Van Halen - 1984
List Price:
Our Price: $6.54
You Save: $5.44 (45%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $2.99 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more CD details
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
CD Details
Artist: Van HalenEdition: Music CD
Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 2000-09-19
Music Label: Warner Bros / Wea
Soundtracks:
- 1984
- Jump - Van Halen, VanHalen, Alex
- Panama - Van Halen, Anthony, Michael [2
- Top Jimmy
- Drop Dead Legs
- Hot for Teacher - Van Halen, Anthony, Michael [2
- I'll Wait - Van Halen, VanHalen, Eddie
- Girl Gone Bad
- House of Pain
Music reviews of 1984
Music Review: 1984
Rating: 4 Stars
1984 finds Van Halen changing their direction in music again though not as radical a change as Fair Warning. 1984 is synthesizer laden though it's not the first time that one had appeared in their recordings. This was their sixth studio album & the final one with David Lee Roth (not counting his guest appearance on a couple of newly recorded songs). 1984 peaked at #2 on the album charts. There were four singles released from it that made the charts: "Hot for Teacher" (#34 Mainstream Rock, #56 Hot 100), "I'll Wait" (#13 Hot 100), "Jump" (#13 Dance/Club, #1 Hot 100) & "Panama (#13 Hot 100). I know a few people that became totally turned off to the group because Eddie did so much synthesizer work on the album. After all, Eddie is a guitar god, what's he doing playing a synthesizer? Well, it was the eighties & a lot of bands were incorporating synthesizers into their music & drum machines (gasp!) and/or electronic drums. Z Z Top did the same thing in the eighties & sold more records than they had ever sold. It was just a sign of the times. I didn't particularly desire it but it happened. I thought it was good to have an occasional change & an album full of it didn't turn me off. 1984 isn't Van Halen' best album (many will disagree) but it's WAY better than Diver Down! Every band grows & matures, they can't remain stagnant. Look how much the Beatles changed from 1963 to 1970. Van Halen was no different in that regard, sometimes we like the changes, sometimes we don't.
The album opens with "1984", a short synthesizer instrumental that's the intro for the next song, "Jump". "Jump" was written & recorded with MTV in mind. It also gave Diamond Dave a great reason to perform certain stunts on stage while touring. "Jump" is a classic piece of pop blended with Van Halen's rock abilities. "Panama" is a return to form, Eddie playing a driving rhythm on guitar with licks & riffs all over the place. Who doesn't like a song about a fast car? "Top Jimmy" has Eddie playing around with harmonics on guitar but in a league all by himself. It's a fast tempo song that they would do at least one of on most albums. "Drop Dead Legs" has Diamond Dave doing his best male fantasy routine. I love Eddie's lead that closes out the song. "Hot for Teacher" was another song that was written with MTV in mind. Wasn't Waldo a gas in the video? What male couldn't resist the male fantasy of a teacher that hot? "I got my pencil! Give me something to write on!" Diamond Dave's personality is the overwhelming presence in the song. This song, more than almost any other Van Halen song, exudes the party-hearty atmosphere that they were so famous for. It shouldn't have come as a surprise when Diamond Dave departed that he'd be singing about California girls & gigolos. "I don't feel tardy." "I'll Wait" was co-written with Michael McDonald (Doobie Bros., mach II). It was one of the more unique songs in their catalog & one of their best. Eddie proved to be more than adequate on keyboards with this song; his guitar solo is one of his most restrained on any song. "Girl Gone Bad" is the closest thing to filler on the album. Most bands would love to be able to say a song of this quality is the weakest song on the album. But Eddie has a way of elevating the listener's interest when he bursts out with a solo like he does on this one. The final song is "House of Pain" which reminds of some of the songs from Fair Warning. It's a dark, dangerous song that would have fit well on Fair Warning.
1984 was a great closing of the David Lee Roth era of Van Halen. I hated to see him go & never have thought that Sammy Hagar was an adequate replacement. Hagar never had the personality of Diamond Dave &, maybe, that was the whole idea, anyway. How do you replace a Diamond Dave? You can't. I did, kind of, anticipate the new Van Halen with Hagar. I thought it would give Eddie more time with keyboards or fleshing out his leads more (like he really needed to do that, huh?). But the new Van Halen didn't quite take the direction that I thought they would take.
Description of 1984
Limited Edition Japanese pressing of this album comes housed in a miniature LP sleeve. 2008.1984 was a successful record not only because it contained solid, catchy hard rock, but also because it incorporated synthesizers into the mix, the first metal album to do so to any serious extent. Although the advances in electronic music make this material sound dated now, it's still a highlight of Van Halen's career. Songs like "Jump" contain a pop element that gave 1984 mainstream appeal, and David Lee Roth turned the frontman role into an art form on songs such as "Panama," "Hot for Teacher," "Drop Dead Legs," and "I'll Wait." To a large extent, it was 1984 that set the standard for '80s pop metal, and David Lee Roth who set the standard (or takes the blame, depending on your point of view) for the aggressively good-time attitude most pop-metal bands took for their own. --Genevieve Williams
General CDs
Music Genres
Bestsellers in General CDs
The Pretenders - Break Up the ConcreteRelease date: 2008-10-07; Music CD
Best price: $9.95
Price in other shops:
Robin Thicke - Something ElseRelease date: 2008-09-30; Music CD
Best price: $10.34
Price in other shops:
Raising SandRelease date: 2007-10-23; Music CD
Best price: $8.49
Price in other shops:
The Imus Ranch RecordRelease date: 2008-09-16; Music CD
Best price: $10.72
Price in other shops:
Jennifer Hudson - Jennifer HudsonRelease date: 2008-09-30; Music CD
Best price: $9.50
Price in other shops:
Coldplay - Viva La VidaRelease date: 2008-06-17; Music CD
Best price: $6.67
Price in other shops:
Ray LaMontagne - Gossip In The GrainRelease date: 2008-10-14; Music CD
Best price: $9.95
Price in other shops:
Lucinda Williams - Little HoneyRelease date: 2008-10-14; Music CD
Best price: $9.00
Price in other shops:
Bob Dylan - Tell Tale Signs: the Bootleg Series Vol. 8Release date: 2008-10-07; Music CD
Best price: $12.96
Price in other shops:
James Taylor - CoversRelease date: 2008-09-30; Music CD
Best price: $9.94
Price in other shops:
Similar CDs
AC/DC - Back in BlackAC/DC; Release date: 2003-02-18; Music CD
Best price: $7.09
Price in other shops:
Van Halen - Best of Van Halen, Vol. 1Release date: 1996-10-22; Music CD
Best price: $7.58
Price in other shops:
Van Halen - For Unlawful Carnal KnowledgeRelease date: 1991-06-17; Music CD
Best price: $3.34
Price in other shops:
Van Halen - OU812Release date: 1990-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $4.49
Price in other shops:
Van Halen - 5150Release date: 1990-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $3.90
Price in other shops:
Van Halen - Fair WarningRelease date: 2000-09-19; Music CD
Best price: $6.75
Price in other shops:
Van Halen - Diver DownRelease date: 2000-09-19; Music CD
Best price: $6.71
Price in other shops:
Van Halen - Women and Children FirstRelease date: 2000-09-19; Music CD
Best price: $6.75
Price in other shops:
Van Halen - Van Halen IIRelease date: 2000-09-19; Music CD
Best price: $6.75
Price in other shops:
Van Halen - Van HalenRelease date: 2000-09-19; Music CD
Best price: $6.45
Price in other shops: