The 3 Acoustic Van Halen Tracks that Flashed Back to Old-School Showbiz

The original incarnation of Van Halen—frontman David Lee Roth, the late guitarist Eddie Van Halen, bassist Michael Anthony, and drummer Alex Van Halen—blew people’s minds. It was for a variety of reasons, including their indefatigable showmanship and sense of humor. Roth’s carnival-barker presence combined with Eddie’s stellar six-string skills and the band’s frenetic chemistry made them tantalizing to watch. They played dynamic originals and reinvigorated past hits from the likes of The Kinks and Marvin Gaye for a new audience.

Roth was the wild card of the bunch. He was the singing sex symbol who leaped and bounded across the stage with the grace and agility of a martial artist. He also loved an eclectic mix of old-school musical styles—the vaudeville singing of Al Jolson, the swing music of bandleader Louis Prima, and the harmony-rich surf music of The Beach Boys. It should then come as no surprise that he brought them into Van Halen.

The following three acoustic songs were recorded during the Roth era and show how he and his bandmates were able to make old-school tunes something joyful and fun for young ears.

“Could This Be Magic?” from Women and Children First (1980)

This was a one-take deal with the back doors of Sunset Sound opened to capture the sounds of rain as Dave and Eddie jammed out this bluesy acoustic number, the singer on rhythm and the guitarist on slide lead. Vocal harmonies were later overdubbed, including the only female vocal on a Van Halen album. Eddie had played on one song on Nicolette Larson’s 1978 debut album, so she returned the favor and sang on the final chorus here. One could imagine this vaudeville-style tune being sung with ukulele accompaniment, and the lyrics were delivered with that patented Roth humor.

And I see lonely ships upon the water
Better save the women and children first
Sail away with someone’s daughter
Better save the women and children first

“Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now)” from Diver Down (1982)

This rendition of a swinging ‘20s jazz tune might have surprised some rock fans back in the day. But the Van Halen brothers were raised by a father who was a jazz musician, so that makes this cover of a Tin Pan Alley tune by Milton Ager and Jack Yellen fair game. This was one of three moments when Van Halen really took fans in a time machine to another era, and Alex’s dancing brush work along with patriarch Jan Van Halen’s sprightly clarinet performance make this flashback track totally legit.

“Happy Trails” from Diver Down (1982)

Although The Lone Ranger was in reruns on TV through the late ‘70s, that cowboy mythology of old-school Hollywood was dying at the time. But clearly Roth and the guys liked the idea of covering the closing theme to ’50s series The Roy Rogers Show, originally performed by Rogers and his wife Dale Evans, who penned this tune. For many ‘80 kids it was probably syrupy and nostalgic, but the band shrugged off the strings and performed it a cappella in four-part harmony, with Roth’s repeated bum ba dee da serving as the rhythmic backdrop. It’s not pitch-perfect, but it’s charming.

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