Most bands who'd experienced the success that Van Halen had in the late 70s and early 80s wouldn't mess with the formula that earned them their stripes; fortunately the L.A. quartet wasn't like most bands. “Eddie Van Halen discovered the synthesizer” was how producer Ted Templeman explained the remarkable success of 1984, released 35 years ago today. While the collection doesn't skimp on the group's trademark hard rock evident in songs like “Panama" and “Hot for Teacher”, the keyboard-driven “Jump” and “I'll Wait” are just as exhilarating.
"Jump" was Van Halen's first #1 hit single, and the good-time anthem will still make you jump for joy when singer David Lee Roth takes his place against the record machine for the chorus. The final album by the original foursome, 1984 was also one of Van Halen's biggest hits, selling more than 10 million copies in the U.S alone.
1984 was well received by music critics and Rolling Stone ranked the album #81 on its list of the 100 Greatest Albums of the 1980s. It reached number two on the Billboard album chart and remained there for five consecutive weeks, behind Michael Jackson's Thriller (on which guitarist Eddie Van Halen made a guest performance).
The cover art was created by graphic artist Margo Nahas who chose the painting of a putto (cherub baby boy) stealing cigarettes. The model was Carter Helm, who was the child of one of Nahas' best friends, whom she photographed holding a candy cigarette. The front cover was censored in the UK at the time of the album's release, using a sticker that obscured the cigarette in the putto's hand and the pack of cigarettes.
