Van Halen - Van Halen II - 12" Vinyl LP Album

"Van Halen II" was Van Halen's second official album and contained songs which were written before the release of "Van Halen I"

 

VAN HALEN - Van Halen II 12" Vinyl LP Album album front cover

Album Description:

Van Halen's second album, simply titled "Van Halen II," was released in 1979, just a year after their explosive debut. The album showcased the band's continued growth and evolution, with Eddie Van Halen's guitar playing reaching new heights and David Lee Roth's vocals becoming even more charismatic.

After the massive success of their debut album, Van Halen began work on their second album in late 1978. The band once again worked with producer Ted Templeman, and the album was recorded in just three weeks at Sunset Sound Recorders in Hollywood, California.

Van Halen II continued to showcase the band's unique blend of hard rock, heavy metal, and pop sensibilities. The album's opening track, "You're No Good," is a hard-hitting rocker with a driving rhythm and catchy chorus. Other standout tracks include the infectious "Dance The Night Away," the bluesy "Somebody Get Me A Doctor," and the hard-hitting "Light Up The Sky." Eddie Van Halen's guitar playing continued to push the boundaries of what was possible on the instrument, with his virtuosic solos and innovative techniques becoming even more pronounced on this album.

Van Halen II was generally well-received upon its release, with many critics praising the band's continued growth and Eddie Van Halen's guitar playing. Rolling Stone's John Swenson called the album "a quantum leap over the first album," and AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine noted that it "captures the essence of their signature sound." The album was a commercial success, reaching number 6 on the Billboard 200 chart and going on to sell over 5 million copies in the United States alone.

Music Genre:

  American Heavy Metal, Hard Rock 
Album Production information: Produced by Ted Templeman

Record Label & Catalognr:

Warner Bros (WB) Records WB 56 616 (56616)
 

Media Format:

  12" Vinyl LP  Gramophone Record
Album weight: 210 gram  

Year & Country:

  1979 Made in Germany  
Band Members and Musicians on: Van Halen - Van Halen II
    Band-members, Musicians and Performers
  • David Lee Roth
  • Edward van Halen
  • Michel Anthony
  • Alex van Halen
Track Listing of: Van Halen - Van Halen II

The Song/tracks on "Van Halen - Van Halen II" are

    Tracks:
  1. Dance the Night Away
  2. Outta Love Again
  3. Somebody get me a Doctor
  4. You're no Good
  5. Bottoms Up
  6. Women in Love
  7. Light Up the Sky
  8. Beautiful Girls
  9. D.O.A
  10. Spanish Fly
Front Cover Photo Of VAN HALEN - Van Halen II 12" Vinyl LP Album

Large "VH" Van Halen logo printed on the album front cover

VAN HALEN - Van Halen II 12" Vinyl LP Album album front cover

Photo Of The Back Cover VAN HALEN - Van Halen II 12" Vinyl LP Album

Album back cover shows four photos of the four "VAN HALEN" band-members jumping and playing guitar, bass and drum in action

VAN HALEN - Van Halen II 12" Vinyl LP Album album back cover

Close up of record's label VAN HALEN - Van Halen II 12" Vinyl LP Album Side One

Record Label Details: WARNER BROS K 56 616 , GEMA/Biem boxed, LC 0392, label's rim text in German, French and English

VAN HALEN - Van Halen II 12" Vinyl LP Album enlarged record label

Close up of record's label VAN HALEN - Van Halen II 12" Vinyl LP Album Side Two

Record Label Details: WARNER BROS K 56 616 , GEMA/Biem boxed, LC 0392, label's rim text in German, French and English

VAN HALEN - Van Halen II 12" Vinyl LP Album enlarged record label

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.