VAN HALEN - 5150 Germany 12" LP VINYL ALBUM

5150 is the first album recorded with new lead singer Sammy Hagar, who replaced David Lee Roth. 

 

 album front cover

Album Description & Collectors information:

 

5150 is the seventh studio album by American rock band Van Halen, released in March 1986. It was the band's first album to feature new lead vocalist Sammy Hagar, who replaced the band's original singer David Lee Roth. The album was a commercial success, reaching number one on the Billboard 200 chart and spawning several hit singles. In this web-page, we will explore the album's background, musical style, and critical reception.

Background

After David Lee Roth left Van Halen in 1985, the band began auditioning new lead singers. They ultimately chose Sammy Hagar, who had previously fronted the successful rock band Montrose and had a successful solo career. The band named the album 5150 after the address of Eddie Van Halen's new home studio, where the album was recorded.

Musical Style

5150 represents a continuation of Van Halen's shift towards a more polished, radio-friendly sound. The album features a mix of hard rock and pop-oriented tracks, with Hagar's strong vocal range and harmonies adding a new dimension to the band's sound. The album's lead single, "Why Can't This Be Love," features a catchy chorus and a prominent synthesizer riff, while "Dreams" showcases Hagar's soaring vocals and Eddie Van Halen's virtuosic guitar playing.

Critical Reception

5150 received generally positive reviews upon its release, with many critics praising the band's new lineup and their ability to maintain their signature sound while incorporating new elements. Rolling Stone's David Fricke called it "a glossy, aggressive, and altogether expert performance," while AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine hailed it as "a near-perfect record of its kind." The album's commercial success was also a testament to the band's popularity, with "Why Can't This Be Love" and "Dreams" both reaching the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

This album "VAN HALEN - 5150 (DE)" includes the original custom inner sleeve with album details, complete lyrics of all songs by and artwork

Music Genre:

 
American Heavy Metal / Hard Rock 

Album Production Information:

 

The album: "VAN HALEN - 5150 (DE)" was produced by: Van Halen, Mick Jones, Donn Landee

Sound/Recording Engineer(s): Donn Landee, Ken Or , Murray Deane

This album was recorded at: 5150 Sammy Hagar's Solo Recordings

Mastered by Bobby Hata

Album cover photography: Aaron Rapoport

Record Label Information:

 
WB Warner Bros 925 394 1 W5150 LC 0392

Media Format:

 
12" LP Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record
Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram  

Year & Country:

 
1986 Made in Germany
Personnel/Band Members and Musicians on: VAN HALEN - 5150 (DE)
    Band-members, Musicians and Performers
  • Sammy Hagar - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Eddie Van Halen - lead guitar, acoustic guitar, keyboards, background vocals
  • Michael Anthony - bass, background vocals
  • Alex Van Halen - drums, percussion
Complete Track-listing of the album "VAN HALEN - 5150 (DE)"

The Song/tracks on "5150" are

  • Good Enough 4:00
  • Why Can't This Be Love 3:45
  • Get Up 4:35
  • Dreams 4:54
  • Summer Nights 5:04
  • Best of Both Worlds 4:49
  • Love Walks In 5:09
  • 5150 5:44
  • Inside 5:02

Front Cover Photo Of VAN HALEN - 5150 German Release 12" LP VINYL ALBUM

 album front cover

Photo of a body builder lifting a large globe with the VAN HALEN ring logo

Photo Of The Back Cover VAN HALEN - 5150 German Release 12" LP VINYL ALBUM

VAN HALEN - 5150 German Release 12" LP VINYL ALBUM album back cover

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First Photo Of Custom Inner Sleeve VAN HALEN - 5150 German Release 12" LP VINYL ALBUM

VAN HALEN - 5150 German Release 12" LP VINYL ALBUM custom inner sleeve

Large photo of the ring with VAN HALEN logo printed on the original inner sleeve

Second Photo Of Custom Inner Sleeve VAN HALEN - 5150 German Release 12" LP VINYL ALBUM

VAN HALEN - 5150 German Release 12" LP VINYL ALBUM custom inner sleeve

Lyrics of all the songs on the album "5150" printed on the custom inner sleeve

Close up of record's label VAN HALEN - 5150 German Release 12" LP VINYL ALBUM Side One

VAN HALEN - 5150 German Release 12" LP VINYL ALBUM enlarged record label

Record Label Details: WARNER BROS Records 925 394-1 W5150 , LC 0392 , GEMA, BIEM, Label's rim text are in German and French

Jumping Through Van Halen's Discography: A Rocking Journey of Hits and Anthems.

VAN HALEN Band Description:

Van Halen was one of the most popular and influential rock bands of the 1980s. Formed in Pasadena, California in 1972, the band consisted of Eddie Van Halen on guitar, his brother Alex Van Halen on drums, Michael Anthony on bass guitar, and David Lee Roth as the lead vocalist. The band's sound was a blend of hard rock, heavy metal, and pop, and they were known for their high-energy live performances and flamboyant stage presence.

In the early 1980s, Van Halen was at the height of their fame. They had released several successful albums, including "Van Halen" (1978), "Van Halen II" (1979), "Women and Children First" (1980), "Fair Warning" (1981), and "Diver Down" (1982). These albums contained some of the band's most popular and enduring songs, such as "Runnin' With the Devil," "Jamie's Cryin'," "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love," "And the Cradle Will Rock...," "Unchained," and "Jump."

Perhaps the most iconic song of Van Halen's career, "Jump" was released in 1984 on the album "1984." The song was a departure from the band's typical hard rock sound, featuring synthesizers and a catchy pop melody. It quickly became a massive hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and earning the band their first Grammy nomination.

Van Halen's success in the 1980s can be attributed not only to their catchy songs and high-energy performances but also to their distinctive visual style. David Lee Roth, in particular, was known for his flamboyant stage costumes, acrobatic jumps, and microphone twirls. His larger-than-life persona made him one of the most memorable frontmen in rock history.

Despite their success, Van Halen was not without their struggles during the 1980s. The band's drug and alcohol use, particularly that of Roth, was well-known, and tensions between the members often boiled over. In 1985, Roth left the band to pursue a solo career, and Van Halen replaced him with Sammy Hagar, who had previously fronted the band Montrose. With Hagar, the band released four more albums, including "5150" (1986), "OU812" (1988), "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge" (1991), and "Balance" (1995).

While the band's sound evolved with the addition of Hagar, their popularity began to wane in the early 1990s. Hagar left the band in 1996, and Roth briefly rejoined for a reunion tour in 1996 and 1997. The band continued to tour and release albums with various lead singers throughout the 2000s and 2010s, but their glory days were in the 1980s.