July 23, 2009

Off-Day Outtakes: Van Halen

Fact: The only Van Halen albums worth listening to are the first four -- I, II, Women And Children First, Fair Warning -- though I'll admit Diver Down has its moments. I'm amazed at how many songs from their first six albums these guys had written before they were even signed.

Cherokee Demos (1974)
01  Angel Eyes 
02 Believe Me
03 Simple Rhyme
04 Take Your Whiskey Home
Hound Dog Demos (1975-1976)
01  Guitar Instrumental (w/Somebody Get Me A Doctor riffs)
02 (Studio Talk)
03 Babe Don't Leave Me Alone
04 Fools
05 Ice Cream Man
06 She's The Woman
07 Woman In Love
Zero (1976 -- Produced: Gene Simmons/Remastered: thir13en)
01  On Fire
02 Woman In Love
03 House Of Pain
04 Runnin' With the Devil
05 She's the Woman (used in Mean Streets)
06 Let's Get Rockin'
07 Big Trouble
08 Somebody Get Me a Doctor
09 Babe, Don't Leave Me Alone
10 Put Out the Lights
Warner Brothers Demo (1977)
Disc 1
01 Feel Your Love Tonight
02 I'm The One
03 Runnin' With The Devil
04 Voodoo Queen (evolved into Mean Streets)
05 Little Dreamer
06 Last Night (evolved into Hang 'Em High)
07 Somebody Get Me A Doctor
08 Light In The Sky
09 Get The Show On The Road
10 Babe Don't Leave Me Alone
11 Big Trouble
12 On Fire

Disc 2
01 She's The Woman (used in Mean Streets)
02 I Wanna Be Your Lover
03 Bring On The Girls (aka Beautiful Girls)
04 We Die Bold
05 Young And Wild
06 Let's Get Rockin'
07 Put Out The Lights
08 House Of Pain
09 In A Simple Rhyme
10 You Really Got Me
11 Happy Trails
12 Gonna Take A Lotta Drugs
Women And Children First sessions
01  And The Cradle Will Rock ...
02 Romeo Delight
03 (Instrumental) (aka Act Like It Hurts, aka Tora! Tora!)
04 Everybody Wants Some
05 Loss Of Control
06 Take Your Whiskey Home
07 Fools
08 In A Simple Rhyme
09 Take Your Whiskey Home (intro only)
(samples at 192, downloads at 256)

41 comments:

9casey said...

DLR looks like my sister-in-law in this pic (is that bad for him or her?)

Van Halen 1 , is one of my favorite records of all time, I assume most of my generation agrees

allan said...

I'd say bad for her.

There has always been something about VHI that has kept me at a distance. I don't know what it is. But Fair Warning is probably a desert island disc.

Unknown said...

Oh my my my... this is quite a haul.

Thanks a lot, man. This is as good as the Neil Young stuff, almost. This is almost enough to bring me back to a Pre-AllStar state of mind.

I'd also like to suggest that 1984 has some pretty stellar songs on it, (I mean, they're silly and stupid, but undeniably fun). I'd also like to recommend the Atomic Punks bootleg, which is otherworldly, and was released either right before or right after Diver Down.

laura k said...

"This picture needs no caption."

A few lifetimes ago, when I was a proofreader, I worked on a bio of DLR. I was working with galleys, so I saw captions with no pics. We've never known what that photo went with that caption.

laura k said...

I assume most of my generation agrees

I thought you're too young for that to be your generation. I was in high school when it came out.

allan said...

"This picture needs no caption."

I think we tried to find the book in a store much later, but came up empty.

I considered 1984. I won't run away if I hear Panama or Hot For Teacher -- and the videos were amusing -- but it doesn't stand up for me. They have already crested and are sliding down the back side with shit like Jump (which I believe was actually written and considered for Fair Warning) and I'll Wait.

allan said...

Looks like the "Atomic Punks" boot is from October 15, 1977 (Pasadena Civic Center). My files are from a set titled "The Nightmare Before Halloween", which also includes five rehearsal songs (soundcheck?) from the same date.

allan said...

Just noticed this from the Nightmare info file:

"Digital Remastering by Wooda"

!!!

laura k said...

So you guys can listen to VH as real music, not just in a nostalgia or kitschy kind of way? It doesn't hold up for me at all.

It's like listening to The Cars or Boston. It makes me think, What made us think this was so good at the time? It's like cotton candy.

allan said...

So you guys can listen to VH as real music, not just in a nostalgia or kitschy kind of way?

("Real music"? What an elitist!)

Most of the first 4 albums, yeah. Some of it is silly -- while DLR is a born entertainer, he's also a bit of a buffon -- but it mostly rocks. Despite the guitar pyrotechnics, they have always been more than a bit poppy. How anyone could see something like Dance The Night Away (to name just one tune) as metal or hard rock is beyond me. Plus the high background harmonies (which I like) go against the metal stereotype.

We'll crank 'em on the drive to Boston on Monday. You'll see!

It's like listening to The Cars or Boston. It makes me think, What made us think this was so good at the time? It's like cotton candy.

I considered upping some demos from the first Boston album earlier this year That seems like it has pure nostalgia value. I listened to one song and had the fucker stuck in my head for three damn days. Not good times!

allan said...

Listening to a bit of that 1977 boot now. DLR's stage banter makes him sound like a black preacher. ???

allan said...

The VH shows I've heard -- never saw them live -- are too disjointed to really get into, though. Either the sound is subpar, DLR is wasted/rambling, or the actual music stops for a bass, drum or guitar solo. Bleh.

The albums are good, dumb fun. Can that be listened to as "real music"?

Unknown said...

Did 2004 teach us nothing about the value of idiots?

But yeah, most of everything up to 1984 and parts of 1984 are really riveting. I'm too young to listen to anything for nostalgia, and never really understood why people would listen to music ironically. So I would say "yes, I listen to VH as real music."

9casey said...

Whattya got against cotton candy


L, my sister is 43 so a lot of the music I heard as a an 7 and 8 yr old was hers...

9casey said...

redsock said...


The albums are good, dumb fun. Can that be listened to as "real music"?


Amen Brother, If you like it and it makes you happy , you shouldn't feel ashamed for liking it , there are quite a bit of music snobs in the world. Who think if it doesn't change the world or have some message , it isn't music...

Rob said...

Mark Buerhle threw a perfect game today against the FKR!

Unknown said...

MARK FUCKING BUEHRLE.

I finally broke down and got MLB.TV a couple days before all-star break and have since been rewarded with a no hitter and a perfect game. Wonderful.

allan said...

1981 Tour, Video From Oakland

Unchained

Hear About It Later

So This Is Love

Rob said...

Last MLB No-hitter?

2004.


NO WORRIES.

9casey said...

Ish said...
Mark Buerhle threw a perfect game today against the FKR!




Most likely the most underrated pitcher in the league...

laura k said...

Cotton candy - fluff, no substance, disappears as soon as you bite into it. So sweet it makes you gag.

L, my sister is 43 so a lot of the music I heard as a an 7 and 8 yr old was hers...

Ah, we have that in common. I had the same thing with my siblings who are 5 and 8 years older than me. I was a very cool kid, listening to great rock at 7 years old.

laura k said...

Wait a second, 9Casey has completely misunderstood me here. I would NEVER say anyone should be ashamed of listening to any music they like, never ever. Allan is kidding about "elitist", he knows I am not like that at all.

What I meant by "real music" was what James says - listen to for musical enjoyment, not in an ironic or kitschy or nostalgia way.

Like when the Brady Bunch was popular some years ago. People didn't really like the show and watch it as real TV, they liked it for kitsch or ironic value. (I assume.)

One thing I am not and never will be is a music snob. I love all different kinds of music. This just doesn't happen to be among them. VH and esp DLR just never did that much for me. But shit, you like it, more power to you.

I WAS JUST ASKING.

laura k said...

The albums are good, dumb fun. Can that be listened to as "real music"?

Of course? One word: Ramones.

9casey said...

L-girl said...
Wait a second, 9Casey has completely misunderstood me here.




That was the point, just havin a little off day fun.....

9casey said...

The kids went peach pickin' with Grandma today and came home with about 8 dozen peaches, any ideas?????

laura k said...

That was the point, just havin a little off day fun.....

OK, I'd rather be a fool than a snob!

The kids went peach pickin' with Grandma today and came home with about 8 dozen peaches, any ideas?????

Does anybody bake? (I sure don't.) Peach pie is very yummy.

Also sliced on vanilla ice cream.

Also in a blender with yogurt and blueberries or strawberries for a smoothie.

laura k said...

peaches

laura k said...

never really understood why people would listen to music ironically

I don't understand why anyone does anything ironically. Life's too short. There's too much to enjoy.

On that note, I will pour myself an off-day glass of red wine.

Zenslinger said...

I heard the reunion shows with Roth last year (?) sounded awful.

9casey said...

L-girl said...
That was the point, just havin a little off day fun.....

OK, I'd rather be a fool than a snob!



You are not a fool either, just fun to mess with......Peaches with vanila ice cream sounds good, we may have to jar them or something like that...

9casey said...

I have never had peach pie, do the peaches get real soft and slimy?

allan said...

James, do you have the soundcheck tracks for the "Atomic Punks" show?

9casey said...

Maybe some of the more politcally advanced can help me with this one from last nights TV apperance

The President:
"So let me be clear. This isn't about me.

I have great health insurance, and so does every member of Congress."



Don't we pay for that as well. Just seems , to me, like the wrong thing to say...

Rob said...

Movin' to the country, gonna eat a lot of peaches. Movin' to the country, gonna eat me a lotta peaches.

SoSock said...

"Eat A Peach" - a real classic!

I loved VH at first - saw them as quite possibly the next great band. The 1st 3 albums kicked ass and I was hooked. Tried like hell to master Eddie's licks on VH1, but he's tough as anybody I ever tried. Of course he gets a little technological help too.
Saw them backing up the Outlaws and ZZ Top at Carter Finley stadium in 77 I think it was. They kicked ass and took names. The Outlaws were downright boring after DLR's antics and ZZ was OK, but not any better.
Lost all interest after 1984 came out. And it only got worse with "that other dude" (Yes I know it was Hagar)

Unknown said...

I do not, Redsock. I only have a trackless rip someone made for me from back when it was the Head Heritage album of the month.

allan said...

I'll put them up this weekend.

laura k said...

The President:
"So let me be clear. This isn't about me.

I have great health insurance, and so does every member of Congress."



Don't we pay for that as well. Just seems , to me, like the wrong thing to say...


I have no context for this, didn't hear it or read it. But I assume he meant he is not motivated by selfish reasons - and that members of Congress who vote against health care reform are denying other Americans the opportunity to get something that they themselves have and likely take for granted. Like voting yourself a raise but voting against a minimum wage increase.

Again, I didn't hear it but that's my take on what you posted.

laura k said...

Also, in good peach pie, the peaches are soft but not slimy.

Eat A Peach is a great album.

allan said...

Van Halen
The Nightmare Before Halloween 1977-10-15
Pasadena Civic


01 On Fire (Rehearsal) Instr.
02 VooDoo Queen (Rehearsal) Instr.
03 Atomic Punk (Rehearsal) Instr.
04 Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love (Rehearsal)
05 On Fire (Rehearsal)
**
06 On Fire
07 Feel Your Love Tonight
08 Runnin' With The Devil
09 Atomic Punk
10 Little Dreamer
11 Somebody Get Me A Doctor
12 Ice Cream Man
13 Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
14 Eruption
15 D.O.A.
16 You Really Got Me

allan said...

This rehearsal tracks may not be from the same date as the show (i.e., a soundcheck).

A VH Boots site says:

"Pasadena Rehearsals (10/15/1977) Remastered by Wooda. Ain't Talkin' Bout Love and On Fire from the rehearsals were often rumored to be takes from the Gene Simmons Demos or Unknown Demo tracks. From Wooda's Master Tape. Not really demos, but they've been included on other demo complilations, so as not to have them "missing" they are included."

I'm not sure what they are.