This album holds with it a lot of great childhood memories.  I spent a couple of summers riding my bicycle with a cassette player strapped to my handlebars blasting ‘1984’.  Not a surprise that this is my favorite Van Halen album.  This was the last full length record with David Lee Roth, until the band reformed years later and released 2012’s ‘A Different Kind Of Truth’.

After the 1:07 opening instrumental title track (that is actually a perfect sign of that era) we get right into heart of the album.  ‘Jump’ went all the way to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.  It has been used in numerous movies, TV shows and with sports teams and events.  With many accolades and inclusion of just about every rock and roll list, Jump is one of the bands most recognizable songs.

Song three is ‘Panama’.  A song that went to #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Mainstream Rock Chart.  This song, according to David Lee Roth, was written about a car DLR saw at a race named ‘Panama Express’.  Next up is ‘Top Jimmy’, a tribute to James Paul Koncek, singer of the band Top Jimmy & The Rhythm Pigs.  The harmonic guitar opening on this song gives me all kinds of chills along with the the one note stops by bassist Michael Anthony and drummer Alex Van Halen.  There’s some serious slap and tickle going on from Eddie on this one.

The last song side one of the vinyl is ‘Drop Dead Legs’.  This is easily one of my favorite guitar riffs ever and a terrific was to conclude the first side.  It definitely leaves this listen wanting to hear more.

Side two on this monster album starts with the fourth single to be released from ‘1984’, ‘Hot For Teacher’.  This song gives us probably the most recognizable double kick drum in history.  For that matter, one of the bands most recognizable videos: HOT FOR TEACHER

The next song and second single is ‘I’ll Wait’.  A song that nearly missed being included on the album.  ‘I’ll Wait’ relies heavily on Keyboards and a killer Synth Bass Line.  For me, I always loved AVH’s drum track on this song.  His toms remind of the VH feel from prior albums like ‘Fair Warning’.  This song was co-written by the Michael McDonald, who was brought in by producer Ted Templeman to help finish the song.

The album finishes up with two songs that let you know that Van Halen still knows how to rock it.  ‘Girl Gone Bad’ let’s AVH flex his drumming muscle and EVH show off his amazing riff making capability.  ‘House Of Pain’ closed out this masterpiece and the way the song jams out was the perfect way to end it all.

David Lee Roth was never strong than he was on ‘1984’.  Michael Anthony not only brought is bottom end to the album, like he always does, he also brought in those harmonies that were sorely missed on much later VH releases.  Whether or not the band got along during this time, ‘1984’ sounds like a well oiled machine at its peak.  The album is the bands best selling album selling over 10 million copies and being certified Diamond by the RIAA.

The only real downside here is that we didn’t get a follow up right away with the same ‘1984’ cast and crew.

9.5/10

-JC