1984

About

With the sci-fi synth swell of <i>1984</i>’s opening instrumental track, Van Halen fans knew they were in for something different. Released in its namesake year, the band’s final album with singer David Lee Roth—for about three decade, anyway—was launched into the stratosphere by the deliriously catchy single “Jump.” Propelled by massive synths rather than massive guitar, the song was not only a distinct outlier for Van Halen, it was also the group’s first and only No. 1 single. It may have seemed bizarre for a band founded almost entirely on Eddie Van Halen’s next-level guitar wizardry, but the keyboard-boogie of “Jump” indicated where the members of Van Halen were in 1984 (and with <i>1984</i>): on top of the world. That means they could do anything they wanted—as evidenced by the band’s second single, “I’ll Wait,” which bumps even more synth. This time it’s darker, with a Survivor “Eye of the Tiger” feel and menacing drum fill, not to mention a vocal melody co-written with the Doobie Brothers’ Michael McDonald (apparently, the lyrics are addressed to a female model wearing men’s underwear in a magazine ad). Of course, fans worried that Eddie may have abandoned his trademark riffs and licks had nothing to fear. Guitar fireworks are everywhere on <i>1984</i>. The school-daze fantasy “Hot for Teacher” kicks off with Alex Van Halen’s 30-second drum solo before Eddie serves up one of his most dexterous performance. And that’s on top of his dizzying speed-harmonics on “Top Jimmy,” and his insane interplay between rhythm and lead on “House of Pain.” .

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