Van Halen II

Van Halen II
Studio album by Van Halen
Released	March 23, 1979
Recorded	1978, Sunset Sound Recorders, Hollywood, CA
Genre	Hard rock, heavy metal
Length	31:14
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Ted Templeman
Professional reviews
Allmusic link Robert Christgau (C+) link Rolling Stone 1979 Review (Not Rated) link
Van Halen chronology
Van Halen (1978) Van Halen II (1979) Women and Children First (1980)

Van Halen II is the second album by American hard rock band Van Halen, released in 1979. The actual recording of the album took place less than a year after the release of the eponymous "I" album. Many of the songs on this album have been known to exist prior to the release of the first album, and are present (in various forms) on the demos recorded in 1975 by Gene Simmons and 1977 by Ted Templemann, including an early version of "Beautiful Girls" (then known as "Bring on the Girls") and "Somebody Get Me a Doctor." (The album version is only slightly different than the demo versions.)^{[citation needed]}

The black and yellow guitar on the back of the album is buried with Dimebag Darrell. Eddie Van Halen placed it in his casket at his funeral because Dimebag had said it was his favorite.^[1] However, Eddie himself stated in interviews that the guitar itself was not actually used on the Van Halen II album; as it had only been completed just in time for the photo shoots for the second album. David Lee Roth is shown in a cast in the inner liner notes, as he allegedly broke his heel making the leap on the back cover. ^[2]

Track listing

All songs, except where noted, written by Edward Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony, and David Lee Roth.

Side one

1. "You're No Good" (Clint Ballard, Jr.) – 3:16
2. "Dance the Night Away" – 3:06†
3. "Somebody Get Me a Doctor" – 2:52
4. "Bottoms Up!" – 3:05
5. "Outta Love Again" – 2:51

Side two

6. "Light Up the Sky" – 3:13
7. "Spanish Fly" – 1:00
8. "D.O.A." – 4:09
9. "Women in Love..." – 4:08
10. "Beautiful Girls" – 3:56†

† denotes a single

Personnel

• David Lee Roth - Vocals
• Eddie Van Halen - Guitar , Backing Vocals, Acoustic Guitar Solo in "Spanish Fly"
• Michael Anthony - Bass, Backing Vocals
• Alex Van Halen - Drums

Production

• Producer: Ted Templeman
• Engineers: Corey Bailey, Jim Fitzpatrick, Donn Landee
• Assistant engineers: Corey Bailey, Jim Fitzpatrick
• Remastering: Gregg Geller
• Project coordinator: Jo Motta
• Art direction: Dave Bhang
• Design: Dave Bhang
• Artwork: Dave Bhang
• Photography: Elliot Gilbert, Neil Zlozower

Charts

Album

Billboard (North America)

Singles

Billboard (North America)

References