Just how deep will you go when it comes to your Van Halen fix?
Of the 131 songs in Van Halen’s catalogue, 56 of them were released as singles. That leaves another 75 songs that can be referred to as “album tracks” or “deep cuts”. Just recently, Metal Injection‘s Andrew Kapper posted his own ten best Van Halen deep cut list, which included the tracks “Baluchitherium”, “Ballot Or The Bullet”, “Honeybabysweetiedoll”, “Source Of Infection” and “Secrets”. You can check out Andrew’s complete list at Metal Injection‘s website HERE.
If you had to come up with a “ten best Van Halen deep cuts” list of your own, what would you include? This may not be as easy as you think. Before you give yours, here’s my own personal list of the ten best Van Halen deep cuts:
“5150”
This title track from the 5150 album is among the most underrated Van Halen songs of them all. While it was the hit singles “Why Can’t This Be Love”, “Dreams” and “Love Walks In” from the album that got plenty of love from the mainstream audience, it was this track that Eddie fans were praising from the moment they set ears on it.
“Aftershock”
Van Halen’s 1995 album Balance is often overlooked, which is unfortunate since this deep cut from the album is packed with some serious power. Alex Van Halen is an absolute monster on this track and Eddie’s solo comes in like a rainbow blasting through the clouds!
“As Is”
This one from 2012’s A Different Kind Of Truth album just flat out nasty! Alex’s thunderous opening leads into one hell of a ride courtesy of one Edward Van Halen. Dude is ALL OVER this track! Just like Dave says, “Little more volume in the headphones please…”
“A.F.U. (Naturally Wired)”
Going to the OU812 album for a track where Alex is simply killin’ it. Listen to him work those cymbals! And Sammy and Eddie riding that high note together just before the solo? All fired up indeed.
“Take Your Whiskey Home”
A criminally overlooked gem from the Van Halen catalogue. David Lee Roth’s voice is the perfect fit for this ode to drinking. Raising a shot glass in the air for this one…
“Judgement Day”
The day has cometh for this deep track from the F.U.C.K. album finally get its day in the sun. A song that has gotten better and better with each passing year. I liked it when I first heard it back in ’91, loved it as the years went on, can’t go more than a few days without listening to it at an extremely high volume.
“Light Up The Sky”
So glad the band chose this song to open the 2015 tour. Taken from 1979s Van Halen II, this includes one of David Lee’s baddest lyrics: “We’re all fast breakers comin’ outta the gates, takin’ chances we’re the crash an’ burn.” Old school Van Halen….they were young, they were hungry and were about to destroy the competition in the years to come.
“Women In Love”
Dipping deeper into the band’s second album for what is as close to a ballad as we’ll get from the Dave years. Eddie’s opening is simply stunning and listen to those Michael Anthony/Eddie Van Halen harmonies. Gets the goose bumps bumpin’ every time.
“I’m The One”
So many iconic songs that make up Van Halen’s ’78 debut album yet there are a few songs from that album that you don’t hear enough about. Case in point, this boogie rocker which promises to aggravate you as much as it will entertain you! Bop bada shooby do wa!!!
“Romeo Delight”
This could very well be my number one Van Halen deep track and clearly a favorite of Wolfgang’s since he was influential in adding it to the band’s playlist when David Lee returned to the band for a tour in 2007. The stop and start throughout, the pulsating bass line from Michael Anthony and that classic breakdown at the middle. Feel my heartbeat? Yeah, it’s beatin’ real fast!