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

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8827 in Music
• Released on: 2001-01-22
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

Amazon.co.uk Review
1984 was a successful record not only because it contained solid, catchy hard rock, but also because it incorporated synthesisers 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 such as "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 1980s 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

CD Description
This was vocalist David Lee Roth's final record for the band and as such, the album stands as a testament of worth somewhere between high camp and high class. Eddie Van Halen's venerable, rolling guitar pulled immaculately into place, while his new-found love of the keyboard gave them their first international smash with "Jump". However, it is the quite demented rush of "Panama", and the hilarious "Hot For Teacher",with Roth exuding a droll litany of school-yard fantasies over a thunderous Alex Van Halen backbeat, that gives ultimate credence to the rock 'n' roll party that was the Roth/Van Halen partnership.

Customer Reviews

Forget the hits, the best tracks are the unknown ones
Every review on here mentions the hits on the Album: Jump, Panama, Hot for Teacher, I'll Wait. Undoubtedly, these are all very good songs. But the songs that make this album one of the all time greats are: Girl Gone Bad, House of Pain, Top Jimmy, and Drop Dead Legs.

Girl Gone Bad and House of Pain are perfect examples of why Van Halen arguably can be considered the best Rock band ever. Virtuoso performances from everyone with an angry edge...the type of songs that leave you with your mouth hanging open at a loss for words.

Top Jimmy and Drop Dead Legs are at the other end of the spectrum: Virtuoso performances from everyone with a fun "let's party" edge...you can spend countless hours trying to listen to every riff that comes off of Eddie's guitar.

1984 is a Top 5 of all time album. Buy it.

Don't Wait, Buy Now!
This was the second Van Halen album I bought, and I have to admit it took me a week or so to get into it. I thought, from listening to the first track, 1984, that Eddie was going too heavy on the synth, and then, with Jump following it, I thought I'd made a mistake.

But now, this is one of my all-time favourite albums, which definitely shows that you should give new albums a chance. Let's not beat around the bush here: 1984 is utter quality, and I know people would probably brand me a heretic for what I'm about to say, but...the original lineup with David Lee Roth was as talented a band as Led Zeppelin.

Despite my initial reaction, 1984 isn't too heavy on the synth at all: most tracks are guitar-heavy, such as the excellent Panama (with which I welcomed in 2004) and the awesome boogie Hot For Teacher (which is also a great example of Eddie's brother Alex's superb drumming). Roth is again a perfect vocal choice to put forward these testosterone-laden tracks, able to sound like an obsessive teenager in I'll Wait, to the frustrated roar in House of Pain, the superb closer.

After this, you'll probably agree: it's a shame that Roth had to leave.

How can you NOT have this album??!
This a great an album from the days when Van Halen seemed to go into the recording studios and just have a blast! The stand-out tracks are the anthemic "Jump" - nonsensical lyrics but a brilliant track with an awesome guitar solo - a real must for the air guitarist! "Panama" is the kind of track that has to be played at ear-splitting volume while driving a convertible at top speed in the summer sun - guaranteed to get you tapping your foot and roaring along with the chorus. As for "Hot For Teacher" no matter how often I hear it, it always makes me laugh and smile at Dave Lee Roth's spoken lines before the rip-roaring verse and chorus kicks in. The other songs featured are great too, but the above three alone are worth the price of the album. Edward Van Halen's amazing skill with the guitar, Michael Anthony's superb bass lines, Alex Van Halen's imaginative drumming and those crazy David Lee Roth vocals... AWESOME! Buy it now!