Eddie Van Halen's 15 Best Songs: Staff Picks
By Andrew Unterberger
10/6/2020
https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/9368619/eddie-van-halen-best-songs-top-15/
https://static.billboard.com/files/2020/10/image-1-1602021741-1024x576.jpg


Usually in rock history, when a band has been named after a member who isn't the frontman -- the Spencer Davis Group, Paul Revere & The Raiders, the Dave Clark Five -- it's seemed confusing, even jarring in retrospect. Not so with Van Halen.

Despite being fronted by one of the most charismatic lead singers in rock history (and him ultimately being replaced by a couple more who were also stars in their own right), the band's signature forever remained the guitar innovation and mastery -- as well as the synths, arrangements and songwriting -- of one Eddie Van Halen.

Boosted by the similarly masterful stickwork of drummer brother Alex, Eddie gave VH an immeasurable advantage over every other L.A.-based, crossover-ready hard rock band of the '70s and '80s -- and there were so very many -- from the very moment his two-finger tapping first roared out of the speakers. There's a reason you only got two tracks into the first Van Halen LP before hitting a solo guitar showcase: This was Eddie's band, first and foremost, and that on its own was plenty to take over the world with.

With the sad news of his death at 65 rocking the music world this Tuesday (Oct. 6), we're taking a look back at Eddie's 15 best -- songs that still sound like they're setting fire to whatever soundsystem they're being played on, and make you feel the phantom callouses on your fingers with every blistering scrape across the strings.


■Eddie Van Halen's 15 Best Songs


1. "Eruption" / "You Really Got Me" (Van Halen, 1978)　https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTY8s12OXS8

2. "Jump" (1984, 1984)　https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwYN7mTi6HM

3. "Unchained" (Fair Warning, 1981)　https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cn8APTMyKsg

4. "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" (Van Halen, 1978)　https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtwBFz6lfrY
5. "Beat It" (Michael Jackson's Thriller, 1982)　https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRdxUFDoQe0
6. "Dance the Night Away" (Van Halen II, 1979)　https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llfjDUB66Z4
7. "Right Now" (For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, 1991)　https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMV-fenGP1g
8. "Hot For Teacher" (1984, 1984)　https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6M4_Ommfvv0
9. "I'm the One" (Van Halen, 1978)　https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EllEztdbBhg
10. "Panama" (1984, 1984)　https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuKDBPw8wQA
11. "Spanish Fly" / "D.O.A." (Van Halen II, 1979)　https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBR08xXPl-o
12. "Runnin' With the Devil" (Van Halen, 1978)　https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5txwFv-zYM
13. "Feels So Good" (OU812, 1988)　https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eb2XW0et8g
14. "Beautiful Girls" (Van Halen II, 1979)　https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Vw6Qbn4TY8
15. "Jamie's Cryin'" (Van Halen, 1978)　https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOjm4I7LRgY

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