Was thinking of going back to my hair metal roots a bit this summer. I never had any Van Halen or Def Leppard in my collection but I know these 2 albums are classic. Which one should I get first?? I think i'm leaning more towards Def Leppard but please feel free to give your opinions.

dancerella said:

Get the first three Vanhalen albums and stay away from theese turds

ThirdandFinal said:

really? you didn't like 1984??

1984!!!

I still want 1984. Is there an extended version of "Jump"?

ThirdandFinal said:

Oh cmon! I personally think the first Van Halen is overrated. Sure the sound was unique but they became far better songwriters later.

To answer the thread question 1984 is my favourite but Hysteria is still excellent. 1984 first i think.
[Edited 5/26/08 12:43pm]

1984

ww, so far 1984 is winning. that's the album where they started using synths right? i think their die hard fans were pissed.

1984, even though it's their sellout album.

Hysteria is great tho. get that too

Hysteria, 1984 is too short and you'll only play the first 5 songs.

dancerella said:

nope

WildheartXXX said:

The first three are fun the rest are pretty much crap

The only truly passionate thing I have ever heard Eddie Vanhalen do is:

I'd recommend skipping those 2 and getting either Pyromania or High 'N' Dry

ThirdandFinal said:

I've seen this clip before and most of the Eddie fans commented on how drunk and out of control he was, and pleaded for him to get help. I think he's done much better than this!

Van Halen's "1984" hands down.

abigail05 said:

I have never heard better from him

At the time they were first out, it would have been 1984. As time has passed, I like it but not the way I used to. I prefer Hysteria, but I like previous VH albums more than that.

I say 1984...but its a close one. Hysteria is awesome too, if you want good, nostalgic, 80s hairmetal pop. Pyromania is great too

Those of you who are saying the 1st 3 Van Halen albums suck are HIGH. All 3 are classic. Especially that 1st album. That thing still rocks hard.

I have "1984" and I like "Jump" and "I'll Wait". I might like more but I don't listen to it that often. I don't have "Hysteria" but I do have a "Best Of" CD from Def Leppard. Judging the two groups as a whole (not just one album), I like many more songs from Def Leppard than I do from Van Halen.

It's the normal version. However, the song "1984" that comes right before "Jump" is only about a minute or so long and is nothing but some synths with no other instruments. Then it ends quickly and "Jump" immediately starts. It sounds more like an intro to the song and I always play them together as if they were one song.

Wonderwall said:

No they don't suck it's just the first album is overhyped in terms of the songwriting. It does sound bloody amazing but they wrote better songs later.

vainandy said:

I'll wait, thats a great song and the solo is one of Eddies best

vainandy said:

i think i do as well. though i know eddie van halen is supposedly a guitar god. i'm still deciding on which one to get but i think i might go with Hysteria first.

dancerella said:

Hysteria has been reissued as a Deluxe Edition with a bunch of bonus tracks, b sides and live stuff as well, plus y'know it does contain the greatest stripper anthem of all time "Pour Some Sugar On Me"