I can’t believe I haven’t written about this album yet.
“5150” achieved what “1984” couldn’t.
The Billboard Number 1 spot.
Actually all of the Sammy Hagar albums achieved what the David Lee Roth albums couldn’t.
Then again DLR needed to contend with Michael Jackson and “Thriller” and Adele with “21”.
Songs like “Why Can’t This Be Love”, “Best of Both Worlds”, “Dreams”, “Live Walks In” and “Summer Nights” take up most of the press and listens on steaming services but it’s tracks like “Good Enough” and “Get Up” which get me really interested.
Good Enough
Check out the head banging riff on “Good Enough” after Sammy screams “Hello Baby”.
It sounds like AC/DC on steroids but if you listen to the 1983 demo, it actually sounds like ZZ Top.
It was one of the first songs Sammy Hagar jammed with the band and he is at his creative best, telling us that a good looking women is like a good piece of prime grade beef.
Why Can’t This Be Love
Then they hit us with this.
Infectious and catchy. Almost funky.
Play that synth riff on guitar and it rocks your socks off.
Get Up
Speed rock. I love it.
Dreams
If the synth riff doesn’t get you singing out loud, then Sammy’s vocals would.
Summer Nights
Along with “Good Enough” this was the other song that Sammy Hagar jammed on.
It’s winter in Australia right now but this song is timeless, gets me thinking of good times. Almost nostalgic like.
Best Of Both Worlds
It’s “Highway To Hell” and I like it.
Check out the dynamics from EVH as he goes from loud to soft to loud again.
Love Walks In
It’s a great ballad. Play that riff on a guitar and you’ll hear how much it rocks.
5150
There’s a lot of guitar on this, but it’s the Chorus riff and vocal melody which hooks me.
Inside
Another funky and groovy rocker. Never played live.
Crank it and let 1986 intoxicate you.
destroyerofharmony 
A great album Pete. Love Good Enough and Get Up as well. U can tell the band is jacked up and having fun as it oozes party time from the grooves of the vinyl.
I will never understand why someone at Warners never bothered to release ‘Summer Nights’ as a single in the summer. Ball was dropped but the album sold millions so no one was bugged about other than me. lol
Good call on Summer’s Night. Then again Dreams and Why Can’t This Be Love we’re still getting played in 1988 in Australia, even after OU812 came out
They are still being played today.
I like this album, but don’t love it. It was too poppy for me at times. I liked Roth’s album out the same time better.
Ah, summer of 1986. DLR released an album that was true to Van Halen tradition, whereas Van Hagar moved up a gear and sounded better and more melodic than ever. How to react?
It was Sophie’s choice and I played it safe by saying DLR is still the king, but secretly confessed VH have released a handful of annoyingly catchy tunes.
Today it’s easy to say both albums have their pros and cons. Solid stuff nevertheless.
You are right, both are solid stuff regardless of preference. They both get played by me 35 years later so that says a lot about them.
I was on the Roth train because I liked the more aggressive hard rock and I hated electronic drums. Lol.
But I listen to 5150 more now than EEAS.