Whats on your turntable tonight?

During the time of the 1st Van Halen album, there were so many new rock bands that changed the whole structure of Rock music. You had Judas Priest "Sad Wings of Destiny", Yesterday and Todays 1st album, Ronnie Montrose, Edgar Winters, Led Zeppelin Black Sabbath and many other band that took music to the music to the next level. A lot of this music was feel good music. When you listened to these albums they made you want to get up and become part of the music. You had the Scorpions, UFO, Riot, Granicus that all had the most incredible technology for mixing and engineering their albums that we were treated to some of the great recordings that we enjoy today. 

Drive-By Truckers "American Band"
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IMO, when we start talking about Judas Priest, etc.. that changes to more of a (metal) category as well that should be considered. Not sure about any distinction you are trying to make between VH. JP, and so on regarding, "Feel Good Music"

Susan Tedeschi "Just Won't Burn"  2014/APO

Angus & Julia Stone "S/T"

@730waters, Sorry I had the right band, I’m just a bad speller. OK , nothing to do with Van Halen correct but except that, notwithstanding Eddie’s unquestionable gifts and innovative playing style, the first Van Halen album (1978) is absolutely derived from that first Strider record (1973) down to identical riffs and tones. Van Halen had been playing together around Pasadena for years before their break and first record. I would bet the farm that they or their handlers absorbed the obscure Strider album, probably early on. I’ve learned over the years about so much of this cynical rip off behavior in pop music, which is, exactly what Van Halen is, fun pop music that quickly descended into one of the most vulgar abominations our culture has ever seen.

Don’t get me wrong, Sammy is one of my heros and eddie’s talent is undeniable but all the crap and corruption-maybe the best example of commercially promoted lifestyle over music/ form over substance.