Van Halen: 5150

Van Halen | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: 1989
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Warner Bros / Wea
• ASIN: B000002L99
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (179 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,070 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #24 in Music > Rock > Rock Guitarists > Guitar Gods
  • #56 in Music > Hard Rock & Metal > Hard Rock

Track Listings

1. Good Enough

2. Why Can't This Be Love

3. Get Up

4. Dreams

5. Summer Nights

6. Best Of Both Worlds

7. Love Walks In

8. '5150'

9. Inside

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

As original Van Halen vocalist David Lee Roth quit the band to pursue a solo career, or was fired (depending on who you believe), Eddie and Alex Van Halen and Michael Anthony carried on by hiring Sammy Hagar. Hagar was a middling artist on his own, but he proved to be a powerhouse when placed in front of hard rock's most muscular and innovative instrumental unit. On 5150--the title is police code for "escaped lunatic"--you can hear the band's excitement at having struck a winning combination. Songs such as "Why Can't This Be Love," "Dreams," "Best of Both Worlds," and "Love Walks In" combine to make this the early high-watermark of the Van Hagar era. --Daniel Durchholz

Product Description

This 1986 album was the first with former Montrose singer Sammy Hagar! Diamond Dave's absence doesn't phase the band, whose crashing guitars and harmonies are still there! Includes Good Enough; Why Can't This Be Love; Get Up; Dreams; Love Walks In; 5150 , and more.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Welcome the redrocker May 20, 1998

By A Customer

Format:Audio CD

Back in 1986 I did not know what to think when I heard David Lee Roth was out and Sammy Hagar was in. This album showed a new grown style of hard rock music. The song writing was miles ahead of anything at the time. Eddie came of sounding refreshed and ready to jamm. A must have for any Van Halen fan!!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Where are the "Van Hagar" era remasters?? July 14, 2004

By A Customer

Format:Audio CD

This is my all time favorite VH album, in no small part because it's the first one I heard from start to finish, just discovering rock and roll in '86. Yes, I must agree the synth drums perhaps give it a slight "dated" feel, but it still sounds cool as hell when played at proper hellacious volume. I dare any of you to NOT get pumped when you hear "Get Up" or Best of Both Worlds". "Dreams" contains one of Eddie's best solos ever, and Sammy sings it like his life depends on it.
So, we got the Roth-era remasters, now how about 5150 and ou812??? These two albums are SCREAMING for a remastering.

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Sammy walks in with force March 5, 2000

By Sal Nudo VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

Back in 1986 a neighborhood friend of mine gave me the "5150" cassette -- he hated it. I immediately loved it, and so began the segregation of Van Halen fans in either the David Lee Roth or Sammy Hagar camp.

To be sure, I like Roth-era Van Halen as well, but what's not to love about an album like "5150?" Most of the songs on it rock, and every single one is catchy and very good. The guys all sound rejuventated and raring to go, perhaps more musically well-rounded than before. The production is pumped up and pristine, with searing, creative guitar work by Eddie, spot-on drumming by his brother and heartfelt vocals by Hagar. I always felt this album was an instant VH classic, and that feeling hasn't changed all these years later. Sure, there may be a touch of '80s cheese sprinkled here and there, and some of the songs are more pop-oriented than before, but again, so what? Overall, "5150" is a nine-song gem that should be included in everyone's rock 'n' roll collection.

Play this one loud!

18 of 23 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty good cd. March 25, 2004

By Kyle Anderson

Format:Audio CD

This album and For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge are the best Van Hagar CD's. The tracks were good except for the last one.

Good Enough-Good start for Van Hagar. The band sounds like it has been reinvented here.

Why Can't this be Love?-Good song, even though it is a saccarine love song. THe Keyboard work was quite interesting.

Get Up-Easily the hardest song on the album. Sammy really hit the high notes here. Good song to listen to when you want to get pumped up.

Dreams-The best song on the album. The song is very keyboard driven but has a very lush feel. It also moves fast and deals with people aspiring to be more than they are.

Summer Nights-A fun party song. It was a carefree song about meeting women and having a good time with the guys.

Best of Both Worlds-A good track about enjoying your life while you can.

Love Walks In-I thought this song sounded very progressive and I quite enjoyed it despite it being a saccharine love ballad.

5150-Really good track, mainly dealing with the woes of winning a woman. It has a really great guitar riff opening as well as a good solo.

Inside-I hate this track. While the rest of the albu is pretty good, I can't stand this song. I always stop my CD after the 8th track so I don't have to listen to this horrible song.

Overall, a good album. THough, I thought that the sound was wierd. It had a very compressed feel.

17 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Winner from VH March 15, 2003

By Stretch

Format:Audio CD

The reviewers that slag this album seem more like David lee Roth fans than true-blue Van Halen fans. To dislike the music is one thing, but hating it just cause David Lee Roth's not singing is absurd. And Comparing the Hagar era to the Roth years is apples to oranges!

The only dud here is "Inside" though you get the impression that the boys were really enjoying themselves. Eddie's top-notch guitar skills are evident on "Get up", plus there's clever boxing references thrown in. The two ballads "Dreams" and "Love walks in" are amazing. I always crank up "Summer Nights" around my birthday in June. Ideally sets the mood. The songwriting is incredible on both the title track and "Best of both worlds".

A few have complained that today 5150 Sounds dated. So what if they opted for synthesizers? That's harsh criticism, Those were the times. Who WASN'T using 'em at one point back then? And besides it was done so effectively it's hard to argue with that choice.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars 5150!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! December 27, 2004

By Froggman

Format:Audio CD

So, with David Lee Roth out of Van Halen and Sammy Hagar in, which Van Halen proves there still on top of the world. But lets face it Roth was Van Halen period, there's no one that will ever replace him but Hagar was the best choice to fill the vacancy for Van Halen. The whole 5150 album is great and is one of my favorites including 1984 and their debut album. From my interpretation this is what I got out of all the nine songs on 5150.

1. Good Enough- the title says it all with opening guitar riffs by Eddie Van Halen truly proves that Van Halen is back plus the awesome guitar cut at the end. The songs about food I believe how it has to be the best. Rate: 8.5/10

2. Why Can't This Be Love?- total 80's retro songs with a nice beat done by the keyboards ranking this song #3 on the Billboards Hot 100. It's about finding love and why can't it be true something that everyone could relate to. Rate: 9.5/10

3. Get Up- Awesome hard song about fighting for yourself and never quiting, truly a fast- paced song that keeps you moving.
Rate: 9/10

4. Dreams- One of the best songs on this album, I believe it was an even bigger song for graduation. It's about taking your dreams, turning them into reality, and being more than you really are. Fantastic. Rate: 10/10

5. Summer Nights- Nice summer songs thats about summer vacation, having fun, and getting away from the cold, also of coarse we cannot forget our radio too. Rate: 9/10

6. Best of Both Worlds- A very nice upbeat song about having the best and enjoying like no matter what, a really great song that'll keep your foot tapping. Rate: 9.5/10

7.... Love Walks In- This one is about aliens which is really wierd in my opinion because the song is all romantic- like and is talking about alien abductions. How is that romantic? Anyway its a nice song with pretty cool guitar solos attached. Rate: 8/10

8. 5150- Great song about running from the law and one person feeling that they can't keep running while the other person feels that its fun and lets keep doing it. Quite possibly might be about girls too. Anyway, a real kick @$$ awesome song and one of Van Halen's best with a really cool guitar solo and drumming done by Alex. Rate: 10/10

9. Inside- Wierd, but funny with a nice guitar solo inbetween. This song was an absolute joke from start to finish but who cares its not bad and if anyone is going to fool around and put it on a CD, it might as well be Van Halen. Rate: 8/10

So, to sum up 5150 is that its fantastic and proves that Van Halen can and will go on. Plus this is the first Van Halen album to hit number one without any music videos which is amazing. All and all its a 6x platnium album that is worthy of its triumph. Read more ›