1.  Edward Van Halen

Like many others, I can pinpoint the exact moment when Edward Van Halen first made a distinct impression on my psyche.  Oddly enough, it wasn’t via the first song I’d ever heard from VH (which would have been “Dance The Night Away” from Van Halen II) but when I finally got to hear the band’s debut album shortly thereafter.  Sure, “Runnin’ With The Devil” is an absolute classic but when cut #2 kicked into high gear I was transfixed.  That cut, “Eruption”, is one minute and forty-two seconds of primal fury laced with white hot intensity that seared many a young man’s eardrum when the album was first released in 1978, sending many a player into the woodshed in an attempt to at least come close to such a titanic and blistering attack.  Even to this day that aggression and dynamic playing is often imitated and rarely duplicated and is still seen as a benchmark in top notch lead guitar playing.

And no, “Eruption” surely wasn’t the only card in Van Halen’s deck-  while his lead playing is fantastic, his rhythm work should put him in high regard too.  VH’s music (especially the “six pack” of albums with original singer David Lee Roth) has always had a certain amount of swing and swagger, with much of that coming out of ol’ Ed’s right hand.  Just take a listen to the bounce of “Beautiful Girls” or the chunk of “Unchained”; two cuts with enough unique riffage far removed from the likes of most rock of the day.  And the sounds!  THE SOUNDS!  Guitar tones too!  Tapping out notes, doing crazy swells with the volume knob, phased crunch, flamenco speed, the drill…  you name it.  The man absorbed the genius of early players like Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix, added his own unique touch, and set the bar even higher for everyone that has come since.

Like geniuses on a whole ‘nother level, he continues to bash away and tinker with the formula in a continued search for new sounds and even greater tone.  As Sammy Hagar entered the fold, Van Halen’s music shifted some from the 24×7 party vibe of the early Roth years to something with a bit more melodic sense and hookiness to it, somewhat due to the presence of the Red Rocker but more likely to do with a newer level of creativity.  Not just straight ahead riffs galore (not that there’s anything wrong with that!) but expanding on that musical palette with keyboards and taking advantage of Hagar’s vocal range to come up with something not better than before but just as strong in its own unique way.  Cuts like “Right Now” and “Love Walks In” have a certain amount of emotional heft and depth that wouldn’t have seen the light of day on those early albums.

With David Lee Roth back in the fold and son Wolfgang joining his father and Uncle Alex, it will be interesting to see what’s in store for this next phase of Van Halen.  Just put out something… please?

Choice Cuts (other than those listed above):  “Romeo Delight”, “Ain’t Talkin’ Bout Love”, “Ice Cream Man”, “Take Your Whiskey Home”, “I’m The One”, “Mean Street”, “The Full Bug”, “Poundcake”, “Humans Being”, “5150”