The greatest hits of Van Halen: Top 10

Do you still remember the greatest hits of Van Halen, the band that had the most successful debut in rock history? Today, in memory of Eddie Van Halen, we are going to take a closer look at the albums of one of the greatest rock bands of all time.

With roots dating back to 1964, Van Halen gained their first experience in small clubs and birthday parties, as in the careers of many rock bands. By the early 1970s, the band’s name became well-known in California and the surrounding area. This success caught the eye of many club owners and Van Halen started playing at Gazzari’s, a famous nightclub in West Hollywood California. The club was a venue where many famous bands like The Doors had performed and this experience was a turning point in the band’s career.

After Gazzari’s, the band’s path opened up and they started to play at another famous rock club of the time, Whisky a Go Go. A nice coincidence happened when they started working at the club and the members of Van Halen met Gene Simmons, a member of KISS. Simmons was intrigued by Van Halen’s talent and it was clear that Simmon’s wanted a piece of the pie. Simmon produced a demo tape for the band, but Van Halen was not keen on the plan and moved on.

The band members had been together for about 10 years when they officially named themselves Van Halen in 1975. They had proven themselves and would go on to produce some of the most successful songs in the rock world.

10 of the greatest hits of Van Halen

1. “Running With The Devil” (Van Halen, 1978)

Van Halen released its first album “Van Halen” in 1978. The 11-song album entered the Billboard charts at number 11, making Van Halen the most successful band in rock history. “Van Halen” is considered one of the greatest rock albums of all time.

The most successful song from Van Halen’s debut album was “Running With The Devil.” The song, which features David Lee Roth on vocals and Eddie Van Halen on drums, has been streamed approximately 135 million times.

2. “Eruption” (Van Halen, 1978)

“Eruption” is often credited with revolutionizing the way guitarists approached playing the instrument. Eddie Van Halen’s use of two-handed tapping, tremolo picking, and harmonics showcased innovative techniques that were groundbreaking at the time and inspired countless guitarists to experiment with new styles.

The solo was recorded in one take during the studio sessions for Van Halen’s debut album. Eddie Van Halen improvised the entire solo on the spot, and it was initially intended as a warm-up exercise. However, producer Ted Templeman recognized its potential and insisted on including it on the album.

After this song, Eddie Van Halen earned the nickname ‘guitar hero‘.

3. “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love” (Van Halen, 1978)

“Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love” is a classic rock song, released on Van Halen’s debut album in 1978. The lyrics of “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love” were written by David Lee Roth, the band’s lead vocalist at the time.

The song has had a significant cultural impact since its release. It has been featured in numerous films, TV shows, and commercials, and its riff has been covered and sampled by other artists.

4. “Dance The Night Away” (Van Halen II, 1979)

Van Halen had found success and continued to work relentlessly. Just one year after the first album, the band released its second album, “Van Halen II”. It seems that for this album, rather than worrying about the title, the band preferred to worry about the songs.

“Dance the Night Away” was one of the most memorable songs from “Van Halen II.” The album reached #6 on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States and achieved Platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

5. “You Really Got Me” (Van Halen, 1978)

“You Really Got Me” starts with a mind-blowing guitar solo. The creator of this solo is Dave Davies. The song is one of the greatest hits of Van Halen with 70 million streams.

6. “Oh, Pretty Woman” (Driver Down, 1982)

Van Halen again shook the rock world in 1982 with the release of “Driver Down”. The album sold 4 million copies and went 4x platinum.

“Driver Down” is one of Van Halen’s most successful albums. It brought the band the Guinness world record for the most lucrative stage performance – Van Halen received one and a half million Euros for a 90-minute stage performance after “Driver Down”. One of the most successful songs from that album is “Oh, Pretty Woman,” a cover of the classic Roy Orbison song.

7. “Jump” (1984, 1984)

After the success of “Driver Down”, all eyes were waiting for the next album. Van Halen was not satisfied with success and in 1984 he released the album “1984”.

“1984” became Van Halen’s most successful album, selling 5 million copies in one year. This album also featured the song “Jump”. “Jump” reached 440 million streams and became Van Halen’s biggest hit. Besides that, the songs earned Van Halen a Grammy and second place in the charts behind Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”

8. “Panama” (1984, 1984)

One of the reasons for the success of the album “1984” was the inclusion of the song “Panama” alongside “Jump”. “Panama” reached 183 million streams and became one of Van Halen’s most popular songs.

9. “Hot for Teacher” (1984, 1984)

“Hot for Teacher” also appears on Van Halen’s “1984” album. The song begins with the iconic drum solo by Alex Van Halen. The solo is known for its technical complexity and has become one of the most recognizable drum intros in rock music history.

The music video for “Hot for Teacher” was directed by David Lee Roth, the band’s lead vocalist. It features a comedic storyline where a young boy dreams about being in a classroom with an attractive female teacher played by model and actress Lillian Müller. The video received heavy rotation on MTV and contributed to the song’s success.

10. “Why Can’t This Be Love” (5150, 1986)

“Why Can’t This Be Love” marked Van Halen’s first single with Sammy Hagar as the lead vocalist, following the departure of original frontman David Lee Roth. The song was a commercial success, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States.

The music video for “Why Can’t This Be Love” features the band performing the song in various locations, interspersed with footage of Sammy Hagar singing against a backdrop of colorful graphics. The video received heavy rotation on MTV.

Van Halen is one of the most legendary bands in the history of rock and has left a striking legacy in the music industry. Eddie Van Halen, a guitar hero, and David Lee Roth will be remembered in the world of music. In this article, we examined some of Van Halen’s greatest hits and appreciated the musical talents and creativity of the band members. Eddie Van Halen’s unique guitar talent, David Lee Roth’s charismatic stage presence, and Sammy Hagar’s powerful vocal performances have created unforgettable moments for the group.

Unfortunately, Eddie Van Halen passed away in 2020, and Van Halen was forced to disband.

What is your favorite Van Halen hit? Let us know in the comments!