BEST SWITCH UP EVER!! Van Halen - I'm The One | REACTION

[@matts6771]

VH brothers swing unmatched.

[@kdm71291]

“A drum loop”???!!! Not a chance, brother….and they DID sing it live! They went into Sunset Sound Recording Studios and played it like a live set!

[@diverdown631]

This album dropped like a Bomb.

[@greggorywilson2765]

I was there @13 y.o. Nuked. .

[@rogerdaly6326]

With Van Halen 1 , you first have to look at it from a historical context. In 1978 Donna Summer & The Bee Gees ruled the airwaves because of the popularity of the Saturday Night Fever movie. Disco was at its peak. Along come Van Halen with this first album and crushed it. No one had ever heard someone play guitar like Eddie Van Halen did. It was jaw dropping. Then you have the raw , playing live in the studio sound. Top it off with the swagger they had and it was rock n roll magic. Their impact changed the game.

[@allisterfiend_2112]

Spot on! Great comment.

[@robertyates7242]

Great take!❤

[@vanhalenou8125150]

Yep! Totally changed the game. Woke everybody up!!

[@hardrockinmofo9742]

Yeah. Bought the LP when it first came out, and guess what? 🤯

[@rogerdaly6326]

@@hardrockinmofo9742 I won my copy for 25 cents at a boardwalk arcade stand in Seaside Heights NJ when i was 13 yrs old ! 25 cents !

[@Monsterdrumma]

The shooby doowap section most definitely was Daves idea it has his personality all over it!

[@soundbreak7]

for sure

[@sweetwilliam5150]

They always recorded 100% live the first several albums. No tricks! And no drum loop! Thats the Reverend Alex Van Halen with the killer double bass shuffle. This is one of the quintessential VH songs it has a little of everything. Enjoy and keep them coming!

[@chopperdeath]

No drum loop.

[@tdz69]

“Is that a drum loop I’m hearing?” Lol. Man these guys did it live. Pay attention kids. Four guys who got in a room and put on a clinic. Listen to the rhythm section. Al was a beast. They were all in their 20s and taking no prisoners. One of the greatest bands of all time.

[@VanHalenStarWars]

After listening to this track it’s very easy to say Greatest American hard rock band ever. You can’t touch this. Sonic perfection! 🤟

[@rothed16]

❤❤❤

[@pudgydaddy]

Well said and so true. Certainly no other band could pull this off essentially live like they did here. Just an amazing level of talent in those four guys, pure magic.

[@craigmeek3363]

Good ear my man, they are most definitely singing it live in the studio all in one room.

[@warrenyoung7503]

That Album is live of the floor you’re correct. They were so damn good they could just knock it out live.

[@e.l.norton]

No drum loops! The drum loop is called Alex Van Halen. It's always all him. And, you keyed into something. They essentially played live in the studio on the first album or two. They had been playing live in the bars for years and when they got into the studio Ed found the recording process unnecessarily complicated and asked, "Can't we just play live like we always do?" And, that's what they did. They played live together in the same room with Dave in a vocal booth.

[@davidgerlach1132]

Alex and Eddie are the glue. Both pianists, and swing dancers...

[@scottmgso]

This song encapsulates Van Halen’s incredible talent in one song! Guitar, vocals, harmonies, bass and drums!!

[@artis1969]

They could do anything they wanted. So many great styles and all the talent to pull it off. This shit only gets better over time.

[@davemanning2719]

This song is talking about the audience my friend. Look at all these little kids taking care of the music bizz, I see a glow that fills this room, the theme is the crowd showing love babe, lol. EVH!!!!!

[@johnknee1403]

You’re right: The album was mostly recorded live in Studio 1 - only "Runnin' with the Devil," "Jamie's Cryin'," "Feel Your Love Tonight," and "Ice Cream Man" used guitar overdubs.

[@eddievantrollen3459]

One word comes to mind describing Eddie's playing on this particular tune- BLISTERING!!!

[@mikegoldstein1246]

Besides the technical superiority on Eddie’s guitar skill, the swing he plays this with is just something that no one else can even come close to playing.. that’s why Eddie reigns supreme to the ALL.. he skill level unmatched but he adds the rhythm and swing that he plays with is from another world

[@elroz1675]

Van Halen's song endings were always awesome ... come to think about it their beginnings were great, and the rest too.

[@jamesmick8653]

The lead singer (David Lee Roth) arranged the backup vocals on the first six albums The vocal breakdown was his. The swing feel comes from Eddie & Alex's father being a European big band jazz musician. There's much more. Van Halen is DEEP Bro'.

[@reset-xs9ql]

"I'm the one" is the quintessential example of VH (on the first album) showing how good they could actually play. in the studio, not a stage performance, not drinking, not running around, sober and warmed up. in serious mode. the producer/engineers must've been like "holy shit these guys can fing jam!" when they played this in the studio. it's Eddie, Mike and Alex playing live together. note : there aren't two guitar tracks. wrap your head around that. listen to how fing good Alex plays on this. It's all their heroes (purple,Zep,Top) wrapped up in one speed demon delivery. The vocals of course would be laid down separately later. Although, a scratch lead vocal, while the instruments were recording, is also possible but typically not all of that vocal would have been kept. 40+ years later and is still one of the most impressive songs I've ever heard. Eddie was 22. Dave was 23. Mike and Alex were 24 at the time of recording this in 9/77. first record.

[@scotthazel6311]

Van Halen Brothers grew up on swing music and big band. their dad was a musician. He played clarinet and the saxophone classical train.

[@ScarredRomeo]

Van Halen is my favorite band. This song epitomizes the greatness of early EVH. It’s basically a summation of his repertoire: the accuracy, aggressiveness, rhythm, soloing, tapping, bends, whammies, harmonics (pinched or otherwise), etc. Eddie was such a fantastic rhythm player. This song has a jazz based, shuffle rhythm if you listen closely that is hard to get on the guitar just right. And his brother was just as fantastic at rhythm on the drums. They were figuratively joined at the hip at birth when it came to music (and more).

[@donbabcock6021]

One of the original VH tunes from playing school gyms!

[@TDBridge]

MASTER PEICE!

[@frankpiccolo8420]

They are the GOAT and this album is the best! 💯🙏❤️

[@AnthonyCiulla]

I was 10 years old when this album first dropped and it changed my life forever

[@galaxieman24]

This is probably my favorite Van Halen song. Unchained would be a close second. That Van Halen Swing !

[@rubendelgado1865]

That break at the end was definitely Dave's, he loved the 60's and 70's groups. He loved motown and r & b. Finding out about his musical influences, I always thought it was strange that he chose to be in a Rock n Roll band.

[@Carloscda40]

One of Dave's quotes.. He said he feels like a Black guy trapped in a Jewish guys body.. Only Dave! lol

[@donbabcock2062]

My parents heard me singing shoop shooby doo wah and thought I was into THEIR records until they heard the rest… fooled them didn’t I.

[@kevinmclaughlin1092]

Their best song by far for my $$$. The 4 part Doo Wop harmony and Dave's final YEAH!!!!!!!!!! at the end sets this song apart. And like others have said already, you can't downplay just how GROUNDBREAKING this album was back in 1978 at the height of the DISCO & PUNK movements.

[@csbrown3]

Brother, Edward played that shuffle better than anybody! And I remember cruising with my buddies, playing this cassette. Every time the doo-wop part hit, we'd all sing it. It was awesome back in '78, and my oh my, how its stood the test of time! R.I.P., King Edward...

[@dalejohnson2047]

Early Van Halen was recorded live in studio with minimal overdubs so it was kinda what you see is what you get raw rock music

[@scottdolby]

You sold me with Tool Doing the full VH Fair Warning album was epic. Thens to this video - I forgot just how “F”ing good this specific song is. Thanks chief!

[@ignaciogalvan1732]

He says" we came here to entertain you' you're giving a concert they want you to show your love to them❤

[@eddievantrollen3459]

You hit the nail on the head, Mugnify. When recording in the studio, Van Halen tried to record their music as if they were playing live with as few re-takes as possible and no over dubbing. That's just another reason why Eddie was so great- he went from lead to rhythm and back again without missing a beat!!!

[@JohnFnLopez]

Ah. My all time favorite VH song. Crazy rhythm playing. Crazy leads all the way through the song. Dave is on point. Alex bangs away with aggression. And Anthony driving bass and sweet vocals...mmmm! This song really is a conglomeration of all the things that make VH great!

[@falcon65drums]

There are no words for good this one is!

[@mrluke8264]

The brothers were trained on Jazz and Blues, Classical by their Dad, played Piano and Clarinet. Lots of influences. Yes they might be rude and crude but also party down, sometimes Just plain fun. I detect some Little Richard too (Long Tall Sally etc) . Eddie had a way of shredding and melding styles no doubt. Glad you are enjoying as much as us Mugs

[@johnlopez3155]

The original Van Halen was way above all other bands on all levels. Even to this day, no band has compared to their unique sound. Their music has never outdated…Greatest of the greats!

[@timwanwick6503]

1st Van Halen album and 1 Hendrix LP "Are You Experienced" --- BEST Debut albums EVER ! Both are WIDELY Influential. 😎🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@danielmyers4827]

Great reaction. I was 9 years old when i first heard this, These guys were in their early twenties. Van Halen changed everything musically in 1978.There will never be a band like them again and i hope that i'm wrong!

[@ronmcbride4474]

#HOG in the house. Hard pressed to find today music like anything from the 70's and early 80's. Lots of iconic bands and songs. That's why they call it classic rock. Great time to go to concerts.

[@greatwhitewolf8465]

That's true Van Halen. Can't beat it.

[@gotyour6guitars]

Eddie and Alex Van Halen being brothers had an established rhythm together. Their father was a professional musician and brought their family from Holland to the USA when they were young. They didn't speak a word of English when they were kids, so they were a bit alienated from other kids and their bond was probably even stronger. David Lee Roth had his own style of singing and brought the razz ma-tazz and stage antics. The backing vocals were primarily from the bass player Michael Anthony with support from Eddie. Each member brought their own talents together for a formula that would become legendary on the back of Eddie's incredible ability with the guitar. The only other thing to add is the tones. The guitar tone known as the brown sound is to this day sought after by many guitarists. The solid thud of Alex's Ludwig drums was unmistakable and known, but his playing was creative and complimented every song. The sound engineers at the time did a great job capturing the magic in the studio, but there was nothing better than VH Live back in the day. You could feel the music hit your chest. VH 1 was fire as you said. Great review Mug!

[@badbrad]

This is one of the baddest tunes in the whole VH catalog. The change up is a nod to the swing music the boys played backing their father...who was a swing musician,

[@centerlaneband-columbiasc6285]

Back then they did record it live in a studio and then they came back later and put down the vocals

[@whey4u]

Love it! The backing vocals are the amazing Michael Anthony (Bassist) and Edward himself. Mikey IS the backup vocalist! He’s the man! Edward played in riffs and not so much cords which makes playing like him extremely hard. He also liked to play what he felt versus piecing together riffs to make a solo. Being the first album they were essentially playing live for the album. This album is so incredible and you can hear the individuality of each performer, those bass lines, the drums, Dave’s ad-libs and Edward’s impeccable playing. This is a great song, probably one of the best on this album, but you got some good fire coming up!

[@frankpiccolo8420]

You are listening to the mighty Van Halen the greatest American rock band of all time! and you’re right about how it doesn’t sound like it’s from a studio because those three incredibly talented musicians can fill up a song so much that it sounds like there’s an audience and it’s live. There’s so much that Van Halen gives us and I appreciate it. 100%. I love them!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@faceplantor5647]

Nice one👊🏽⚡️They did record mostly live.

[@irisdurant1]

No loops back then All live

[@MugnifyRTS]

My bad I forgot

[@JohnDuke9261]

It's called stereo. If you had 4 speakers hooked in a series in a square room it would blow uour mind

[@brentabbott3954]

The first albums where live no over dubbs.

[@tjmasson1013]

Eddie literally tears their song to shreds fire 🔥

[@chopperdeath]

All of these songs on VH1 were ones they had played live hundreds of times. It was basically live and you can really hear the raw quality of the band all in the same room.

[@89801wink]

While in H.S. when this came out, if you lost a speaker or a channel on your amp, you either lost guitar or vocals. Made you pony up the money and get it fixed quickly.

[@stevenbeall9637]

This was live in studio. At least the majority of the music. Dave would redo some vocal tracks but everything else was a live take.

[@Rogerhoughkirk]

It was basically a live album because they all played and recorded together with a few overdubs.

[@vonclarktheshark2279]

Van Halen is the only band that made metal you could dance to.

[@odinquincannon4237]

This is the perfect example of a textbook Classic Van Halen song. All the elements are on display. Dave’s signature growling, shouting screaming, oh and singing too, with cool ass lyrics and a fantastic spirit and charisma , even though you can’t even see him, catchy but nasty guitar riff and a mind blowing solo that isn’t just showing off but fits in the song. The patented shuffle the way the Van Halens do it, the pounding, plodding bass line that is way cooler than it seemed on the first listen , the fantastic harmonies in the chorus and background vocals made stellar by Michael Anthony’s tenor voice and a Classic VH breakdown before the HUGE finish. I was around 13 when I bought this record and it kept getting better to me for at least three months. Fair Warning was my first, went backwards, lol. You can’t lose doing classic VH reactions. I think VH fans like me would watch DLR era reactions every day for a long time, lol. I’m jealous, you get to hear it for the first time. I can’t do that again, 😁😁😁

[@anthonymazza8846]

Dave was very into R and B when they started. And BTW, if I recall, most of that first album was recorded live in the studio. They had been playing these songs for a few years in the clubs before they got signed to their recording contract.

[@mrcouch9018]

The song is a rock shuffle.

[@richardjackley334]

I watched these guys when they played in backyard parties in East L.A. and at the Pasadena Civic Center ( at least I think that's what it's called). I fact they played on my block for a car club and I was friggin grounded for some stupid stuff ( probably curfew) and had to listen from my front yard. Those who watched them back in the day remember their signature song was "man on a silver mountain." Everybody knew their were gonna be successful. They virtually won every "battle of the bands" they participated in. Hated when DLR left the band, but Sammy is awesome and his influence changed the sound a little. I love both iterations of the band!

[@Krust_Acean]

There's some videos on the Sunset Studios channel, where the engineers and other employees who worked on this album discuss it. It was definitely recorded live, in the studio with minimal overdubs. It was all done fast.

[@heyskipj]

Whoooo....! This is one of those where they let everyone cook!

[@chrisgarcia9629]

Excellent review Mugs and great ear! This album was recorded live in studio in one room. When they dropped this new album, it blew up the whole scene in a great way!

[@bobravenscraft5376]

This and ON FIRE is them telling. WE ARE HERE

[@mr198221]

Another fact is Ted had heard a similar upbeat, swinging track like this and wanted VH to come up with one. It became this!

[@m.ericwatson968]

This song is pure fire!

[@danmellen1423]

Van Halen’s first couple records were recorded live in the studio

[@lanazugg-zugg8433]

F - I - R - E !!!

[@rothed16]

This was sooooooooo good in concert

[@craigjessmer3226]

Those early VH albums, they did pretty much go into the studio and blow live. There are a few overdubs here and there, but what you primarily hear is them jamming together live, not in separate rooms. It's just how they had always played. When you listen to one of Ed's solo's...thats what it really is, a solo with just that bad ass rhythm section behind it. That harmonizing you talk about is Mike and Eddie doing what they did throughout all those years, putting their trademark sound on so many classics. Another great reaction video....Rhanks for posting!

[@jimmyboy131]

The van Halen brothers first had exposure to jazz, from their father, then they were trained to classical piano. Then after that they discovered rock. So they have a unique approach to music as a whole, which you hear in their own music.

[@BionicBrady]

So a couple things here to note. Van Halen at least in their first five records. Did everything live takes in the studios. I think fair warning had maybe the first introduction of like overlays. But everything for the most part was done in live text hanging microphones in the studio and playing live Ed Van Halen was a big proponent of doing mono recording so we would have guitars on one side and drums on the other. That all change on 5150. He changed it up then but still this is good stuff. By the way everyone, they banged out these records in like one - two weeks. No one does that except for Van Halen

[@robertcook792]

They did record live in the studio. It only took a few weeks to record the first 6 albums apiece. Versus like 6 months for a lot of artist. This album debuted in early ‘78 10 months on tour and back in the studio for a few weeks and VH 2 released New Years ‘’79 and back on tour. They were relentless. And you picked up on the diversity of their music. Alex was was progressive, Dave was into Motown, Disco, jazz Eddie was hard rock and it all went into the soup. Here you for the first time you hear the Dooowap! They always throw in a song with something like this. But IceCream man at the end is more like what I’m talking bout. Like Big Bad Bill off diver down, could this be magic off the third album. They would do things off the wall and it was awesome. Good reaction to this iconic song.

[@swanneez5246]

One of the best examples of the Van Halen 'Swing' how I like to call this. Maybe also boogie. The father of Eddie and Alex van Halen (Jan van Halen) was a Jazz musician. The sixties was full of Jazz, they grew up with that. It doesn't get mentioned enough I think.

[@trumpchump3539]

Music today can't touch this. They recorded this album live in studio at sunset sound in LA. Only thing is that David Lee Roth was in another room with headphones and a mic the band played live in one room. Only took a week.

[@erickent3557]

Yep! You nailed the harmonies as a signature. I listened as a young'un back in 79/80 and didn't think about it. But years later: what sound haunted me, and stuck in my head as a unique? Those Michael Anthony harmonies...

[@lukekademoff7499]

Dave was a huge fan of Vaudeville, Blues, Motown etc. He brought his style to the band and it was nice ingredient in the Van Halen recipe. Coach K

[@landofgoshenstudios6402]

Boogie Woogie+Rock. LOVE IT!!

[@terryconnelly484]

David lee Roth has always enjoyed The older classic music styles . Like frank Sinatra. Alex and Eddie's father play clarinet In a jazz band Eddie started playing the drums and Alex the guitar and thank god they switched

[@eddievantrollen3459]

Hope you're getting royalties on your Van Halen reactions cuz I'm back for more!!!

[@centerlaneband-columbiasc6285]

The bass guitar, and the guitar is separate and both channels to simulate if you were hearing them on stage

[@coachjdc]

early VH did a lot of "live" in the studio recording

[@snakeinthegrass7443]

I guess I'm just old, but didn't everyone used to record live in a studio? I know now-a-days people make "music" at their kitchen tables, but if not live in a studio, how else is real music made? Or did you mean that everyone was in studio together singing? Either way, this album blew my mind when I first heard it around 1980 at age 12. Instant fan that couldn't get enough of their first four albums.

[@MugnifyRTS]

What I meant was a feels like a live performance recorded in a studio.

[@chopperdeath]

This song is vicious.

[@ashwar3639]

For some reason, this song more than any to me symbolizes how Eddie just came in and obliterated rock and roll and laid waste to every other rock guitarist in existence. That riff with the swung rhythm is IMPOSSIBLE to play like that, nobody realizes how amazing his rhythm playing was fully. His solos in this song are just absolutely from another planet, we could not believe what we were hearing back then. Nobody ever came close to matching his swagger, rhythm, writing, and just all out detonation of style mixed with technical ability. All the imitators who came after Eddie just tried to be faster and more technical, they completely missed the point that the attitude and ferocity he had was never going to be matched. Eddie was a true natural, not of this earth. His ability not only as an absolutely devastating guitarist, but a composer and writer as well, will be studied and remembered for centuries like Mozart and Beethoven. Everything was different from this moment on with rock music. A true genius like we will never see again.

[@cdraper7277]

You want to introduce someone to Van Halen, play this song. Shows all the major elements to Roth Era Van Halen.

[@wesw6840]

There for it man 🙏thank you man 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@jamese.6472]

This album was the holy grail that every other rock band wanted to make, but didn’t have the creative freedom to accomplish. But the mighty Van Halen opened the floodgates for what I consider to be a dream era that survived for about 15 years

[@NikkieTwix]

My favourite Van Halen song. I first heard it in Airheads but it was a 4 Non Blondes cover

[@97warlock]

They often recorded live. Very loose but they were so good they could do that

[@simoneemiliani5782]

Legendary song💣💣💣💣💣❤

[@richardcranium5048]

If you want to hear a song with some great word play and double meaning check out Up To My Neck by AC/DC

[@sterlingnaquin8977]

Just came across your channel. I really appreciate your knowledge of music and your ability to break down a song and realize the work that went into composing it. I too am a musician. I played guitar professionally for a little over 30 years and it makes me fell good to see people of the younger generation and from different backgrounds experiencing the music I grew up with and that inspired me to play. Keep up the great work. Subscribing now.

[@paulolsen6870]

Alex makin the double bass swing 🤘🏼

[@danielmclaughlin9043]

It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!

[@Robcadams1974]

You must watch some of the VH documentaries and the ones of Sunset Studios talking about how they recorded live and like 2 weeks in the studio was all it took.

[@davidmerlin3344]

Van Halen recorded LIVE in the studio.

[@thecooka69]

Some VH smoke! Always fresh! ❤

[@toddcaylor370]

Another loud, proud, Mugshot!!

[@MrJusmobile]

Its about their fans!!