Beautiful Girls (Van Halen song)

Last updated

"Beautiful Girls"
Single by Van Halen
from the album Van Halen II
A-side "Beautiful Girls"
B-side "D.O.A."
ReleasedAugust 1979
RecordedDecember 1978 - January 1979
Genre Hard rock
Length3:57
Label Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Ted Templeman
Van Halen singles chronology
"Dance the Night Away"
(1979)
"Beautiful Girls"
(1979)
"And the Cradle Will Rock..."
(1980)

"Beautiful Girls" is the last song from Van Halen's second album, Van Halen II , from 1979. The song was a concert staple during their tour for this album. The song was originally titled "Bring on the Girls" when it was recorded for the 25-song Warner Brothers demo, but the title and lyrics were changed accordingly. [1]

Contents

Charts

Chart (1979)Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100 [2] 84

Reception

Cash Box said that "David Lee Roth belts out the lead vocal with a sense of good humor rarely seen in heavy metal." [3] Record World said that Van Halen's "trademark raunchy guitar is accompanied by carefree, youthful vocals." [4] Author Chuck Klosterman ranked it the 20th-best Van Halen song, calling it the "supernatural definition of musical immediacy." [5]

Notes

  1. "Van Halen II". www.classicvanhalen.com.
  2. Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 879.
  3. "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. August 18, 1979. p. 15. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  4. "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. August 18, 1979. p. 1. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  5. Klosterman, Chuck (October 6, 2020). "All 131 Van Halen Songs, Ranked From Worst to Best A look back at the band's formidable legacy". Vulture.com . Retrieved October 9, 2020.

Further reading



Related Research Articles

<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 from their 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".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renegade (Styx song)</span> 1979 hit song recorded by the American rock band Styx

"Renegade" is a 1979 hit song recorded by the American rock band Styx on their Pieces of Eight album. Although songwriter Tommy Shaw and fellow Styx guitarist James Young usually played lead guitar on their own compositions, Shaw asked Young if he could take the solo on "Renegade". Young agreed, and Young later returned the favor by allowing Shaw to play lead on his "Half-Penny, Two-Penny" on the Paradise Theatre album. When performed live from 1978 to 1983, drummer John Panozzo increased the tempo of the drum pattern during the guitar solo sections. Also, the track would serve as the drum solo spot for Panozzo during that time frame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hot for Teacher</span> 1984 single by Van Halen

"Hot for Teacher" is a song by the American rock band Van Halen, taken from their sixth studio album, 1984. The song was written by band members Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony and David Lee Roth, and produced by Ted Templeman. It was released as the fourth and final single from the album in October 1984, and was the final single released during the band's 1974–1985 era.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let's Go (The Cars song)</span> 1979 single by the Cars

"Let's Go" is a song by American rock band the Cars, written by Ric Ocasek for the band's second studio album, Candy-O (1979). A new wave rock song, the song's hook was inspired by the Routers. The song's vocals are performed by bassist Benjamin Orr.

"Young Blood" is a song written by Doc Pomus along with the songwriting team Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller that first became a hit by The Coasters in 1957.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Runnin' with the Devil</span> 1978 single by Van Halen

"Runnin' with the Devil" is a song by the American hard rock band Van Halen, released as the second single from their 1978 eponymous debut album. The lyrics were inspired by Ohio Players 1974 song "Runnin' from the Devil". In 2009, "Runnin' with the Devil" was named the 9th greatest hard rock song of all time by VH1. Chuck Klosterman of Vulture ranked it the eighth-best Van Halen song, praising the staccato bass playing as well as David Lee Roth's vocal performance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panama (song)</span> 1984 single by Van Halen

"Panama" is a song by the American rock band Van Halen. It was the third US single released from the album 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dance the Night Away (Van Halen song)</span> 1979 single by Van Halen

"Dance the Night Away" is a song by American hard rock band Van Halen, and written by its group members. It is the second song from their 1979 album Van Halen II. While the rest of the songs from this album had existed in various forms since their days doing demos and playing clubs, this song was possibly the only song written during the recording sessions for the album.

<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). The song 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It's Late</span> 1978 single by Queen

"It's Late" is a song written by Queen guitarist Brian May and performed by the band for their 1977 album, News of the World.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christine Sixteen</span> 1977 single by Kiss

"Christine Sixteen" is a song by American hard rock band Kiss. It originally appeared on their 1977 album Love Gun. Released as a single in the US in 1977, the song peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart that year, and did well in Canada, peaking at number 22.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Why Can't This Be Love</span> 1986 single by Van Halen

"Why Can't This Be Love" is a song by the American rock band Van Halen for their seventh studio album, 5150 (1986). The song was released as the lead single from 5150 through Warner Bros. Records. It was the group's first single with lead vocalist Sammy Hagar, who replaced founding member David Lee Roth. It was released on both 7" and 12" single formats, the 12" single featuring an extended version of the song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heartache Tonight</span> 1979 single by Eagles

"Heartache Tonight" is a song written by Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Bob Seger and J. D. Souther, recorded by the Eagles and features Glenn Frey on lead vocals. The track was included on their album The Long Run and released as a single in 1979. It reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in November of that year and was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America representing one million copies sold. It was the Eagles' final chart-topping song on the Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">And the Cradle Will Rock...</span> 1980 single by Van Halen

"And the Cradle Will Rock..." is a song written and performed by Van Halen. It appears on their 1980 album Women and Children First and was released as a single. It is also the first song released by the band that featured the keyboard playing of Eddie Van Halen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Poundcake (song)</span> 1991 single by Van Halen

"Poundcake" is a Van Halen song and the opening track on their 1991 album For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge. "Poundcake" was the first song to be released as a single from the album, reaching number one on the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart and number 74 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somebody Get Me a Doctor</span> 1979 single by Van Halen

"Somebody Get Me a Doctor" is a 1979 song by Van Halen. It is the third song on their second album, Van Halen II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You May Be Right</span> 1980 single by Billy Joel

"You May Be Right" is a song written and performed by rock singer Billy Joel, released as a single and the opening track from his 1980 album Glass Houses. The single reached No. 7 on the US charts and No. 6 in Canada. It failed to chart, however, in the UK unlike his preceding and succeeding singles "All for Leyna" and "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me". The Japanese single features "Close to the Borderline" as a B-side.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">So This Is Love? (song)</span> 1981 single by Van Halen

"So This Is Love?" is a rock song written by the group Van Halen for their 1981 album Fair Warning. It is one of four singles issued for the album, and is unique among Van Halen songs for being rooted in a swing beat. It peaked at number 110 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and number 15 on the U.S. Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Do Me Like That</span> 1979 single by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

"Don't Do Me Like That" is a song written by Tom Petty and recorded by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. It was released in November 1979 as the first single from the album Damn the Torpedoes (1979). It reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the band's only Top 10 hit. The single also peaked at number 3 in Canada. In the UK, despite airplay by Capital Radio in the summer of 1980, the track failed to make the Top 75 chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oh, Pretty Woman</span> 1964 song by Roy Orbison and Bill Dees

"Oh, Pretty Woman" or simply "Pretty Woman" is a song recorded by Roy Orbison, written by Orbison and Bill Dees. It was released as a single in August 1964 on Monument Records and spent three weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 from September 26, 1964, the second and final single by Orbison to top the US charts. It was also Orbison's third single to top the UK Singles Chart.