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Originally released in 1995, Balance marked the final studio album from the classic Van Halen lineup of Sammy Hagar, Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, and Michael Anthony. The Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum record debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and spawned the Top 40 hit “Can’t Stop Lovin’ You,” along with fan favorites “Don’t Tell Me (What Love Can Do)” and “Amsterdam.”

At the time of its release, much of the fuss surrounding 1984 involved Van Halen's adoption of synthesizers on this, their sixth album – a hoopla that was a bit of a red herring since the band had been layering in synths since their third album, Women and Children First…

The power struggle within Van Halen was often painted as David Lee Roth's ego running out of control – a theory that was easy enough to believe given his outsized charisma – but in retrospect, it seems evident that Eddie Van Halen wanted respect to go along with his gargantuan fame, and Roth wasn't willing to play. Bizarrely enough, Sammy Hagar – the former Montrose lead singer who had carved out a successful solo career – was ready to play, possibly because the Red Rocker was never afraid of being earnest, nor was he afraid of synthesizers, for that matter…

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…

The somber black and white cover could have been a knowing allusion to Meet the Beatles!, but it's really a signal that Van Halen is playing it for keeps on OU812, their second record with Sammy Hagar. Indeed, the striking thing about OU812 is that all its humor is distilled into a silly punny title, because even the party tunes here – and there are many – are performed with a dogged, determined vibe…

Van Halen is the debut studio album by American heavy metal/hard rock band Van Halen, released in February 1978. Recorded in 1977, Van Halen sold over 10 million copies in the US alone, becoming one of the most successful debuts by a hard rock band. Along with 1984, it gives Van Halen two original albums with Diamond status in sales.