Van Halen II

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Van Halen II
File:Van Halen - Van Halen II.jpg
Studio album by Van Halen
Released March 23, 1979
Recorded December 11, 1978[1] – January 1979 at Sunset Sound Recorders, Hollywood, California
Genre Hard rock, heavy metal
Length 31:36
Label Warner Bros.
Producer Ted Templeman
Van Halen chronology
Van Halen
(1978)Van Halen1978		 Van Halen II
(1979)		 Women and Children First
(1980)Women and Children First1980
Singles from Van Halen II
  1. "Dance the Night Away"/"Outta Love Again"
    Released: April 1979
  2. "Somebody Get Me a Doctor"/"Women in Love..."
    Released: 1979 (Japan)
  3. "Beautiful Girls"/"D.O.A."
    Released: September 1979
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic 4/5 stars[2]
Robert Christgau C+[3]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide 4.5/5 stars[4]

Van Halen II is the second studio album by American hard rock band Van Halen, released on March 23, 1979. It peaked at number 6 on the Billboard charts and spawned the singles "Dance the Night Away" and "Beautiful Girls". To date, it has sold over five million copies in the United States. Critical reaction to the album has been positive as well, with the The Rolling Stone Album Guide praising the feel-good, party atmosphere of the songs.

Background and recording

Recording of the album took place less than a year after the release of the band's eponymous debut album; the process was completed in three weeks.[5] Many of the songs on Van Halen II are known to have existed prior to the release of the first album, and are present on the demos recorded in 1976 by Gene Simmons and in 1977 by Ted Templeman, including an early version of "Beautiful Girls" (then known as "Bring on the Girls") and "Somebody Get Me a Doctor".[citation needed]

In the band's licensed game, Guitar Hero: Van Halen, four of the ten tracks of this album are available for play: "Dance the Night Away", "Somebody Get Me a Doctor", "Spanish Fly" and "Beautiful Girls".

Artwork

The black-and-yellow guitar on the back of the album is buried with Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell, who was killed on December 8, 2004. Eddie Van Halen placed it in his casket at his funeral because Darrell had said it was his favorite.[6] However, Eddie 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 album. David Lee Roth is shown in a cast in the inner liner notes, as he allegedly broke his heel making the leap also seen in the picture on the back cover art.[7]

Track listing

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

No. Title Length
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
6. "Light Up the Sky"   3:13
7. "Spanish Fly" (instrumental) 1:00
8. "D.O.A."   4:09
9. "Women in Love..."   4:08
10. "Beautiful Girls"   3:56

Personnel

Production

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Canada (Music Canada)[8] 2× Platinum 200,000
France (SNEP)[9] Gold 100,000
United States (RIAA)[10] 5× Platinum 5,000,000

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Charts

Album

Billboard (North America)

Year Chart Position
1979 Billboard 200 6[11]

Singles

Billboard (North America)

Year Single Chart Position
1979 "Dance The Night Away" Billboard Hot 100 15[11]
1979 "Beautiful Girls" Billboard Hot 100 84[11]

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Van Halen II at AllMusic
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Select VAN HALEN and click OK
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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