Friday, November 25, 2011

Top 10 Van Halen songs according to Rolling Stone readers

Van Halen are the subject of the latest Rolling Stone readers’ poll.

With the band on the verge of making a comeback with original singer David Lee Roth, VH are in the headlines regularly these days.

Last week, VH released a photo of themselves with the management team from Interscope Records, the band’s new home after 35 years on Warner Brothers.

With all the new attention paid to the band, Rolling Stone “figured it was a good time to poll our readers to learn their ten favorite Van Halen songs. The results aren't shocking. It's 80% David Lee Roth era, 20% Van Hagar and 0% Gary Cherone era.”

Long-time fan favorite “Unchained” from 1981’s “Fair Warning” tops the list; here’s what RS had to say about the track:

"It's not quite as famous as "Jump" or "Hot for Teacher," but "Unchained" has frequently been voted the favorite song of Van Halen fans. During the interlude, producer Ted Templeman breaks in and says "Come on, Dave, gimme a break!" Dave responds with, "One break, coming up!" According to legend, Ted felt that Dave was being too over the top and he scolded him. The band liked the moment and kept it in. Recent evidence suggests that the bit was rehearsed, but it's hard to say for sure. Like most things in the Van Halen world, there are two competing narratives of one event."

Top 10 Van Halen songs
Rolling Stone reader’s poll: November 2011


01 – Unchained
02 – Panama
03 – Hot For Teacher
04 – Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love
05 – Jump
06 – Runnin’ With The Devil
07 – Mean Street
08 – Eruption
09 – Right Now
10 – Dreams

Van Van Halen

Van Halen – Unchained
Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, CA – June, 1981


See also:

Sammy Hagar launches Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum
PHOTO: Hard Rock Café Hollywood adds giant Van Halen guitar
Sammy Hagar says new Van Halen is old Van Halen
Chickenfoot: Michael Anthony drama-free without Van Halen
PHOTO: Van Halen signs with Interscope Records
VIDEO: Van Halen’s Hot For Teacher hits Glee
VIDEO: David Lee Roth plugs Lullaby Renditions of Van Halen
Slash and Ozzy Osbourne lead this week’s new releases
Van Halen: Interscope deal to be finalized this week
Van Halen tops the hennemusic Hot 10
VIDEO: The Van Halen cover the band banned in America
Van Halen reunion won’t include Sammy Hagar
RUMOR: Van Halen signs with Interscope Records
Van Halen still divided into two camps?
Van Halen to appear at Grammy Nominations Concert, perform at Grammys
Sammy Hagar says Van Halen used Michael Anthony tapes on tour
Van Halen: New David Lee Roth photo
Van Halen cancel 2012 European tour plans?
Alex Van Halen’s drum kit enters Rock Hall Of Fame Museum
Van Halen: David Lee Roth joins Twitter and Facebook
Van Halen autograph forger pleads guilty in Missouri
Van Halen switches labels after 35 years, album due next year
Van Halen: Ke$ha raves about David Lee Roth
Lita Ford: Eddie Van Halen is the Les Paul of today
Van Halen trying to ban Jump cover
Van Halen top the hennemusic Hot 10
Van Halen: New album update
Angus Young: Eddie Van Halen is an innovator like Jimi Hendrix
Van Halen: New single due next week?
Van Halen to tour Australia in 2012?
Van Halen: Soundwave Revolution fest cancelled
Van Halen top the hennemusic Hot 10 for 2nd week
Van Halen: Ted Templeman talks about how he ended up on ‘Unchained’
Jul 31: Van Halen top the hennemusic Hot 10
Eddie Van Halen a little nervous about new album
Sammy Hagar says Chickenfoot III is best record he’s ever made
Van Halen: Sevendust drummer raves about new album
Van Halen: World Tour rumored to start in November
Van Halen producer says band is ‘on fire’ with new album
Van Halen, Bruce Springsteen named Top American Rock Bands of All Time by Gibson
Van Halen: New music update
Michael Anthony: Chickenfoot vs. Van Halen
Alter Bridge guitarist hears new Van Halen album
Eddie Van Halen interviewed by Smithsonian magazine
Van Halen mixing new album, says Slash
Eddie Van Halen photo book due in October