Van Halen released their debut self-titled album in 1978. Over a seven-year span, they released six records. Lead singer David Lee Roth belted out some of the best-known rock songs of the late seventies and early Eeighties.
"Runnin' with the Devil," "Jamie's Cryin'," And the Cradle Will Rock," "(Oh) Pretty Woman," and "Where Have All the Good Times Gone" are just some of the fantastic tunes the band produced on their early records. Their sixth album, 1984, produced their only number-one song - "Jump." Two other songs from that album reached as high as 13 - "I'll Wait" and "Panama."
Just as the band was making big commercially, the lead singer left the band. According to Loudwire, there are two sides to the story as to why Roth left, but there had been rising tensions between guitar legend Eddie Van Halen and Roth for years.
Suddenly, the band that had been enjoying increasing popularity for years had to look for a new lead singer to replace the dynamic Roth.
Success for Van Halen with Sammy Hagar as the lead singer of Van Halen
Enter Sammy Hagar. The "Red Rocker" had enjoyed plenty of success as a solo artist, with hits such as "Your Love is Driving Me Crazy" and "I Can't Drive 55." In the years prior to Roth leaving the band, Hagar had three albums that settled in the top 35 of the Billboard Hot 200 albums. For him, it was the next step up in his career.
Roth and Van Halen had a very signature sound. Between Roth's rock vocals and Eddie Van Halen's iconic guitar rifts, they were easily recognizable in a crowded rock genre. Hagar also had a terrific rock sound, but his was completely different than Roth's.
When Roth left, fans were disappointed, but Hagar was more than an acceptable replacement. Everyone awaited Van Halen's first album with Hagar on the mic. When the album dropped, it was a pleasant surprise. The sound was a big departure from what the band had always done with Roth, but it was still incredible.
Van Halen, with Hagar as lead singer, is often referred to as "Van Hagar." Some use the term affectionately; some derisively - depending on how you feel about the change of artistic direction the band took. The sound and vocals were much more melodic. Gone were the raw, raucous, often raunchy lyrics from the Roth years. The band had a more mature, modern sound.
5150 became Van Halen's first of four number-one albums with Hagar. 1984 fell just short, peaking at number two. In all fairness, five of the six Roth albums hit the top six on the album charts, but none hit number one.
Conversely, the Hagar years didn't produce any number-one singles, like "Jump" for Roth. The ballads "Why Can't This Be Love" from 5150 and "When It's Love" from OU812 charted in the top five, but neither made it to the pinnacle.
Despite all of the success Van Halen enjoyed with Roth as lead singer, with five top-six albums and a number-one song, the band had its biggest commercial album successes with Haggar singing vocals.
The debate will go on forever about which version of the band was the best. As an early fan of the band, I've always loved both incarnations. It is almost as if they were two completely different bands. The band's most iconic and lasting songs come from the Roth albums.
Regardless of where you come down on this topic, there is no doubt Van Halen was one of the greatest rock bands of all time, and they enjoyed incredible success in both eras. It becomes personal taste as to which sound you like better.