Let’s get right down to it-  THE best version of this song is not the original, not the Van Halen cover, but the absolutely riotous and smoking live version found on their fab One For The Road LP.  Sure, the original is a stone cold classic featuring one of the most notable and epic riffs of all time-  legend has it lead guitarist Dave Davies sliced the cone of his amp with a razor blade to get an even nastier tone out of his guitar (and arguably created the first strains of heavy metal); and Van Halen’s epic cover version is mostly highlighted by that blistering guitar solo that is “Eruption” (one always seems to be tied to the other come radio play); but neither holds a candle to the punked up version on display on side four, cut one on that 1980 platter.

I can hear the haters now…  “blasphemy!  The original is IT!  Young band making their mark!”…  or…  “COME ON!  The VH version tops all because…  well… it’s VH!  Listen to Ed!  He roolz!”  I say…  naaaah babeeee naaaah… no way Jose!  Just listen to that introductory rumble from Davies; like an earthquake mixed with a reckless locomotive in danger of derailing at any minute. I have a feeling that he wanted to show the young Van Halen who’s the guitar boss by putting his own unique spin on the cut, immediately roaring out of the gate with the NASTIEST Les Paul tone committed to vinyl:  all knobs on TEN and grabbing you by the throat as he kicks into the main riff followed by the band in heads down, take no prisoners mode in full swing behind him.  And brother Ray’s lead vocal is full of commanding swagger as he helps lead that charge by whipping the crowd into a frenzy.  Such a venomous take from a band that was out to show the punks (and certain burgeoning hard rockers) that these original “old” cats still had plenty left in the tank.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the original and I love the VH version but both are turgid and elephantic in comparison.  Sure, the VH one more closely mimics the original and is bombastic in its own right (those background vocals and lead solo are aces) but there is a raw energy missing that is more present in the rest of that band’s catalog.  And the original? Pure awesomeness but not as edgy as the live version, although I’ll say that Davies’ solo on it is just chonkingly perfect.  However, I think the time period played a big part with the new amped up approach:  arena rock was the new thing and the band was moving into new directions after a series of concept albums failed to hit big with their fans.  Come their new contract with Arista Records in 1977, the band was starting to feel the need to rock out again and get away from the concept format and back into straight ahead rock songs.  And rock they did, especially come One For The Road and its excellent takes on both new and old material.

So yeah, if you haven’t heard this version I strongly encourage you to listen and pick up the album too if you’ve not heard it.  Pure, raw unbridled rock and roll from a band who still had it.  Oh yeah…  after digging hard on the back cover and listening to those tones on display, I’ve had a longing for a Gibson Les Paul Artisan guitar!