Van Halen - Women & Children First
List Price:
Our Price: $3.87
You Save: $4.11 (52%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $3.14 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more new music releases
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
Music CD Cover
Artist: Van HalenBrand: VAN HALEN
Edition: Music CD
Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 2000-09-19
Music Label: Warner Bros / Wea
Soundtracks:
- And The Cradle Will Rock...
- Everybody Wants Some!!
- Fools
- Romeo Delight
- Tora! Tora!
- Loss Of Control
- Take Your Whiskey Home
- Could This Be Magic?
- In A Simple Rhyme
Free Music Notes for Women & Children First
Free Music Review: An underrated masterpiece
Hit: 5 Stars
1980 saw the release of Van Halen's "Women and Children First," their third album in a chain of classic releases spanning the late 70s into the early 80s. "Women and Children First" is probably the bands' most under-appreciated album. This is due to the fact that it's in the middle of a chain of classic releases like "Van Halen," "Van Halen II" and "1984." Yet it hasn't quite received the cult status of "Fair Warning" or the sales of "Diver Down."
Although "Van Halen II" (1979) is a classic album, it's slightly underwhelming when compared to the magnificent self-titled debut (1978). It's the classic case of the "sophomore slump," when a band that has been playing clubs for years uses up all its best material on the debut, and then has to use what's left over for the follow-up (although what was "left over" was still pretty good!). For "Woman and Children First," the band recorded a whole new batch of songs that sounded fresh, and less like leftovers.
It goes without saying that Van Halen was at their prime during the Roth years (1978-1985). The debut album and the follow-up see Van Halen young, fast and furious. This was also the case by the time Van Halen released "Women and Children First," but the band also sounds a little more loose, more relaxed, but without losing any of the fire or passion that made them so great. Eddie's playing, which goes without saying, sounds terrific. Every song on "Women and Children First" has one, or two killer, killer solos. Bassist Michael Anthony and drummer Alex Van Halen provide a stellar rhythm section and David Lee Roth shines as only he can. There has never been, nor will there ever be, in the history of rock n' roll, a singer that has the charisma, charm, showmanship and ironic wit of David Lee Roth.
"Women and Children First," starts out surprisingly mid-paced (although never tepid) with its first couple of songs. The classic rock staples "And the Cradle Will Rock..." and "Everybody Want's Some!" get the album off to a great start. The former a dedication to the endurance of the rock n' roll sprit and the latter a tribute to, well, what everybody wants. Both songs feature Eddie Van Halen at his best. His solos never sounded more soulful or melodic. And Dave just shines. "Everybody Wants Some" really shows classic David Lee Roth at his best, especially with his "I like way the line runs up the back of the stocking," and "no no no no no, don't take `em off", and "yeah, that's it, a little more to the right" lines. These two tracks really show classic Van Halen at there finest. The pace slows down even more for the bluesy "Fools" an ode to the powers that be that would obstruct the prowling of the Diamond one.
The pace goes into hyperdrive with the classic "Romeo Delight" which is probably one of Van Halen's most underrated songs. The main riff is absolutely killer and Eddie's playing is fast and furious. One of the best moments of this song comes towards the end, when the rush of the song comes to a sudden halt, and then you hear the sound of a tapping, softly at first, and then getting louder and louder. Dave's quite melodic "oh baby, feel my heartbeat, feel my heartbeat, feel my heartbeat" over the tapping which gets increasingly louder adds the perfect effect as only Diamond Dave could. The Sabbath-like "Tora! Tora!" which leads into the anarchic "Loss of Control" are two non-song tracks that add a bit of spice to the album and are essential to its overall flow.
The band goes semi-acoustic towards the end of "Women and Children First." "Take Your Whisky Home" sounds like an old blues song from the South. The lines "Well my baby, she don't want me around, she says she's tired of watching me fall down, she wants the good life, whhah, and all the rest, but I like that bottle better than the rest" show the true spirit of classic Van Halen. The acoustic "Could this be Magic" is pure magic. In it, Dave sings of the inevitable doom of what will become in his current romance, but in pure Dave kitsch. The background vocals and harmonies from Eddie, Michael and Nicolette Larson add the perfect touch. The album closes with the beautifully written ballad "In a Simple Rhyme." This is simply one of rock's greatest, most highly underrated love songs. It actually rocks pretty hard, but is elegant and soulful. I would go as far as to say that it's like a "Sweet Child `O Mine" of the early 80s. Eddie and Michael's background vocals over Dave's soulful blues delivery is pure magic. Eddie's thunderous solo over Michael Anthony's melodic bass line sounds terrific. And Diamond Dave never shined so bright. Some of his best lyrics are right here:
Then she made the mountains sing
Birds against an icy sky
And I heard bells ringin'
I think I heard an angel sigh
"Woman and Children First" closes with an untitled 15 second Sabbath-like instrumental titled "Growth." Supposedly, the follow-up album, (which turned out to be "Fair Warning" 1981) would begin with the same riff, although this turned out not to be the case. "Growth" sort of comes out of left field, but is none-the-less an interesting piece of music and a cool way to end the album.
The first six Van Halen albums are absolutely essential cornerstones to any great rock collection. Although "Women and Children First" is not the band's most well known album, it is still a classic and a must have for any Van Halen fan, or fan of hard rock or classic rock in general.
Women & Children First Poster
180-gram pressing. Van Halen flexed their artistic muscles for this 1980 album, which once again relied on the vocals of David Lee Roth and guitar playing of Eddie Van Halen. The LP went to #6 in the Billboard charts and served up songs that are among the band's greatest tracks "And The Cradle Will Rock", "Everybody Wants Some" and "Could This Be Magic?".Classic Rock Music CDs
Music Genres
Top music charts in Classic Rock Music CDs
Paul Mccartney, Wings - Wings at the Speed of SoundRelease date: 1996-09-24; Music CD
Best price: $287.77
Small Faces - BoxedRelease date: 1997-11-01; Music CD
Best price: $39.95
Dr John - Gris GrisRelease date: 1994-07-15; Music CD
Price in other shops:
![Eric Clapton: Live in Hyde Park [VHS] Image](/images/Eric-Clapton-Live-in-Hyde-Park-VHS-6304817037-X.jpg){kind=small}
Eric Clapton: Live in Hyde Park [VHS]Warner Bros / Wea; Release date: 1998-02-17; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $13.50
Price in other shops:
![Human Highway [VHS] Image](/images/Human-Highway-VHS-6303589219-X.jpg){kind=small}
Human Highway [VHS]Warner Bros / Wea; Release date: 1995-08-08; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $153.94
![The Monkees - Head [VHS] Image](/images/The-Monkees-Head-VHS-6303337023-X.jpg){kind=small}
The Monkees - Head [VHS]Rhino / Wea; Release date: 1995-01-25; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $14.40
Price in other shops:
![Live & Loud [VHS] Image](/images/Live-Loud-VHS-630276193X-X.jpg){kind=small}
Ozzy Osbourne - Live & Loud [VHS]Sony; Release date: 1993-05-25; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $3.96
Price in other shops:
![Unplugged [VHS] Image](/images/Unplugged-VHS-6302639859-X.jpg){kind=small}
Bruce Springsteen - Unplugged [VHS]Sony; Release date: 1992-12-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $2.75
Price in other shops:
![Peter Gabriel - P.O.V. [VHS] Image](/images/noimg.gif)
Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel - P.O.V. [VHS]Virgin Records Us; Release date: 1992-06-29; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
![Past to Present [VHS] Image](/images/Past-to-Present-VHS-6301817664-X.jpg){kind=small}
Toto - Past to Present [VHS]Sony; Release date: 1991-07-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $77.99
Top Rated Albums
Van Halen - BalanceVAN HALEN; Release date: 1995-01-24; Published: 1995; Music CD
Best price: $4.98
Price in other shops:
Van Halen - For Unlawful Carnal KnowledgeVAN HALEN; Release date: 2011-10-17; Music CD
Best price: $3.90
Price in other shops:
Van Halen: 5150VAN HALEN; Release date: 1990-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $3.78
Price in other shops:
Van Halen - Ou812VAN HALEN; Release date: 1990-10-25; Published: 1996-07-04; Music CD
Best price: $3.84
Price in other shops:
Van Halen - 1984VAN HALEN; Release date: 2000-09-19; Music CD
Best price: $3.89
Price in other shops:
Van Halen - Diver DownVAN HALEN; Release date: 2000-09-19; Music CD
Best price: $3.90
Price in other shops:
Van Halen - Fair WarningVAN HALEN; Release date: 2000-09-19; Music CD
Best price: $3.68
Price in other shops:
Van Halen - Van Halen IIVAN HALEN; Release date: 2000-09-19; Music CD
Best price: $3.98
Price in other shops:
Van Halen - Van HalenVAN HALEN; Release date: 2000-09-19; Music CD
Best price: $3.65
Price in other shops:
Van Halen - A Different Kind of TruthRelease date: 2012-02-07; Music CD
Best price: $13.64
Price in other shops: