Van Halen – 1984

1984 (stylized as MCMLXXXIV) is the sixth studio album by Van Halen, released on January 9, 1984. It was the final full-length album to feature all four original members—Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, David Lee Roth, and Michael Anthony—before Roth left the band in 1985.

The album blends hard rock, glam metal, and synth rock, marking a shift in Van Halen’s sound with prominent keyboard use, especially on the hit single “Jump”, which became the band’s only No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100. Other standout tracks include “Panama,” “I’ll Wait,” and “Hot for Teacher,” all of which became fan favorites and MTV staples.

1984 was a massive commercial success, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard 200, held back only by Michael Jackson’s Thriller, which featured Eddie Van Halen’s iconic guitar solo on “Beat It”. The album was later certified Diamond by the RIAA, signifying over 10 million copies sold in the U.S..

Critically, 1984 is regarded as one of Van Halen’s best albums, earning a spot on Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Albums of the 1980s”.