Scot and Jeff welcome Sean Trende from RealClearPolitics to talk about his love of Van Halen.
Introducing the Band
Your hosts @ScotBertram and @EsotericCD, with guest Sean Trende, Senior Elections Analyst at RealClearPolitics: follow him on Twitter at @SeanTrende and read his work here
Sean Trende’s Musical Pick: Van Halen
How did Sean get into Van Halen? His first introduction: “Spanish Fly” (Van Halen II, 1979)
The David Lee Roth Era: From Van Halen (1978) to 1984 (1984). KEY SONGS: “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love” (Van Halen, 1978); “Eruption” (Van Halen, 1978); “You Really Got Me” (Van Halen, 1978); “I’m The One” (Van Halen, 1978); “Runnin’ With The Devil (goofy isolated vocals-only version)” (Van Halen, 1978); “Little Guitars” (Diver Down, 1982); “Sunday Afternoon In The Park” (Fair Warning, 1981); “So This Is Love?” (Fair Warning, 1981); “Panama” (1984, 1984); “Jump” (1984, 1984), “I’ll Wait” (1984, 1984)
Ranking Eddie Van Halen Among Rock Guitarists
Jeff emphasizes how EVH’s guitar tone became the Sound Of The Future for so many bands, even those outside the hair metal genre (especially Bob Mould of Husker Du: example #1, example #2).
“Van Hagar” — the Sammy Hagar Era
The guys discuss the era that brought VH to their commercial peak, groan over Sammy Hagar’s amazingly rockheaded lyrics, but give credit where it’s due. KEY SONGS: “Summer Nights” (5150, 1986); “Best Of Both Worlds” (5150, 1986); “5150” (5150, 1986)
Question: Is Sammy Hagar the worst rock lyricist ever?
Scot makes a compelling case! And Sean chimes in with emphatic agreement. A rueful discussion of the most embarrassing poesy to ever come from the pen of Mr. Samuel Roy Hagar. Jeff loses it when Scot recalls Sammy’s classic line from “Why Can’t This Be Love?” Sean scoffs as Jeff makes a bold stand in favor of “Right Now,” or as he calls it, “The Diet Crystal Pepsi Theme Song.”
KEY SONGS: “Why Can’t This Be Love” (5150, 1986); “Black And Blue” (OU812, 1988); “Source Of Infection” (OU812, 1988); “Poundcake” (For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, 1991); “Right Now” (For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, 1991); “Amsterdam” (Balance, 1995)
The infamous “no brown M&Ms” contract rider story
Sean explains that there was actually a good reason for this seemingly diva-like contract stipulation, but Jeff is disappointed and wishes they were just being jerks: what’s the point of being an ’80s hard-rock megastar if you can’t act capriciously?
Finale
Sean, Jeff, and Scot each offer their “two key albums and five key songs” intro. to Van Halen.
Episode 134: Guy Denton / Echo & The Bunnymen
Episode 133: Joshua Treviño / Matthew Sweet
Episode 132: Tom Nichols / Boston
Episode 131: Jay Cost / The Kinks [Part 2]
Episode 130: Jay Cost / The Kinks [Part 1]
Episode 129: Mike Long / Joe Jackson
Episode 128: Hannah Rowan / Blondie
Episode 127: Eric Kohn / Huey Lewis & the News
Episode 126: Rory Cooper / Simon & Garfunkel
Episode 125: Matt Murray / Nick Lowe
Episode 124: Dave Weigel / Pet Shop Boys
Episode 123: Dominic Green / The Jam
Episode 122: Eric Garcia / Black Sabbath
Episode 121: Adam Wollner / My Morning Jacket
Episode 120: Mark Hemingway / Big Star
Episode 119: Noam Blum / Tool
Episode 118: Phil Wegmann / The National
Episode 117: Andrew Fink / Otis Redding
Episode 116: Noah Weinrich / Weezer
Episode 115: Jesse Walker / Willie Nelson [Part 2]
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Irish Songs with Ken Murray
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
GOOD OL’ GRATEFUL DEADCAST
Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia
Behind The Song