Van Halen: 5150

Tracks: Good Enough 4:00 / Why Can't This Be Love 3:45 / Get Up 4:35 / Dreams 4:54 / Summer Nights 5:04 / Best Of Both Worlds 4:49 / Love Walks In 5:09 / "5150" 5:44 / Inside 5:02

As original Van Halen vocalist David Lee Roth quit the band to pursue a solo career, or was fired (depending on who you believe), Eddie and Alex Van Halen and Michael Anthony carried on by hiring Sammy Hagar. Hagar was a middling artist on his own, but he proved to be a powerhouse when placed in front of hard rock's most muscular and innovative instrumental unit. On 5150--the title is police code for "escaped lunatic"--you can hear the band's excitement at having struck a winning combination. Songs such as "Why Can't This Be Love," "Dreams," "Best of Both Worlds," and "Love Walks In" combine to make this the early high-watermark of the Van Hagar era. --Daniel Durchholz