Black and Blue (Van Halen song)

"Black and Blue"
Single by Van Halen
from the album OU812
B-side	"A Apolitical Blues"
Released	May 1988
Recorded	1987–1988
Studio	5150 Studios, Studio City, California
Length	5:26
Label	Warner Bros.
Songwriters	Eddie Van Halen Alex Van Halen Michael Anthony Sammy Hagar
Producers	Van Halen Donn Landee
Van Halen singles chronology
"Best of Both Worlds" (1986) "Black and Blue" (1988) "When It's Love" (1988)

"Black and Blue" is a song by American rock band Van Halen, from their 1988 album OU812 . It was the first single released from the album, peaking at number 34 on the Billboard Hot 100, ^[1] and at number 1 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart, ^[2]

Cash Box called it a "power-rocker that nearly sizzles off the vinyl" and praised Sammy Hagar's singing and Eddie Van Halen's guitar playing. ^[3]

Personnel

• Michael Anthony – bass guitar, vocals
• Sammy Hagar – lead vocals
• Alex Van Halen – drums
• Eddie Van Halen – guitar

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Black and Blue"

Chart (1988)	Peak position
Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [4]	42
US Billboard Hot 100 [5]	34
US Billboard Mainstream Rock [6]	1

References

1. "Van Halen - Chart history". www.billboard.com. Archived from the original on April 8, 2016. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
2. "Van Halen - Chart history". www.billboard.com. Archived from the original on February 4, 2017. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
3. "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. May 14, 1988. p. 8. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
4. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 8714." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
5. "Van Halen - Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
6. "Van Halen - Mainstream rock". Billboard. Retrieved April 11, 2021.

Further reading

• Van Halen Guitar Anthology. Van Nuys, California: Alfred. 2006. pp. 206–15. ISBN   9780897246729. OCLC   605214049.