Van Halen Transition to 5150 & Why 1984 Is Such A Good Album. The Roundtable with Drew

Comments · 537

• FA

  @famachris · 4 years ago · pinned

  Every song writer wants a home studio, but I would wager 5150 ended  up facilitating Ed’s increasingly dangerous lifestyle.  He could become more and more reclusive and abuse substances while still “working” and not have to to shape up to meet appointments in the real world.  Plus smoking in public places was also becoming unpopular around this time, and Ed was a chain smoker.  I think 5150 started as a demo studio - because Ed could certainly afford to build  a bigger facility than converting a racquet ball court.  But the convenience transformed it into their main recording facility, to the detriment of the sound, the music and the band.  I have to wonder if Alex’s awful electronic drums were because space was limited.  Somehow they managed to make 1984 sound somewhat live, but that disappeared on the dreadful sounding 5150.  The drums are the main victim after the music at 5150,  and was a travesty for Alex who is a fantastic drummer with an iconic sound. In interviews around 1984, Roth explained how he was a morning person, and the Van Halen’s were night owls, and I think he was hinting about the break down in work ethic 5150 facilitated.

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• TR

  @Traditionoflions · 1 year ago

  The bridge on Top Jimmy is unbelievable

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• TW

  @Twobarpsi · 5 years ago

  Man I miss Eddie.   Can't believe we are left to reminisce.

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• JE

  @jeffsheridan9910 · 5 years ago

  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. All these Sunset studio Van Halen stories are simply amazing. Thanks so much and please keep them coming

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• IN

  @inmemoryofin · 1 year ago

  When it came out, Jump sounded like the future vibrantly coming alive with multicolored lasers, that the future itself had turned into sound. (I was like 8 at the time haha)<br><br>It’s not my favorite song, but 1984 is my favorite VH album. I absolutely love it to this day. Amazing writing, performances and production.

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• TA

  @tacoscamp · 3 years ago

  I remember when 1984 came out and I was blown away. I can see how some people might not be able to accept Jump as classic VH material, but I loved it and every other cut on the album regardless of how VH was &quot;supposed&quot; to sound. The fact that they just did whatever they wanted always appealed to me. The rules for VH are that there are no rules. We were lucky to have them and there will never another like them. It was the right guys at the right time and I can&apos;t ever listen to Jump or 1984 without being instantly transported back to a time that I loved dearly and wish still existed today. Every man has his moment, and 1981-1986 was my moment. Thankfully VH was there to provide the soundtrack!

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• PL

  @Plymouthmusicschool · 4 years ago

  The magic that is on 1984 got me into a career in music. Masterpiece and Ed at his absolute peak!

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• FA

  @fasteddievh2072 · 5 years ago

  I can’t thank you enough for making these videos. &nbsp; They are an absolute dream come true for any Van Halen fan. &nbsp;However, more importantly, they are “therapeutic” in helping me get through the loss of EVH. &nbsp; 🙏👍🤘=\//-/=

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• MA

  @Marco1973est · 3 years ago

  It is amazing at my age to listen and read about a time and day which I lived for the pure enjoyment of just listening to what would now be known as ; Legends playing legendary music. &nbsp;Somehow - it was all meant to be.

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• SU

  @surfshack2 · 5 years ago (edited)

  I was 16 yrs old when 1984 came out. I remember being at a party when i first heard Jump. My initial reaction was like What is this?? It sounded weak, whereas I was wanting more Fair Warning. Honestly at the time I was disappointed but still you couldn&apos;t deny that the album was great. I remember listening to the album on a good stereo back like 4 years ago and it just transported me back to that summer of 1984. I loved listening to it nostalgicly. It was ahead of it&apos;s time as they say. And i remember being blown away as i listened to Girl Gone Bad and House of Pain at the end of the album. Funny thing is is that i never paid any real attention to those particular two songs back when the album first came out in &apos;84 but they struck me as standouts as i listened to it today. I felt the old vibe of Eddie come back on those last two tracks of the album. It was like Eddie was saying &quot;Here you go you f*er&apos;s I can still rock! lol

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• FU

  @funhistory · 5 years ago

  If were asked which VH LPs I like best, I&apos;d say, &quot;The ones recorded at Sunset Sound.&quot; 😀

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• CH

  @charlessiuda9080 · 5 years ago

  These behind the scenes Van Halen Sunset Sound stories are the best. Excellent.

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