than 1 string, tapped harmonics.. Something he didn't do on the first album. It is an album I never get tired of. All killer no filler.

[@bruteforce1228]

Love this album. Played this album more than any other i have ever owned.

[@SonnyGTA]

I got 1984 in 1984. I was 12. I’ve loved them ever since. I truly believe they are quite possibly the best band in history. Heavy, slow, serious, funny, talented….they do it all!

[@ronstewart6362]

What can you say about what VH did for the world of music. EVH gave us a guitar Hero. DLR gave us the greatest front man in Rock. I think that finally Alex is getting his due as the Killer player he was and Micheal was the glue that held it All together musicly and vocally with those Harmony's. Yes, they were the Best 👍🎶🎵🎸

[@illegallyblonde232]

My favorite band of all time...such great music

[@davidellis5141]

Another great cover " You're No Good " & " Dance The Night Away " were both standout tracks with terrific harmonies & amazing guitar work. Like Candy-O by The Cars an excellent sophomore album.

[@ProfessorofRock]

We'll tackle that one soon!

[@fivestring65ify]

@@ProfessorofRock I look forward to that. Candy O is a masterpiece.

[@theodoreritola9758]

Both from the 70s

[@t.o.408]

Yes! VH 2 my favorite from Van Halen and Candy-O my favorite from The Cars. Both absolute classics!

[@markslima1557]

For some reason, Eddie's guitar solo on "Light up the Sky" - while not his most advanced, has hit me the hardest for years and years. So full of fire and attitude! Easily one of my favorites of his.

[@thanksfernuthin]

I thought for sure "Dance The Night Away!" was a cover. Only you telling me it wasn't could change my mind. It had that classic sound to it. Amazing.

[@mrbrianmccarthy]

It was a cover. LOL

[@thanksfernuthin]

@@mrbrianmccarthy WELL! You made me look! It wasn't a cover. It was written by the members of Van Halen if the internet can be trusted (and this video).

[@mrbrianmccarthy]

@@thanksfernuthin wow, I could have sworn that song was written by Leo sayer! I seem to remember people being upset that VH 2 started with 2 covers(You're no Good" and yes, "Dance the night Away" but maybe I was wrong? Hmmm---oh well. You learn something new every day.

[@thanksfernuthin]

@@mrbrianmccarthy Thus my original comment. I too thought it was a cover.

[@Fbarts]

Dance the Night Away has such a classic rock sound millions, at one time or another, thought it was a cover. Yes me as well! 😎

[@nickm8651]

Thanks a lot for what you're doing. Many people today don't know that Van Halen was all energy like no other band that played Rock and Roll that was as electrifying as Van Halen. No other band had that Mightily Van Halen sound, Eddies gifted guitar playing, Micheals backup vocals, Alex"s awesome drumming and cutting edge vocals of David. This is Van Halen. It will never ever be replicated again. RIP Eddie and Van Halen music is still like it came out today. and it's still cutting edge and MIGHTY! Cheers.

[@DC-xx4kv]

I’m a California native, first 36 of my 60 years. Do the math. VH II is a very breezy California Rock, album. What you sense from it, what it does for you, is California. Isn’t it great!! Peace.

[@pm2819]

You Nailed it!

[@paulgianni]

Not a CA native, but I agree with a lot of what you said. California in the 1980s was a highlight of my life, partying in San Diego's Mission district, surfing at San Onofre and relaxing at San Clemente pier. Even life in the San Fernando and Conejo Valleys was awesome. I'm glad I'm not there today to experience the causes of the mass exodus. Stay cool.

[@astralplainer]

Not from Cali, but London, UK. I remember getting VH II and thinking 'This must be what SoCal vibes are about?' Wish I had known what that was like back then. Not now. Cheers!

[@stealthyBLK]

absolutely

[@charlesmayer7097]

Spanish Fly was just untouchable for a loooooong time!... Eddie on a classical guitar! Yes!

[@5roundsrapid263]

Supposedly, Nancy Wilson gave him an Ovation acoustic, and that’s what made him develop that song.

[@charlesmayer7097]

@@5roundsrapid263 wow. Cool. Never knew that. 👍

[@jasonboulet6415]

I love everything you do about VH ... I DREAM of the day you will make the BALANCE album!!! You are a good professor!! And i am still sad of dimebag passing!!

[@daviddrawec5557]

This album brings back so many memories. I bought the lp at Caldor the day it was released. I had a stereo that flashed colored lights to the beat as the music played. The volume was at 11(only went to 10) whenever I listened to the lp,so did the neighbors.😎 I had won a mirror of this lp at a local carnival. The next tour I was able to see the mighty VH. Was only 15. My first introduction to VH was the first album. I was bragging to my cousin about Ace Frehleys lead on shock me off of kiss alive 2. When he said" yeah,that's nice, but I got something for you to hear" he then put in the 8 track of VH 1 and played me eruption.😮 I was blown away, never heard anything like it. I was hooked on VH. Thanks professor, for this episode

[@timothyorie7021]

Thank you for bringing up Caldor!!! For a department store they had an awesome album section..I tell people that I would ride my bike to Caldor and spend all my paper route money I that store to buy my albums

[@jmad627]

Bought quite a few LPs from Caldor in the late 70's. A girl I knew in high school worked in that department and…well she helped me out.

[@timothyorie7021]

@@jmad627 that is awesome 👍🏽

[@AnyangU]

I love David Lee Roth Van Halen. They were the best male oriented party band of their day, hands down. I was sad to see David and Alex have their split. Together they were magical!

[@bbarnhouse9022]

Loved seeing VH live in concert. Michael Anthony would rip out a killer bass solo.

[@davedavid7061]

Saw them in 79 and was thrilled to see Mike did the screams in Running with the Devil

[@ProfessorofRock]

Wow! WOW. Wish I could've seen them at that time.

[@davedavid7061]

@@ProfessorofRock it was within weeks of II,s release. $6.00. Still have ticket stub somewhere

[@johnbaxter533]

It was always the drum solo that blew me away.

[@c.s.s.1723]

So glad you did VH 2. This captured them at their best. I love this album just as much as always to this very day. Thank you for making sure to give Michael Anthony so much credit for his contributions, he really deserves a ton of love as well. This just made my day

[@robcny74]

I was 5 when this came out ... this was the first album my mom bought me . And started me on the vh obsession. Eddie is the reason I became a guitarist, not from his solos but his uncanny abilities to turn a riff into a masterpiece. Rip ed . Your why I picked up a guitar and have never put it down . We will always keep you alive in our playing.

[@cmikesmith664]

🙋‍♂️

[@constipatedinsincity4424]

Hey Playboy and classmates, 👋 I just acquired my tickets for Guns and Roses with opening band Mammoth. Wolfgang Van Halens band. Eddie's son. They're going to be the 1st rock band to play Allegiant Stadium 🏟 here in Las Vegas August 27th!

[@constipatedinsincity4424]

@Anna Trail I definitely will . This is my first time seeing him perform! Have a great weekend!

[@theodoreritola9758]

LOL GUNS AND ROSE Van Helen Kicks their ASS

[@tommyibanez3958]

Still my favorite VH album, if only for Light Up The Sky- that song still floors me every time

[@citadel9611]

I've seen Van Halen four or five times and the song "Dance the Night Away" was always the last songs of the night, with everyone singing in unison. Those were magic times. Glad I grew up in the time of this band. R.I.P. King Eddie.

[@ryanriley181]

Exceedingly well done, Professor. Very astute and delivered with proper enthusiasm for the Mighty Van Halen!

[@lewiscrow]

Absolutely love their version of You're No Good.

[@ericroll]

I remember being at a dive bar with a jukebox that had just one 45 single from Van Halen: Dance the Night Away/Outta Love Again. The people dropping their money into that jukebox kept playing Outta Love Again (the B-side). I heard that song 5 times in 30 minutes! Shows you the record label doesn't always get it right picking the singles.

[@billbondy492]

Van Halen was my 1st concert and it was in 1979 when this album came out. My family owned record stores in the LA area and always got hooked up with concert tickets. I was extremely lucky and got a 6th row floor seat in front of Eddie and was just blown away at what I witnessed. I was 15 years young & it was just an unbelievable concert. I saw them again in 1980,1982, at the US83 Festival & the last time about 10 years ago. All in LA & all with Roth. I have been to so many concerts & music festivals & don't know how many bands I've seen but that 1st time I saw Van Halen was easily 1 of the top 3 concerts I have ever seen. Oh, Eddie was playing the Bumblebee the night I saw them at The Forum in Inglewood,Ca. R.I.P. EVH 🤘

[@frozenstang3868]

Born in 1962 so everything you cover hits home with me, and your explanations are like taking claritan , you seem to lift a veil on so many songs.

[@bigneon_glitter]

Hearing "D.O.A." over the years, it hits how proto-Grunge it is. The Pixies-ish riff w/Kurt note-bend, the muted guitar scratches, the minor chord transitions, the Punk simplicity. Close your eyes & it's Alice In Chains or Soundgarden.

[@michaelfrazia4569]

what a killer song .just the perfect tone of course by evh...Dave sings it with his style that worked so well, and Michael Anthony's harmonies were always the secret weapon of that band.. as far as alex...ive seen pretty much every great rock band live since the early 80s..im not saying Alex was the best drummer ever etc, but he was the best live drummer I ever saw. I remember leaving the vh concert blown away by how great Alex sounded live. I love Copeland, moon , Bonham, peart, etc etc but Alex blew me away live. DOA was the perfect song for them to all flex their strengths

[@ColtraneTaylor]

What makes it more depressing is that AIC have only ever had one idea which Cantrell's machine is still running on.

[@5roundsrapid263]

Yeah, Eddie was playing in drop-D a couple decades before “grunge”.

[@rrdream2400]

@@5roundsrapid263 Robin Trower was tuning down to D in the early 70's.

[@sdavis6806]

Also I always thought the end of D.O.A was very thrash/speed metal sounding years before that genre came out.. loss of control off woman and children 1st same

[@lisamorrison2149]

"Running With The Devil" will always be my fave from VH. Eddie was the guitar virtuoso for the ages. Thanks Prof. Enjoyed that.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks!

[@robertmclernon4836]

I was on the dance floor at Louie's Rock City, Bailey's Crossroads, Northern Virginia, when I first heard "Running With The Devil." Just me, another guy, and two women on that big dance floor.

[@coreysmorgan8488]

Yep. Me too

[@Stefan-Van-der-Pulst]

Nah, Running with the devil is one of their simplest songs. Not one where he showcased his virtuosity.

[@todddickinson3262]

I could play every note on this record, on air guitar, by the age of 10… 😎😏

[@johnmorgan692]

GREAT comment 👍!!!

[@simonelder8434]

Me 2 dude! Rock'n'roll!!!

[@BangBang-hk4rg]

🤣😂🤣😂🤘

[@joemorrow7691]

I have always marveled at the background vocals,,,that was part of their distinctive sound👌

[@Will-to4ru]

Such an underrated album. This album is pure class 👏👏

[@SonnyGTA]

WHAT IN THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!?! UNDERRATED?!?! By who??? There is always some clod that calls very popular things underrated. Stop saying underrated!!!!!

[@michaelfrazia4569]

I could listen to the intro to women in love on a loop for hours. sometimes eddie hit on a sound that was perfection...the ending riff of little guitars would be another example off diver down

[@chrisgarcia9629]

Light up the sky is my favorite song from this album! Fantastic!!!

[@lucabiolzi1767]

YOU SAID IT ALL PROFESSOR!! 🙏🏻🔝🤟🏻 THANKS FOR THIS VIDEO, I LOVED IT TO THE BONE!! "Dance The Night Away" is the song that LITERALLY saved my life, bringing back a grin to my face and most important the passion and love for music. 💖🎸 I'll be releasing my own rendition of this song... on the 6th of October. Because nothing has never and will never be the same since then. 💔 HAIL TO THE KING, HAIL TO THE GREATEST ROCK BAND EVER!! 🤟🏻😎🔥🎶🔝

[@therealfronzilla]

Cheap Trick's first 4 to 5 albums, were game changers and are still a major influence on bands to this day. They are worth a look and listen and a story

[@ianweir2115]

I was 12 years old and BMX riding in some back road trails out in Hampton Bays Long Island NY. It was 1981, so VH 1 ,2, Woman and children 1st and Fair Warning were released, but I only heard of them blowing Black Sabbath off the stage in MSG NYC a few years earlier. I never heard their music yet. I road up on a stolen White Trans am in the woods and it had an 8 track tape player in it with 1 tape....with a big VH on it. I took the tape and rode back home and played it. I took some weed from my older brother and smoked it and turned on the tape ...loud....BOOOOOOM! OMG! I felt like I was floating around the room! As far as VH 2 songs? It was light up the sky , but "Outta love" was a close 2cd, and "somebody had to get me a doctor!" I have been an huge VH fan since , everyone that's knows me , knows I was THE VH fan , I brought their music everywhere and its all I listened too. I liked other bands but VH fit me perfectly. The 1980s was a wild time in NYC, VH fit the times. Just wish the 1st roth reunion worked those 2 songs on the greatest hits album were great. it sucks that eddie was a mess and couldnt make it work then. but final in 2007 they did thx to son wolfgang. Wolfgang is crushing it right now, Bravo!

[@stevef.8708]

Thank you for giving us some extra Van Halen content, Professor. Can’t ever be enough! But listening to your closing remarks, now I am going to revisit some Journey songs as well. 😅

[@baybae92]

I love hearing you talk about music. You have such a respect and a passion for it. And I especially love when it comes around to VH!! 🤘🤘 Thanks for all you do.

[@ProfessorofRock]

I appreciate that!

[@themurphrees3795]

Agreed, the way you describe the album(s), you can tell that you know the music, from listening too it over the years. Not just listening to it recently pretending to know the music, I have seen several others make videos talking about bands and music, and you can tell that, yeah they know the song or band, but not as well as they make themselves sound like they do.

[@bigjgordon]

Adam - thank you for this channel. You are incredibly gifted and passionate and it is what makes your channel so great. I wish we could have known each other growing up because I think we would have been great friends!

[@pondparadisedesignsinc.rob5313]

Incredible job you did on this video. You nailed a lot of great info about this album and VH. So appreciated 👍

[@ablanchard4949]

Honnestly this album is criminaly underated in the 70’s hard rockin world some much dept in all the songs, killers riffs, vocals harmony and Diamond Dave charisma all over the place a masterpiece!! Dance the night away is the best and DOA my favorite

[@a420man2]

A long time ago some music columnist described Eddie's solo(s) on DOA as "falling down the stairs and landing on your feet". So appropriate.

[@bwdrums1]

My favorite album by my favorite band. Every freaking second of this album was the balls.

[@MarkR973]

Van Halen was insane!!! I liked the first album better but this rocked too! Just a great band… RIP Eddie.. gone too soon…

[@michaelhawkes5110]

Great album and memories. Thank you for the inside info on the tracks!

[@deanrobert9953]

Ahh POR. Now we hit close to my heart. VH II. My big brother gifted me the album on my 11th birthday. That beautiful big blue cover with the flying VH is timeless... spending years pinned to the wall of my bedroom while the album sat on the turntable. To me it's quintessential VH. During past POR episodes VH has been discussed and we grieved Eddie's passing with much debate about best albums, songs and eras. For me the top of the VH mountain will always be Dance The Night Away as it resonates all the greatness of VH, back when I was 11 years old and still today 40+ years later. Fantastic song by song take of VH II... the quality of recent episodes has elevated even beyond the POR standard of great to a whole other level of excellence. Well done POR team.

[@Krullmatic]

I love everything you do on this channel, but I especially love these song breakdowns on albums! Edit: The solo on Outta Love Again, is one of my favorites from Eddie!

[@daflotsam]

I was around sixth grade when I made that pilgrimatic leap into the realm of music-to-my-bones appreciation. That time where you never knew how much music could invigorate the soul. Replaced sugar as life’s new favorite high. And Van Halen was for me the sugar-pusher of rock-n-roll. Prior to that era, I never would’ve thought about hanging a poster of a shirtless, leather pantsed kneeling man whose hands were chained up on my bedroom wall, as my fellow Women and Children First album owners from back in the day can attest to.

[@tmacU7Bu]

Very insightful! As always! Love this channel! Van Halen one of my all time faves!

[@jorgevillanueva2026]

The first 6pack of albums rival anyone in rock history! And yes! Greatest American band of all time!

[@pedraw]

Van Halen I was an album that made everyone stop in their tracks and wonder what hell it was they just heard. It was that much different. Up until that point I was listening to KISS, Grand Funk Railroad, Thin Lizzy, Nazareth and Ted Nugent but VH turned everything upside down. Sadly I parted ways with VH with the release of 1984.

[@realcrunchy6572]

84 rocked hard

[@johnriley8314]

I was VERY undecided at 1st w/ it myself...but it FINALLY grew on me as i listened over n over...actually some GREAT tunes on it, especially "I'll Wait"

[@stanleywissmar3455]

Thanks POR. Can't never get enough of CVH! 🙏🎼😁

[@rogueshadow93]

I have to say you are one of the greats relating to the review of music and musicians... kudos

[@bzydad]

Story is the Ovation guitar on Spanish Fly was given to Eddie by Nancy Wilson during their time touring together. Love your channel.

[@ko9446]

The days after Eddies passing SiriusXM had a channel dedicated to VanHalen. This was one of the stories that was told. It was pretty cool to listen to artist talk about certain things with Eddie.

[@RetroGamingNook]

I think VHII is just slightly better than the first, and probably my fave. "Outta Love Again"... everyone just kicks so much ass on that track!

[@ProfessorofRock]

Outta Love Again! Yes! Great song.

[@pnp522]

I have always thought VH II was better than VH I

[@ColtraneTaylor]

@@pnp522 Me too. I'm not even a fan of VH1 or 1984 much.

[@5roundsrapid263]

Better? Just different. VH was more hard rock, VHII was branching out into pop. I can’t pick a favorite. It’s like picking a favorite child.

[@jehudavis5422]

@@5roundsrapid263 they are both fantastic but 1 is untouchable

[@whathahk]

Love the history, great commentary! Love this channel!

[@TheStrykerProject]

Great video, Professor Adam! Thank you for this excellent breakdown. I'd love to hear more like this about hard-rock/pop-metal bands and their classic albums (Metal Health, Out of the Cellar, Stay Hungry, etc.) 🍻

[@chrislestermusic]

I bought this album when it came out while visiting my grandmother for 2 weeks in Illinois and she didn’t have a record player so I had to wait til I went home to hear it. I stared at the back cover and inner sleeve imagining what it sounded like. When I got home, my mom had bought concert tickets to see them. So Van Halen in 1979 was my first concert. They played everything from the 1st and 2nd albums, except for “Women in Love”. What a first time! If I had to guess I think it’s Ed on bass on “Beautiful Girls” but may be wrong. I think he played bass more than people think…but I am a huge Michael Anthony fan so no disrespect intended.

[@pm2819]

Alex kicks the shit outta his drums on this album and the backing vocals are at their best. As for Dave and Eddie Absolutely Epic. 😎

[@djflashlinx5150]

Seriously little mention of Alex here.

[@JohnSparkmanandBlackTopHerd]

What a ride brother! That was my favorite ever, that record was right there when I was taking my first hit of a joint, and I will never forget the hours of listening to this record and drawing the VH symbol on all of my school books.

[@bradwest4821]

I never thought there would be a person who dissects the great music I love the way @professorofrock does. For a person who loves music and music trivia, it just doesn't get any better. I love this stuff. Absolutely awesome! Thank you for being exactly who you are. Long live rock, and especially my #3 all time, the mighty Van Halen!

[@direstraits1367]

“Dance The Night Away” is my favourite VH song. “Beautiful Girls” is also a great tune from the album.

[@toob1979]

Awesome follow-up to an amazing debut album. "Beautiful Girls" had an infamous appearance in the Saturday Night Live sketch for Schlitz Gay -- a sketch SNL couldn't do today. The sketch featured Chris Farley (R.I.P. along with EVH) and Adam Sandler in a parody of then-popular beer commercials. Instead of wall-to-wall bikini-clad women, it had wall-to-wall Speedo-clad himbos.

[@armynurseboy]

Thst song definitely fits a beer commercial vibe....even if it was a parody....😉

[@99percentirish64]

Thanks so much for this great breakdown, of this classic VH album!

[@seansherrod8725]

Van Halen has been my number one rock band since 1979 when I received Van Halen II for my 13th birthday. I have no clue that there was a Van Halen I which I went out and bought immediately after I found out. Most people were blown away by Eddie's guitar solo interruption for me it has always been and will always be the intro to "Woman in Love". For me it always sounded so angelic and so out of this world. I used to play just the intro over and over and over again to the point where it almost brought tears to my eyes. My favorite cuts will always be somebody give me a doctor bottoms Up Out of Love Again beautiful girls light up the sky woman in love and dance the night away. Thank you for being one of the very few to fully acknowledge the awesome and amazing backup vocals of Michael Anthony and Eddie Van Halen (and if you listen close there are a few David Lee Roth backup vocal overdubs in there as well). Love your channel my man, you are TRUE blessing to my nostalgic music soul!

[@kevinsbott]

Love to see VHII get the love it deserves!

[@MarkPritchardGuitar]

Love this album, definitely one of their best!

[@shanehebert396]

Dance The Night Away is one of my most favorite VH songs. It's so upbeat that it never fails to at least get my feet tapping.

[@markushutto4017]

I always thought it was a remake. It's my favorite song by VH

[@Hawk512.]

Yes! More and more Van Halen please. It would be awesome to have a track-by-track episode for every VH release. Keep up the great work Professor!

[@skooby_doobie_doonkann3334]

Bottoms up and it's flaws that you mentioned is what makes me love VH. Never serious. Very spontaneous

[@randalduke9671]

Comedian Steve Martin had a famous bit about how you could never be sad while playing a banjo. I contend that the same is true for VH. If someone turned VH on and you didn’t get happy or fired up….you must have been dead already. One of several things that made them stand out.

[@timothyorie7021]

We’ll said..totally agree

[@Jmac1962]

VHII is my favorite album of the DLR era, by far. Thanks for the great breakdown of the album, Prof.

[@funhavin5394]

Awesome. Thanks for the run down memory lane!

[@lucamarcellino2649]

Best guitarist ever

[@AntwhaleNearfar]

This is about Van Halen not Jimi Hendrix but yeah, I agree.

[@KurtS5150]

Great breakdown of every track I love how you broke down this classic memorable albums. Women in Love is about a guy loosing his girlfriend to another girl. Eddie talks about it during a Steve Rosen interview in 1979

[@theodoreritola9758]

DID THE 70s Rock or WHAT

[@mililaniman]

"Blue Bayou was originally recorded by Roy Orbison in 1963. It was later covered by Linda Ronstadt in 1977. She had a bigger hit with the song. "Your Love is Lifting Me Higher" was recorded by Jackie Wilson in the early sixties and later recorded Rita Coolidge in 1977. "I Don't Know How To Love Him" was originally recorded by Helen Reddy and later covered by Yvonne Elliman in 1971.

[@theodoreritola9758]

SEMI GOOD LOOKING one of the best 1 liners of the 70s

[@mjbakedbeans]

Dance the night away is one of my favorite VH songs no clue why but I just love it