08.07.10 Review

A lot has already been said about 1984 here in this thread and abroad. I do understand why some people choose VH1 over this one as the greatest of all time. And they are all valid points. As great as Van Halen's first album is, the songs are just better here with an overall cohesive feel from start to finish. And where VH1 does feel dated (well it was recorded in 1978) when playing it back, this one has aged like fine wine. Doesn't sound dated at all. If anything, it sounds like it was recorded last week.

I will admit that when I picked up 1984 when it was released, that I was very nervous about the direction the band had taken after listening to the title track and it's follow up Jump. But my fears were quickly allayed when Panama came blasting out of the speakers.

Top Jimmy. God I love this song. I think it's probably my favorite of the entire album. But it's really hard to just choose the best of the bunch when I consider the entire album to be one of the greatest of all time. It has been in my Top 3 since it's release.

No sooner do I say that Top Jimmy is my fave when Drop Dead Legs comes on. So, now I gotta change that to my fave.  It's a great predicament to be in to constantly pick another song as the best. The rest of the album is just as kick ass with Hot For Teacher, I'll Wait, Girl Gone Bad and House Of Pain. As for I'll Wait, I can't get enough synth.  What a great sing-along-song.

FYI...one of the greatest covers of all time, if not THE best of all time IMO.  Wanna know what the sticker price says on my cover? $6.99 from Licorice Pizza. Brand new, the day it was released.  Man, how times have changed.

Girl Gone Bad is my favorite right now.

Fave Songs: All of 'em!

Does anyone else remember Licorice Pizza? I miss that place.  All the free licorice you could ask for.