 | |
List Price: $11.98 | | Label: WEA/Reprise
Salesrank: 4783
Released: September 19, 2000 |
| Our Price: $6.12 |
| Used Price: $4.81 |
|
| Media: Audio CD |
|
1984 Track Listing:
1. 1984
2. Jump
3. Panama
4. Top Jimmy
5. Drop Dead Legs
6. Hot For Teacher
7. I'll Wait
8. Girl Gone Bad
9. House Of Pain
Editorial Review:
Japanese only SHM-CD (Super High Material CD - playable on all CD players) pressing. Warner.
Description of 1984:
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
1984 Reviews:
Better Than Disco... 
2009-12-25 - Since there was a scarcity of quality hard rock since the mid 70's (the Stones would have maybe one true rocker on an album by then, Led Zep were done with the hard stuff in '76), Van Halen would assume the role of "King of Hard Rock". The '78 debut album marked the arrival of a new Messiah. Our prayers had been answered, hard rock didn't have to die. There's just no point mentioning any one particular song, the whole damn album "erupts" with fiery molten rock from start to finish. And, these boys were American! (Calm down Aerosmith, you were on "Vacation" from '76 till '87)
"Van Halen II" proved them worthy of the crown with another blistering hard set. "Bottoms Up" and "Outta Love Again" are massive crushers, and "Somebody Get Me a Doctor" was right on - this record made me sick with joy. Oh no, too late, they would find me "DOA". Their 3rd album had "Everybody Wants Some", "The Cradle Will Rock" and "Romeo Delight" which were worth the price of admission, but the rest showed ominous signs. "Could This Be Magic?" was certainly a fine bar room chant, but maybe these fellas were needing a recharge. Their 4th, "Fair Warning" was just that. A clear notice that the boys were getting soft. The only true thumper was "Unchained". "Mean Street", "Dirty Movies", "Push Comes To Shove", and "So This Is Love" are all fine mid tempo rockers, but the rest are weak filler. And then their next, "Diver Down", was a near disaster drowning in camp theatrics. The tunes "Hang 'em High" and "The Full Bug" meant well, but just couldn't tread water. The highlights are the covers "Pretty Woman" and "Dancing In the Streets" which while being excellent, creative music, just weren't shaking the rust off my nuts. "Where have all the Good Times Gone?" was just plain mocking me with it's semi-hard poppines.
So finally 2 years later, Van Halen strapped on a pair and pumped out some serious hard rock. "Panama" is the cavalry thundering to the rescue, a 1000 horsepower dynamo pumping pure adrenaline. The monster classic "Hot For Teacher" scores even higher on the Richter scale, with the most thumps per second of any VH before or since. Just to keep us from breathing there's "Girl Gone Bad", a blazing hot Zeppelinesque thrasher that throbs with metal genius. And then for insurance there's "Top Jimmy" which makes all the right choices with fierce guitar sonics and a super thick bottom. Any one of these four songs is enough to make me overlook the candy-ass synth rock of "Jump". Not my favorite VH tune but it plays well as a contrast to what the Guys can really do when they put their noses to the grindstone. I've yet to mention "Drop Dead Legs" which just tears up its mid tempo beat with raging guitar work. A very much under-recognized beast. Some people will bitch if I don't mention "I'll Wait" but that's more a song for the ladies to discuss. It's not soft, but it's just not HARD. Again, a perfectly good rock tune deranged by 80s synthesizer madness. I'll take a double heap of the deeply hard "House of Pain", if ya don't mind. So that's 6 for 8, if you're keeping score. And the hits here so overwhelm the 2 minor misses that this ranks as not only Van Halen's crowning achievement, but, like their first, is one of the high water marks in all Hard Rockdom.
It was supposed to be a horrible year, according to the book, but thanks to Van Halen's "1984" I wasn't so afraid to turn on the radio. If VH could forge this Mighty Metal from the bits and scraps of rock, then the future glinted just a bit brighter. This disc would serve as my "Excalibur", slashing and hacking a path through the thickening morass of 80's pop crap. Of course, it would be the last great VH album, but because it was made so hard and true, it would serve me well for many, many years.
1984 Van Halen remastered CD. 
2009-11-20 - Pretty solid effort, for the band, known as Van Halen, featuring songs like: Panama, and Jump.
The Year 1984 Was Good For Van Halen
2009-05-30 - That is artistically speaking of course! The rift between singer David Lee Roth with the rest of the band was coming to a head here. Still the band delivered one of their best sets! This is the first album that the band recorded at Eddie's own studio "5150" but unfortunately it was the last collaboration between Roth and band mates Eddie Van Halen (guitar), Alex Van Halen (drums) and bassist Michael Anthony. Once again Ted Templeman produced and Donn Landee engineered the recording.
I investigated on the matter and, not surprisingly, found out that the drawing on the album's cover caused some controversy at the time.
A short instrumental "1984" opens the album in an experimental fashion with Eddie playing some melodic notes and chords on a synthesizer. It is a good preview of what follows: "Jump", a monster radio hit with catchy synth work from Eddie. Has the band decided to ditch their trademark guitar-based sound to become a synth-pop group? Of course not, in the middle you'll hear a great guitar solo filled with Eddie's trademark tricks like two-handed tapping, and false harmonics. I like the chord structure underneath since it different from the ones used on the verse/chorus. Afterwards another new section is introduced with a fast pattern played with the synth before going back to the intro melody. Listen carefully before the fade out as the guitar comes in and Eddie plays a staccato riff that the band will later recycle for the song "Top Of The World". Song number three is another radio hit called "Panama" although I really don't know the inspiration behind that title. Finally the band's classic sound is heard! This song could have easily fitted on their debut! I like the part where you can hear a car's engine roaring.
An unexpected turn happens with "Top Jimmy" with Eddie playing in a funkier style and without distortion here. I like the intro too with a cool arpeggio sequence drenched in false harmonics. The solo is quite avant-garde with a lot of tremolo usage. I detected an Uli Jon Roth influence in it...For example listen to Uli's solo in the Scorpions song "Virgin Killer" from the album of the same name and you'll hear a resemblance especially the very last note with the pitch bending down.
"Drop Dead Legs" is an underrated composition with an odd time signature riff after its chorus. A great performance from Alex who has a nice powerful sound on his drums here. In the outro solo you can hear the influence of another guitarist: Allan Holdsworth, this time being in those fast and slightly dissonant phrasings. "Hot For Teacher" is another composition featuring the band's classic debut sound with a really cool lead guitar intro with the two-handed tapping technique. The lyrics about school are funny and it comes complete with a fake classroom voice over. "Class dismissed!!" say Roth towards the end. This song always makes me laugh! There's more than one time signature during the solo, another master performance from drummer Alex.
Next comes the unexpected return of the synths: "I'll Wait". A great melody introduces it and the guitar is only featured during its short solo in the middle. Roth gives a fine vocal performance while Alex returns to that powerful drum sound first heard on "Drop Dead Legs".
I've always thought that "Girl Gone Bad" is an overlooked song in the band's catalog. It has a tremendous intro with some dark-sounding arpeggios but the guitar work remains interesting all the way through with a memorable verse/chorus structure as well. The final composition "House Of Pain" actually dates from the band's club days. In 1976 they recorded a demo version but the band decided to alter its original arrangement when they re-recorded it for "1984" with the most remarkable aspect being its mean heavy riff that is used in the chorus. Also notable is the solo in the middle, which is one of Eddie's most avant-garde with a lot of those high pitched notes with the tremolo arm! This is definitely a high key exit and a highlight!
Van Halen is one of my favorite guitarists! His rhythm guitar tone, sometimes referred to as "the brown sound" is one of the best tones I've ever heard while his soloing technique utilizing two-handed tapping, false harmonics, etc. was hugely influential having an impact almost as big as Hendrix! If you are a fan of exotic guitar playing, then check this or any other album from Van Halen!
Thanks for taking the time to read!
Later...
His guitar technique
2009-02-23 - This is such a special album. I have never gotten tired of it, after 25 years. When I look at the score itself, it looks kind of easy to play. But trying to get my guitar playing to sound like Eddie's is a whole different story. He's a master musician for a reason. Too bad Van Halen didn't produce more albums like this.
terrible service!!!!!!!!!! Cant buy one MP3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
2008-12-08 - This is the absolute worst site I have ever seen,....I can't believe you cant buy just one song...all the songs are unavailable......I guess Van Halen has plenty of money and does not need to sell their songs anymore......Good for them,....guess I will go and purchase other great 80's bands songs that actually allow their songs to be purchased.........
