Van Halen II

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Van Halen II
Van Halen II cover
Studio album by Van Halen
Released March 23, 1979
Recorded 1978, Sunset Sound Recorders, Hollywood, CA
Genre Hard rock, heavy metal
Length 31:14
Label Warner Bros.
Producer Ted Templeman
Professional reviews
Van Halen chronology
Van Halen
(1978)
Van Halen II
(1979)
Women and Children First
(1980)

Van Halen II is the second album by American hard rock band Van Halen, released in 1979. The actual recording of the album took place less than a year after the release of the eponymous "I" album. Many of the songs on this album have been known to exist prior to the release of the first album, and are present (in various forms) on the demos recorded in 1975 by Gene Simmons and 1977 by Ted Templemann, including an early version of "Beautiful Girls" (then known as "Bring on the Girls") and "Somebody Get Me a Doctor." (The album version is only slightly different than the demo versions.)

The black and yellow guitar on the back of the album is buried with Dimebag Darrell. Eddie Van Halen placed it in his casket at his funeral because Dimebag had said it was his favorite.[1] However, Edward himself stated in interviews that the guitar itself was not actually used on the Van Halen II album; as it had only been completed just in time for the photo shoots for the second album. David Lee Roth is shown in a cast in the inner liner notes, as he allegedly broke his heel making the leap on the back cover. [2]

Contents

[edit] Track listing

All songs, except where noted, written by Edward Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony, and David Lee Roth.

[edit] Side one

  1. "You're No Good" (Clint Ballard Jr.) – 3:16
  2. "Dance the Night Away" – 3:06†
  3. "Somebody Get Me a Doctor" – 2:52
  4. "Bottoms Up!" – 3:05
  5. "Outta Love Again" – 2:51

[edit] Side two

  1. "Light Up the Sky" – 3:13
  2. "Spanish Fly" – 1:00
  3. "D.O.A." – 4:09
  4. "Women in Love..." – 4:08
  5. "Beautiful Girls" – 3:56†

† denotes a single

[edit] Personnel

[edit] Production

  • Producer: Ted Templeman
  • Engineers: Corey Bailey, Jim Fitzpatrick, Donn Landee
  • Assistant engineers: Corey Bailey, Jim Fitzpatrick
  • Remastering: Gregg Geller
  • Project coordinator: Jo Motta
  • Art direction: Dave Bhang
  • Design: Dave Bhang
  • Artwork: Dave Bhang
  • Photography: Elliot Gilbert, Neil Zlozower

[edit] Charts

[edit] Album

Billboard (North America)

Year Chart Position
1979 Pop Albums 6

[edit] Singles

Billboard (North America)

Year Single Chart Position
1979 "Dance the Night Away" Billboard Hot 100 15
1979 "Beautiful Girls" Billboard Hot 100 84

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Pantera". VH1: Behind the Music. VH1. 38 minutes in.
  2. ^ Van Halen II