Another offering from the American side of heavy metal came in the form of the third album from Van Halen. (Although you could say that this was a Dutch-American collaboration since the Van Halen brothers were originally from the Netherlands.) Still what we got in 1980 was "Women and Children First." Now, my alternate mindset is hearing some collective scoffs and sighs from some of you and I know why. In comparison to Van Halen's first two albums, this one doesn't compare. However, if you can divorce yourself from those iconic first two albums and look at "Women and Children First" on its own, you may find that it's really not that bad of an album.
For me, the two best tracks are the first two songs on the album: "And the Cradle Will Rock" and "Everybody Wants Some," the latter being a concert favourite for several albums after. The former song was the one stuck in my mind for most of my first tour of sea duty and it helped get me through it. The spoken David Lee Roth part of the latter: "I like the way the line runs up the back of your stocking" amuses me to this day. While they may be the two strongest tracks, the album doesn't end there. The next song, "Fools" begins with the traditional guitar work that made Eddie Van Halen the principal guitarist back then. The next track "Romeo's Delight" reminds of some of the classic rockers that we got from the first two albums and continues through the next two tracks. While "Take Your Whiskey Home" seems to be an attempt to re-create my all time favourite Van Halen song, "Ice Cream Man," it's still a good jam. However, and this is where things fall down, in my view. The acoustic track "Could This Be Magic?" where the only female singer ever let on a Van Halen album, Nicolette Larson, provides backing vocals. I love a good acoustic jam but this song had me asking myself: "Are they taking the p*ss here?" Still one questionable track does not make a bad album and it redeems itself with the closing song.
In short, except for that one possible track, there is nothing for me to dislike on "Women and Children First." David Lee Roth sings to his capabilities, Eddie shows the world that he still has a trick or two up his sleeve on the guitar, and Alex Van Halen and Michael Anthony still prove why many people back then considered them to be the best rhythm section around at the time.
Track Listing:
1. And The Cradle Will Rock
2. Everybody Wants Some
3. Fools
4. Romeo's Delight
5. Tora Tora!
6. Loss of Control
7. Take Your Whiskey Home
8. Could This Be Magic?
9. In a Simple Rhyme
10. Growth (Hidden track)
- Van Halen
David Lee Roth- lead vocals
Eddie Van Halen- guitars, backing vocals
Michael Anthony- bass, backing vocals
Alex Van Halen- drums
It is tough for any act to follow up on a great album so imagine how difficult it is two follow up on two. With "Women and Children First," Van Halen make a valiant effort and while it may night reach the dizzy heights of the first two, it is still a good album and should be seen as such.
Next post: Saxon- Wheels of Steel
To buy Rock and Roll Children, go to www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/RockAndRollChildren.html
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