Description

Rare original UK 1978 single. First press with Palm label

This single, released without cover artwork, might not look like much to own but its such an important single. Two singles were released in the UK from Van Halens self titled debut album, both without cover artwork. This debut album shocked the world and a year later and album II Warner UK realized that this band were worth investing in and actually started to make colour covers for the bands singles. Runnin With The Devil was released as the second single in April of 1978. The song has been praised over the history and named among the top ten greatest hard rock songs of all time by VH1. Alex Van Halen has stated that this song “best epitomizes why Eddie Van Halen was such a genius” but critics not only praised Eddie Van Halen also the staccato bass playing as well as David Lee Roth’s vocal performance has been mentioned. The single is backed up by the guitar solo Eruption. It is widely regarded to be one of the greatest guitar solos of all time, having popularized tapping. And its this two-handed tapping that is the highlight of the solo. It comes in the end section where Eddie begins with a series of rapid two-handed tapping triads that have a classical like structure and eventually finishes with a repeated classical cadence followed by sound effects generated by a Univox EC-80 echo unit. Chuck Klosterman named it the best Van Halen song, noting if you love Van Halen, this is what you love, and you can listen to it a thousand times without diminishing return and in 2021, Classic Rock Magazine wrote: Eruption showcased an Eddie solo that had every wannabe within reach of a fretboard throwing away the rule book.

Track list:
1. Runnin With The Devil
2. Eruption