Album Spotlight

Today's spotlight in on one of the biggest selling albums of 1984, and its aptly titled 1984 by Van Halen.

The band made up of brothers Alex and Eddie Van Halen with Michael Anthony and lead singer David Lee Roth were one of the biggest hard rock acts of the 1980s but this would be the sixth and final album to feature this lineup. Roth would leave the band soon after the 1984 world tour and start a solo career, while the group would bring in Sammy Hagar as singer/songwriter and keep going with successful albums, singles and tours for the next 10 years.

Released in January 1984 the album raced up the charts to peak at #2 and featured a new sound for the group with Eddie Van Halen showcasing his piano skills on keyboard with "Jump"

That song became the first (and to date, only)#1 Billboard Hot 100 single for the group on February 25th 1984 and stayed there for 5 weeks. Also reaching the top of the Cashbox Top 100 for 2 weeks.

The album featured 2 more top 15 singles, both reaching #13 on the Hot 100, "I'll Wait" and "Panama". A third single didnt make the top 40 but became a staple of MTV, "Hot For Teacher" reached #56 on the Hot 100.