1<\/a><\/sup> Purely subjective and subject to change, of course.<\/p>\n\u201cRunnin’ With the Devil\u201d – The first single that the band wrote, it was a minor hit. I’ve always dug it for its power, how little it sounded like typical 1978 music, and because it freaked me out a little when I was little. A song about the devil? Yikes!<\/p>\n
“Panama\u201d – This went to #13 on the pop charts, but I don’t think I appreciated it fully until years later. Looking back, it may be the ultimate DLR-VH song: a heavy rocker with a healthy dose of pop sensibility, sexuality, and humor.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverybody Wants Some!!\u201d – There are a lot of great intros in the VH catalog, but I think this is my favorite. I love the slow build, the booming drums, the ominous growling from Eddie’s guitar, and Dave’s animal-vamping which explode into the first verse. Bonus points for the classic Better Off Dead<\/em>.<\/p>\n\u201cIntruder\/(Oh) Pretty Woman\u201d – VH was never afraid of tackling someone else’s song. Here is a classic cover, both faithful to Orbison’s original and thoroughly Van Halen. Throw in the epic \u201cIntruder\u201d lead-in, and you have one of the best covers ever.<\/p>\n
\u201cHot For Teacher\u201d – The last DLR single, another brilliant combination of hard rock, punk, sex, and laughs.<\/p>\n
To be fair, here are my favorite Sammy-era Van Halen songs.<\/p>\n
\u201cBest of Both Worlds\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSummer Nights\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCabo Wabo\u201d<\/p>\n
That’s right, just three. The Van Hagar songs have not aged as well as the DLR songs. I love you and have defended you, Sammy, but in truth your songs just don’t measure up.<\/p>\n