Fair Warning (Van Halen album)

Last updated

Fair Warning
Van Halen - Fair Warning.jpg
The album cover is taken from a painting by William Kurelek.
Studio album by
Van Halen
ReleasedApril 29, 1981 (1981-04-29)
RecordedMarch–April 1981
Studio Sunset Sound Recorders, Hollywood, California [1]
Genre
Length31:11
Label Warner Bros.
Producer Ted Templeman
Van Halen chronology
Women and Children First
(1980)		Fair Warning
(1981)		 Diver Down
(1982)
Singles from Fair Warning
  1. "So This Is Love?"
    Released: June 1981 (US)
  2. "Unchained"
    Released: July 1981 (Europe)
  3. "Mean Street"
    Released: 1981 (Europe)
  4. "Hear About It Later"
    Released: 1981 (NL)

Fair Warning is the fourth studio album by American rock band Van Halen. Released on April 29, 1981, by Warner Bros. Records, the album peaked at number 5 on the Billboard 200, while the single "So This Is Love?" failed to reach Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 110 on the Bubbling-Under list. The album sold more than two million copies in the United States, [3] but was still the band's slowest-selling album of the David Lee Roth era. Despite the album's commercially disappointing sales, Fair Warning was met with mostly positive reviews from critics. [4] It was listed by Esquire as one of the "75 Albums Every Man Should Own". [5]

Contents

Packaging

The album's cover artwork features a detail from The Maze , a painting by Canadian artist William Kurelek, which depicts his tortured youth. [6] [7]

The album's cover artwork is accompanied by an insert of a black-and-white portrait of the members of the band, in addition to another black-and-white photo of an exterior wall featuring cracked windows and a lyric from the album's opening song "Mean Street" in handwritten graffiti. This second photo was taken by famed rock photographer Neil Zlozower.[ citation needed ]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s B− [8]
Record Mirror Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [9]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [10]

The Village Voice's Robert Christgau rated Fair Warning a B−, signifying "a competent or mildly interesting record usually featuring at least three worthwhile cuts." It featured "not just Eddie's latest sound effects, but a few good jokes along with the mean ones and a rhythm section that can handle punk speed emotionally and technically." He also explained "at times Eddie could even be said to play an expressive – lyrical? – role. Of course, what he's expressing is hard to say. Technocracy putting a patina on cynicism". [8]

A retrospective review by AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine found the album fairly positive. In the review, he initially stated "it's a dark, strange beast, partially because it lacks any song as purely fun as the hits from the first three records" and "whatever the reason, Fair Warning winds up as a dark, dirty, nasty piece of work [...] Dull it is not and Fair Warning contains some of the fiercest, hardest music Van Halen ever made. There's little question Eddie Van Halen won whatever internal skirmishes they had, [...] even with the lack of a single dedicated instrumental showcase." [4]

The Rolling Stone Album Guide , however, gave the album two-and-a-half stars out of five, stating that "the most significant musical development is the synthesizer introduced at the end of Fair Warning, which would be exploited to greater effect on later albums." [10]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony and David Lee Roth.

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Mean Street"4:58
2.""Dirty Movies""4:08
3."Sinner's Swing!"3:09
4."Hear About It Later"4:35
Side two
No.TitleLength
5."Unchained"3:29
6."Push Comes to Shove"3:49
7."So This Is Love?"3:06
8."Sunday Afternoon in the Park" (instrumental)1:59
9."One Foot Out the Door"1:58

Personnel

Van Halen

Production

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [22] Platinum100,000^
United States (RIAA) [23] 2× Platinum2,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Van Halen</span> American rock band (1973–2020)

Van Halen was an American rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1973. Credited with restoring hard rock to the forefront of the music scene, Van Halen was known for their energetic live performances and for the virtuosity of its guitarist, Eddie Van Halen. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.

<i>Van Halen</i> (album) 1978 studio album by Van Halen

Van Halen is the debut studio album by American rock band Van Halen, released on February 10, 1978, by Warner Bros. Records. Widely regarded as one of the greatest debut albums in rock music, and considered a progenitor of glam metal, the album was a major commercial success, peaking at number 19 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart. It has sold more than 10 million copies in the United States, receiving a Diamond certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and making it one of the best-selling albums in the country.

<i>Van Halen II</i> 1979 studio album by Van Halen

Van Halen II is the second studio album by American rock band Van Halen. Released by Warner Bros Records on March 23, 1979, it peaked at number six on the U.S. Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart and yielded hit singles "Dance the Night Away" and "Beautiful Girls." As of 2004, it had sold almost six million copies in the United States alone. Critical reaction to the album has been positive, with The Rolling Stone Album Guide praising the "feel-good, party atmosphere" of the songs.

<i>5150</i> (album) 1986 studio album by Van Halen

5150 is the seventh studio album by American rock band Van Halen. It was released on March 24, 1986, by Warner Bros. Records and was the first of four albums to be recorded with lead singer Sammy Hagar, who replaced David Lee Roth. The album was named after Eddie Van Halen's home studio, 5150, in turn named after a California law enforcement term for a mentally disturbed person. The album hit number 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, surpassing the band's previous album, 1984, which had peaked at number 2 behind Michael Jackson's Thriller album, on which Eddie made a guest appearance.

<i>Women and Children First</i> 1980 studio album by Van Halen

Women and Children First is the third studio album by American rock band Van Halen, released on March 26, 1980, on Warner Bros. Records. Produced by Ted Templeman and engineered by Donn Landee, it was the first Van Halen album not to feature any cover songs, and is described by critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine as "[the] record where the group started to get heavier, both sonically and, to a lesser extent, thematically."

<i>Diver Down</i> 1982 studio album by Van Halen

Diver Down is the fifth studio album by American rock band Van Halen, released on April 19, 1982 by Warner Bros. Records. It spent 65 weeks on the album chart in the United States and had, by 1998, sold four million copies in the United States. Despite its commercial success, selling faster than its predecessor Fair Warning (1981), it was more lukewarmly received by contemporary music critics.

<i>OU812</i> 1988 studio album by Van Halen

OU812 is the eighth studio album by American rock band Van Halen. It was released in 1988 and is the band's second album to feature vocalist Sammy Hagar. Van Halen began work on the album in September 1987 and completed it in April 1988, one month before its release.

<i>Van Halen III</i> 1998 studio album by Van Halen

Van Halen III is the eleventh studio album by American rock band Van Halen, released on March 17, 1998, by Warner Bros. Records. Produced by Mike Post and Eddie Van Halen, it was the band's first studio album in three years after Balance (1995), the band's only studio album to feature vocalist Gary Cherone, and the last to feature bassist Michael Anthony, who only appears on three of the album's songs while the rest of the bass parts are played by Eddie Van Halen; his son Wolfgang replaced Anthony on subsequent tours and recordings. Eddie Van Halen's extensive involvement in the album's production, instrumentation and writing have led some, including Anthony, to consider Van Halen III more of a solo project than a collective band effort. Clocking in at over 65 minutes, Van Halen III is their longest album.

<i>For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge</i> 1991 studio album by Van Halen

For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge is the ninth studio album by American rock band Van Halen. It was released on June 17, 1991, on Warner Bros. Records and is the third to feature vocalist Sammy Hagar. It debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart and maintained the position for three consecutive weeks. The album marked a record in the band's history, seeing seven of its eleven tracks released as singles.

<i>Live: Right Here, Right Now</i> 1993 live album by Van Halen

Live: Right Here, Right Now. is the first live album by American rock band Van Halen, released in 1993. It is the band's only live album featuring Sammy Hagar and the only live album by Van Halen until the release of Tokyo Dome Live in Concert in 2015.

<i>The Best of Both Worlds</i> (Van Halen album) 2004 greatest hits album by Van Halen

The Best of Both Worlds is the second greatest hits album by American rock band Van Halen, released on July 20, 2004, on Warner Bros. The compilation features material recorded with lead vocalists David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar, but omits Gary Cherone's three-year tenure with the band. Prior to The Best of Both Worlds's release, Hagar reunited with Van Halen, and the band recorded three new tracks to include on the release.

<i>1984</i> (Van Halen album) 1984 studio album by Van Halen

1984 is the sixth studio album by American rock band Van Halen, released on January 9, 1984. It was the last Van Halen studio album until A Different Kind of Truth (2012) to feature lead singer David Lee Roth, who left the band in 1985 following creative differences. This is the final full-length album to feature all four original members, although they reunited briefly in 2000 to start work on what would much later become 2012's A Different Kind of Truth. Roth returned in 2007, but Eddie's son Wolfgang replaced Anthony in 2006. 1984 and Van Halen's self-titled debut album are the band's best-selling albums, each having sold more than 10 million copies in the United States.

<i>Best Of – Volume I</i> (Van Halen album) 1996 greatest hits album by Van Halen

Best Of – Volume I is the first greatest hits album by American hard rock band Van Halen, released on October 22, 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jump (Van Halen song)</span> 1983 single by Van Halen

"Jump" is a song by American rock band Van Halen. It was released in December 1983 as the lead single of their sixth studio album, 1984. It is Van Halen's most successful single, reaching number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song differs from earlier Van Halen songs in that it is driven by a keyboard riff, although the song does contain a guitar solo. David Lee Roth dedicated the song to martial artist Benny "The Jet" Urquidez, of whom he was a student. In 2021, Rolling Stone ranked "Jump" at number 177 on its updated list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".

<i>Eat Em and Smile</i> 1986 studio album by David Lee Roth

Eat 'Em and Smile is the debut studio album by former Van Halen singer David Lee Roth, released on July 7, 1986, after his unpredicted successful debut EP Crazy from the Heat (1985).

<i>Skyscraper</i> (album) 1988 studio album by David Lee Roth

Skyscraper is the second full-length studio album by David Lee Roth, released during his solo career after his departure from Van Halen. It was released on January 25, 1988, on Warner Bros. Records, shortly after the commercially and critically successful Eat 'Em and Smile Tour of 1986–1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'll Wait</span> 1984 single by Van Halen

"I'll Wait" is a song by American rock band Van Halen, taken from their sixth studio album, 1984 (1984). It was written by band members Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony and David Lee Roth, along with Michael McDonald, and produced by Ted Templeman.

<i>Crazy from the Heat</i> 1985 EP by David Lee Roth

Crazy from the Heat is a 1985 EP by American rock musician David Lee Roth. His debut solo recording, it was released while Roth was still lead singer for Van Halen, though he parted ways with the band several weeks later and launched a solo career. The EP is certified platinum by the RIAA, having sold more than one million copies in the United States.

<i>A Different Kind of Truth</i> 2012 studio album by Van Halen

A Different Kind of Truth is the twelfth and final studio album by American rock band Van Halen. Released on February 7, 2012, by Interscope Records, this is Van Halen's only studio album on Interscope and its first full-length album of studio material with lead singer David Lee Roth since 1984. Likewise, A Different Kind of Truth was Van Halen's first studio album since 1998's Van Halen III, as well as their only studio album recorded without bassist Michael Anthony, who had played bass on all of the band's previous albums; Eddie Van Halen's son Wolfgang replaced Anthony for the album, making this his only studio album with the band. It would also be Van Halen's final studio album before Eddie's death and the group's subsequent disbandment in 2020.

<i>Tokyo Dome Live in Concert</i> 2015 live album by Van Halen

Tokyo Dome Live in Concert is a live album by American rock band Van Halen, released on March 31, 2015. It is their first live album with original lead vocalist David Lee Roth and second live album overall after 1993's Live: Right Here, Right Now. It is the final Van Halen album released during Eddie Van Halen's lifetime and is also their last release as a band.

References

  1. ↑ "Studio 2: Legendary Recordings | Sunset Sound & Sound Factory". Archived from the original on November 14, 2016. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Van Halen Biography". Rolling Stone .
  3. ↑ "Recording Industry Association of America". Record Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on June 26, 2007. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Fair Warning - Van Halen at AllMusic. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Best Music Albums Ever - Top Album List with Covers". Esquire. March 9, 2009. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
  6. ↑ "The Maze by WILLIAM KURELEK - Peter Nahum At The Leicester Galleries". Leicestergalleries.com. Retrieved March 22, 2012.
  7. ↑ British Journal of Psychiatry (2001)
  8. 1 2 Christgau, Robert. "CG: Van Halen". The Village Voice . Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  9. ↑ Nicholls, Mike (May 23, 1981). "Review: Van Halen — Fair Warnings" (PDF). Record Mirror . p. 21. ISSN   0144-5804 . Retrieved May 24, 2021– via American Radio History.
  10. 1 2 "Van Halen: Album Guide". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on December 10, 2012. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  11. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 319. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  12. ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0359". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Van Halen – Fair Warning" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  14. ↑ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN   978-951-1-21053-5.
  15. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Van Halen – Fair Warning" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  16. ↑ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN   4-87131-077-9.
  17. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Van Halen – Fair Warning". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Van Halen – Fair Warning". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Van Halen Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1981". Billboard. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  22. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Van Halen – Fair Warning". Music Canada.
  23. ↑ "American album certifications – Van Halen – Fair Warning". Recording Industry Association of America.

Further reading

Templeman, Ted; Renoff, Greg (2020). Ted Templeman: A Platinum Producer's Life In Music. Toronto: ECW Press. pp. 311–16. ISBN   9781770414839. OCLC   1121143123.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.