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A Dozen OF TC’s Favorite Underrated Van Halen Tunes (We Miss You Eddie)

By Terrie Carr
From the TC VH Collection
TC in VH skirt

My Van Halen Skirt – Terrie Carr

Rock Friends,
Van Halen IS my band. One of the bands I saw the most, loved the best and had the biggest impact on me becoming a passionate lover of rock music. I will never forget the first time I heard the VH debut. AND saw the record! I flipped. The world changed for little “TC”…..
Released on February 10th, 1978- music was also forever changed. Even the cover was electric (yet so simple)
Who were these guys? And WHAT WAS THAT SOUND? Van Halen not only had incredible talent but they had SONGS- Hands down one of the greatest catalogs of tunes in rock history. Alex and Michael together so tight, (Alex so underrated) Dave reinventing the frontman, magic harmonies. And of course ED.
The charisma, connection and talent coming out of these four young guys was unprecedented. A new sound was born- they were THE band of two decades.
Eddie was my guy. (Until of course he married Valerie Bertinelli!)
There was no one like Edward. And no album EVER like the first Van Halen record. Opening with Runnin’ With The Devil- the perfect introduction to 11 of the greatest tunes of all time- when would we get another record? One year later in 1979. That’s the way rock and roll was back then- LET’S GO! Women and Children First followed in 1980 and Fair Warning in 1981 and on and on…..NOW, please note- I could choose every song on every record, but I’m grabbing a few of my favorite underrated deep cuts and I will include the Sammy era, even though MY Van Halen is the DLR years. That was when I fell in love with them.
Someone asked me recently “Were you a Van Halen Fan Growing Up”? My response?
“In New Jersey here’s what we did…listened to Van Halen , snuck beer and waited for Van Halen to come to town for a concert”.
The band that changed everything. Especially GUITAR.
We lost Eddie three years ago. And WDHA will play Van Halen throughout the day (even more than we already do) on Friday 10/6.
Here are 12 of my favorite underrated songs from the band I still adore.
Van Halen FOREVER! (thank god we have Wolfie carrying on the legacy of talent)
btw….photos included are all my personal VH collection. The sign stays at our studios, but it’s MINE! Thanks to listener Michael for giving it to me.

Van Halen Forever!
Terrie Carr

  • Atomic Punk (VH Debut)

    One of the most different sounding VH tunes, I had never heard anything like it. Dave fights the future! It still sounds fresh, amazing , wild and I always catch something different every single time I hear it. Dave and Ed are front and center here- Dave is storytelling with vocal gymnastics and Eddie’s scratching is like….WHAT?!

  • Hear About It Later (Fair Warning)

    The Eddie intro on “Hear About It Later” is classic VH. Building until you are so ready to go! Then Dave gives a charging howl- perfect harmonies on the chorus ..and Alex and Mike…such a groove….and of course that dazzling solo. I lived to watch these live VH videos on MTV back in the day. True rock and roll magic.

  • The Full Bug (Diver Down)

    Sorry kids, but this tune is SO underrated….Dave on harmonica? Really awesome……..bluesy and sexy, TFB is a gem!

  • Good Enough- (5150)

    The first record to feature Sammy Hagar in 1986 (5150) the opening track was always a favorite of mine. The 5150 record had a whole different sound, different producers (including Mick Jones from Foreigner) and the opening line of the track “Hello Baby”  referencing The Big Bopper’s 1950’s tune Chantilly Lace sets the tone – (followed by King Edward)  “Good Enough” is the perfect intro to what the Sammy Hagar era of Van Halen was all about …the band sounded energized and dare I say happy?

     

  • Romeo Delight- (Women and Children First)

    I have always loved the fast charging heaviness of Romeo Delight. There are some really unique sounds on this song that bring it all together. It punches your lights out straight away. Perfection.

  • In A Simple Rhyme- (Women and Children First)

    I love, love, love the vocals on this highly underrated Van Halen masterpiece. You never know where this song is going….but you go along…and it keeps taking you in different directions.  I remember the first time I heard this at a “basement party” and I go back to that moment every time I hear it. Such a special song.

  • Secrets- (Diver Down)

    One of my favorite VH songs EVER, everything about “Secrets” is beautiful and soooo sexy with a masterful performance by Alex with the bell sound in the beginning of the song. Dave’s vocals are so sweet and this stand out track from Diver Down makes you realize what a severely underrated album “Diver Down” is in the VH catalog.

  • D.O.A. (Van Halen 2)

    D.O.A. (Dead or Alive) from the bands second is so raw and rumor has it that this song was on their original demo tape in some form. It sounds like a young, hungry band banging away and that’s what I LOVE about this one….Especially the end….

  • I'm The One (Debut)

    Highlighting the GOAT’s insane talent, “I’m The One” is a Van Halen ride on the Eddie VH coaster baby. And it introduces us to Dave’s fun side and comes right back to melting your face off.

  • Dirty Movies (Fair Warning)

    From the first drum beats of this tune you are hooked. Here comes Eddie and then BAM- ….Groovy and funky, heavy and sleazy….such a tasty cut. Dave’s scatting, storytelling style is perfection on this one. The Prom Queen was never the same! “Take It Off”! Lol

  • Sinner's Swing (Fair Warning)

    “Alright You Sinners- SWING”! This song makes us want to sin! POWER baby! And the song swings just like the title says. Fair Waring is a hard rock masterpiece. The album as a whole is probably my second favorite VH classic and highly underrated. It has an anger that is unmatched by any other VH release. (Except this tune)

  • Human's Being - (Twister Movie Soundtrack) (Best Of)

    While there were rumors of strife between the band when this song was born, it’s one of the underrated VH tunes of the Hagar era. often forgotten, it’s such an aggressive tune and one of my favorite performances with Sammy. I love it more every time I hear it.

Long Live Van Halen!
Terrie Carr (Super Fan Forever!)

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