"Van Halen II" is the second album by American hard rock band Van Halen, released in 1979.
It's called "Van Halen II" not just because it's the band's second album but because it's virtually a carbon copy of their 1978 debut, right down to how the band showcases their prowess via covers and how Eddie Van Halen gets a brief, shining moment to showcase his guitar genius. This time, he does his thing on acoustic guitars on the remarkable "Spanish Fly," but that temporary shift from electrics to acoustics is the only true notable difference in attack here; in every other way, "Van Halen II" feels like its predecessor, even if there are subtle differences. First, there's only one cover this time around Betty Everett's "You're No Good," surely learned from Linda Ronstadt and this feels both heavier and lighter than the debut. Heavier in that this sounds big and powerful, driven by mastodon riffs that aim straight of the gut. Lighter in that there's a nimbleness to the attack, in that there are pop hooks to the best songs, in that the group sounds emboldened by their success so they're swaggering with a confidence that's alluring. If the classic ratio is slightly lighter than on the debut, there are no bad songs and the best moments here two bona fide party anthems in "Dance the Night Away" and "Beautiful Girls," songs that embody everything the band was about are lighter, funnier than anything on the debut, showcases for both Diamond Dave's knowing shuck and jive and Eddie's phenomenal gift, so natural it seems to just flow out of him.
Tracklist
01. You're No Good (Ballard, Fuller) - 3:17
02. Dance the Night Away (Van Halen - 3:09
03. Somebody Get Me a Doctor (Van Halen) - 2:54
04. Bottoms Up! (Van Halen) - 3:06
05. Outta Love Again (Van Halen) - 2:53
06. Light Up the Sky (Van Halen) - 3:13
07. Spanish Fly (Van Halen) - 1:02
08. D.O.A. (Van Halen) - 4:11
09. Women in Love... (Van Halen) - 4:09
10. Beautiful Girls (Van Halen) - 3:56
Personnel
David Lee Roth - lead vocals
Eddie Van Halen - electric and acoustic guitars, backing vocals
Michael Anthony - bass guitar, backing vocals
Alex Van Halen - drums
Notes
Released: March 23, 1979
Recorded at: Sunset Sound Recorders, Hollywood , CA
Genre: Hard Rock
Length: 32:00
Label: Warner Bros.
Producer: Ted Templeman
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