Van Halen Music:

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:
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.........

Three lock box
2008-11-23 - David Lee Roth could never sell a love song, it's like he was amoral or maybe malfunctioning. Sammy Hagar, he's straight from the heart, projecting live, restlessly from the Id. Me, I can't discount the possibility I'm cracking up. I play Van Halen so loud, I'm trying to drown out the sound of me talking to myself. It's not working so well, I keep writing notes to myself. My pockets are full of them. Let's see, this one says "precarious balance," another says "your actions and inactions have consequences," yet another "where's the self-destruction button." Oh man, I really hope these are not fortunes from a cookie. I talk to myself but what's the point, I never listen. Part of the jazz is my transition from f to m has been scary bumpy. Tumult. Call it the blue fog. I keep falling out of airplanes. You'd think after 10 years of paying dues, I would have hit upon a winner. I haven't been landing on my feet. I say, the only thing she loved about me was how easy I am to hurt. Rollercoaster crazy, I'd rather just be lonely (again). And I turned someone down today, she probably would be nice to me, good for me, but, that's not what I want. It's gotta be HER. And she's using me up. But I still have a strand of will; it's either HIM or ME, it cannot be both, don't try to cross the bottom line. I think it's gonna take more than 12 steps to get away from HER. 'Cause I don't want to! I really painfully adore her. It's about sick riffs, shot out of a canon.