Ranking Every Song by Van Halen

Two images showing groups of people in casual 1970s-style clothing, one outdoors and one indoors with a red background. — Source: Getty Images

Van Halen is indisputably one of the greatest bands in rock and roll history. From the moment they arrived in 1978, Eddie Van Halen changed the way guitars are played forever, while Alex Van Halen and Michael Anthony helped create one of rock’s most unmistakable sounds.

The band’s three lead singers each defined a different chapter. David Lee Roth brought charisma and chaos, Sammy Hagar helped turn Van Halen into an even bigger arena-rock act, and Gary Cherone fronted the band for the experimental and often-criticized Van Halen III.

RELATED | Ranking Every Song by Aerosmith

I previously ranked the Roth and Hagar eras separately. This time, there are no dividing lines. Every studio song from all three eras is being ranked together, from the biggest anthems to the deepest cuts and strangest experiments.

Here’s every Van Halen song ranked from worst to best:

“Once” – Van Halen III (1998)
“Primary” – Van Halen III (1998)
“How Many Say I” – Van Halen III (1998)
“From Afar” – Van Halen III (1998)
“Blood And Fire” – A Different Kind of Truth (2012)
“Neworld” – Van Halen III (1998)
“Cathedral” – Diver Down (1982)
“Spanish Fly” – Van Halen II (1979)
“1984” – 1984 (1984)
“Year to the Day” – Van Halen III (1998)
“The Trouble With Never” – A Different Kind of Truth (2012)
“Sunday Afternoon in the Park / One Foot out the Door” – Fair Warning (1981)
“Ballot or the Bullet” – Van Halen III (1998)
“One I Want” – Van Halen III (1998)
“Dirty Water Dog” – Van Halen III (1998)
“China Town” – A Different Kind of Truth (2012)
“As Is” – A Different Kind of Truth (2012)
“Hang ‘em High” – Diver Down (1982)
“Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now)” – Diver Down (1982)
“Honeybabysweetiedoll” – A Different Kind of Truth (2012)
“Without You” – Van Halen III (1998)
“Bullethead” – A Different Kind of Truth (2012)
“Beats Workin’” – A Different Kind of Truth (2012)
“Outta Space” – A Different Kind of Truth (2012)
“Josephina” – Van Halen III (1998)
“Happy Trails” – Diver Down (1982)
“She’s The Woman” – A Different Kind of Truth (2012)
“Fire in the Hole” – Van Halen III (1998)
“Big River” – A Different Kind of Truth (2012)

100. ‘Stay Frosty’ – A Different Kind of Truth (2012)

99. ‘Crossing Over’ – Balance [Japan] (1995)

Personally, I’m fine that this song wasn’t officially released in the U.S. until 2023’s The Collection II. It was originally included on Balance‘s release in Japan.

98. ‘Push Comes to Shove’ – Fair Warning (1981)

97. ‘Doin’ Time / Baluchiterium’ – Balance (1995)

It’s an Eddie instrumental. It’s fine, but nothing to write home about.

96. ‘Light Up the Sky’ – Van Halen II (1979)

95. ‘Me Wise Magic’ – Best of Volume 2 (1996)

While it was a shame to see Hagar leave Van Halen, we did get these two great Roth tracks on Best of Volume 2, his first recorded material with the band since 1984. Unfortunately, the reunion of the original Van Halen lineup was an extremely short-lived one. Imagine if Van Halen III was a Roth record …

94. ‘Pleasure Dome’ – Balance (1995)

93. ‘Tora! Tora!’ / ‘Loss of Control’ – Women and Children First (1980)

92. ‘Outta Love Again’ – Van Halen II (1979)

91. ‘Girl Gone Bad’ – 1984 (1984)

90. ‘You and Your Blues’ – A Different Kind of Truth (2012)

The first song on this list from A Different Kind of Truth that I can say I genuinely like. Some of the others are okay, but “You and Your Blues” rocks.

89. ‘Inside’ – 5150 (1986)

88. ‘Mine All Mine’ – OU812 (1988)

We are now entering territory where I feel perplexed these songs are as “low” as they are – until I’m reminded just how loaded Van Halen’s Sammy discography is.

87. ‘Atomic Punk’ – Van Halen (1978)

86. ‘Tattoo’ – A Different Kind of Truth (2012)

Is this song a bit “bubblegum” by Van Halen standards? Yes. Do I still like this song and wish the rest of A Different Kind of Truth played off this track’s moment? Also yes. I hope someday someone goes back and does a George Lucas-amount of remixing to this track and album. A.I. Michael Anthony backing vocals please.

85. ‘Get Up’ – 5150 (1986)

84. ‘Don’t Tell Me (What Love Can Do)’ – Balance (1995)

83. ‘316’ – For Lawful Carnal Knowledge – (1991)

While the instrumental had been played by Eddie as early as the 5150 Tour in 1986, it didn’t appear on a record until 1991’s For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge. 316 gets its name from Wolfgang Van Halen’s birthday (March 16, 1991), Eddie’s son and eventual bassist for Van Halen.

82. ‘A Apolitical Blues’ – OU812 (1988)

… And we never got a bluesy Van Halen album why … ? Missed opportunity. “A Apolitical Blues” was initially only available via CD and streaming. The song is a cover of Little Feat’s original.

81. ‘On Fire’ – Van Halen (1978)

From this point forward, in my own professional opinion, I think every song on this list is a certified “banger” (a little 2020s lingo for ya). Van Halen’s debut album should honestly be in every genre-appropriate hall of fame anywhere.

80. ‘Ice Cream Man’ – Van Halen (1978)

79. ‘Little Dreamer’ – Van Halen (1978)

“Oooh-oooh” “Little dreamerrrrrrr”

78. ‘I’m the One’ – Van Halen (1978)

77. ‘Romeo Delight’ – Women and Children First (1980)

76. ‘Respect the Wind’ – Twister (1996)

The chilling Van Halen brothers instrumental during the closing credits of the 1996 disaster film Twister. The brothers recorded it due to the initially planned song with Hagar, Between Us Two, was a difficult collaboration between the bandmates. The recording process for Twister eventually led to Hagar leaving the band.

75. ‘Bottoms Up!’ – Van Halen II (1979)

74. ‘The Full Bug’ – Diver Down (1982)

73. ‘In a Simple Rhyme’ – Women and Children First (1980)

72. ‘Spanked’ – For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (1991)

71. ‘Sucker in a 3 Piece’ – OU812 (1988)

70. ‘Aftershock’ – Balance (1995)

69. ‘Strung Out’ / ‘Not Enough’ – Balance (1995)

68. ‘Fools’ – Women and Children First (1980)

67. ‘Dancing in the Street’ – Diver Down (1982)

66. ‘Feelin” – Balance (1995)

65. ‘D.O.A.’ – Van Halen II (1979)

64. ‘Secrets’ – Diver Down (1982)

63. ‘Little Guitars’ – Diver Down (1982)

62. ‘The Dream is Over’ – For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (1991)

61. ‘A.F.U. (Naturally Wired)’ – OU812 (1988)

OU812 (pronounced “oh you ate one too”) has several songs you just have to “turn up to 10.” A.F.U (Naturally Wired) is one of them.

60. ‘Big Fat Money’ – Balance (1995)

Big Fat Money feels too low here, like many songs on my list. It’s so good. Balance is a criminally underrated album in my mind due to tracks like this.

59. ‘The Seventh Seal’ – Balance (1995)

58. ‘House of Pain’ – 1984 (1984)

57. ‘Take Your Whiskey Home’ – Women and Children First (1980)

56. ‘And the Cradle Will Rock…’ – Women and Children First (1980)

This is just such a quintessential Van Halen tune. “And I say rock on…”

55. ‘Intruder’ / ‘(Oh) Pretty Woman’ – Diver Down (1982)

(Oh) Pretty Woman was an unexpected hit for the band, given the song was a cover and typically didn’t receive hard rock treatment, which the sort of average Diver Down desperately needed. The music video for the song is a bit bizarre, but purely Van Halen. MTV refused to air it.

54. ‘Learning to See’ – The Best of Both Worlds (2004)

Anthony contacted Hagar about reunited with the band to record some tracks for the compilation album The Best of Both Worlds in 2003. Hagar eventually called up Alex and spent a day together, which left the pair feeling like a reunion would be great for both parties.

Learning to See was one of the three songs recorded, however Eddie wanted to keep Anthony out of the reunion and subsequent “The Summer 2004” tour. Eddie relented after Hagar’s insistence that Anthony be involved, despite Eddie recording all of the base tracks for the tracks himself. Anthony only provides backing vocals on the original The Best of Both Worlds songs. It’s the last Van Halen song to feature contributions from Anthony and Hagar.

The tour was a disaster due to Eddie’s substance abuse, and Hagar never played with Van Halen again following it, but at least we got more of “Van Hagar.”

53. ‘In ‘N’ Out’ – For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (1991)

Another song that feels too low.

52. ‘Source of Infection’ – OU812 (1988)

This may be my most controversial placement on this list, but I LOVE this song. Hagar, a proud songwriter, cannot stand this song, according to his 2011 autobiography Red: My Uncensored Life in Rock (fantastic read). While lyrically it’s admittedly not some of Hagar’s best and most creative work, the song rocks. I “turn it up to 10” every time it comes up on shuffle. I love everything about Eddie’s guitar playing on this track, Hagar’s high-pitched screams, Alex’s pace-pushing drumming and Anthony’s high-register backing vocals (the true sound of Van Halen in my mind). It’d be higher on this list if I ranked purely based off my favorites.

51. ‘Judgement Day’ – For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (1991)

Judgement Day has me convinced someone in the early 1990s could’ve made a post-apocalyptic movie centered around For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, and it would have been great. Arnold Schwarzenegger has to be the lead, right? For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge exists because you can’t call an album “****.”

50. ‘Where Have All the Good Times Gone!’ – Diver Down (1982)

In my opinion Where Have All the Good Times Gone! is the best song on Diver Down. The song is a cover of a Ray Davies-written song, performed originally by the Kinks. This wasn’t the first time Van Halen covered a Kinks hit; that song to come later …

49. ‘Feel So Good’ – OU812 (1988)

This would be inside my list’s top-15 if Hagar’s time in Van Halen wasn’t as stacked from cover to cover as it was.

48. ‘You’re No Good’ – Van Halen II (1979)

One of the many examples of how much Anthony’s backing vocals meant to all of Van Halen’s records that he appeared on. His higher register gives every track he backed a unique sound exclusive to Van Halen. The man himself can from a song when needed, as at times during Hagar’s most recent “Best of All Worlds” tour, Anthony fronted entire songs and occasionally would trade verses with the Red Rocker.

47. ‘Somebody Get Me a Doctor’ – Van Halen II (1979)

One of Eddie’s most iconic riffs ever to open a track, supported by the power Roth brings with his screeches and wails. Somebody Get Me a Doctor rightly kicks off the top-25 greatest songs from the Roth era.

46. ‘Everybody Wants Some’ – Women and Children First (1980)

While Van Halen I and II brought the party vibes as the 1970s were on the way out, Women and Children First was a sign of the band switching gears on the sound of their records. Everybody Wants Some is proof the band could still produce the ultimate party hit.

45. ‘Runaround’ – For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (1991)

I’m going to get hate for this placement here. Bring it on.

44. ‘Hear About it Later’ – Fair Warning (1981)

Hear About it Later is going to start the trend of several Fair Warning songs appearing in the top-25. Fair Warning is in my opinion a criminally underrated record, and this list is going to reflect that.

43. ‘So This Is Love?’ – Fair Warning (1981)

42. ‘Could This Be Magic?’ – Women and Children First (1980)

In my opinion Could This Be Magic? is the best song on Women and Children First. While far from the typical Van Halen style and flair, the song is easy listening and a true window into the talent of Roth’s range with the style of music he could bring to life.

41. ‘It’s About Time’ – The Best of Both Worlds (2004)

This song is the first track following Eruption on The Best of Both Worlds, the perfect track to reintroduce Hagar with the band. It feels like Van Halen was full of a new energy that could’ve carried the band through the 2000s with Hagar and possibly beyond.

40. ‘Amsterdam’ – Balance (1995)

This song kicks ass, carried by Eddie’s heavy shredding and riffing.

39. ‘Up for Breakfast’ – The Best of Both Worlds (2004)

The best original song on The Best of Both Worlds. It’s a shame we never got a mid-2000s Van Halen album, because Up for Breakfast and the other tracks prove Van Halen and Hagar may have been up for the task.

38. ‘Man On a Mission’ – For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (1991)

37. ‘Good Enough’ – 5150 (1986)

“Hhhelllooo baaaaaaabyyyyyyy!” Cue Eddie Van Halen.

The perfect song to top the track list on Hagar’s Van Halen debut. The “Van Hagar” era was better than “good enough.”

36. ‘I’ll Wait’ – 1984 (1984)

35. ‘Black and Blue’ – OU812 (1988)

34. ‘Dirty Movies’ – Fair Warning (1981)

33. ‘Take Me Back (Deja Vu)’ – Balance (1995)

32. ‘Women in Love…’ – Van Halen II (1979)

If this list was “Best Van Halen Intros for a Song,” the opening guitar riff from Women in Love… surely would be in the top-10. A dreamy song with Eddie and Anthony crooning on backing vocals, the track is easily one of the best on Van Halen II.

31. ‘Can’t Get This Stuff No More’ – Best of Volume 1 (1996)

It’s a shame Can’t Get This Stuff No More didn’t kickstart the Roth era all over again in full swing. The track is led by an energetic Eddie guitar riff, which leads into the reintroduction of Roth to Van Halen. I’d like to think in another reality somewhere far away that Roth and Van Halen rocked out of the 1990s and into the 2000s.

30. ‘Feel Your Love Tonight’ – Van Halen (1978)

29. ‘5150’ – 5150 (1986)

The title track of the album that could go toe-to-toe with almost any Roth-era record in my mind. 5150 helps prove the first “Van Hagar” record could keep the Van Halen party rolling.

28. ‘When It’s Love’ – OU812 (1988)

27. ‘Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love’ – Van Halen (1978)

I sadly never got to hear Van Halen play Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love live, but I did have the opportunity to see Anthony on the “Best of All Worlds” tour front this song to give Hagar a brief break. Michael Anthony kicks ass.

26. ‘Drop Dead Legs’ – 1984 (1984)

25. ‘Finish What Ya Started’ – OU812 (1988)

The best song off of OU812 in my opinion, Eddie, according to Hagar, came up with Finish What Ya Started‘s riff at 2 a.m. He then raced over to his then-neighbor and frontman’s house to show it to him. Hagar eventually let Eddie in his house despite being woken up, and the two played guitars on his balcony and finished the song together. It’s amazing what could be accomplished when you can’t sleep. I’ll leave it to the listeners to figure out what the song is about …

24. ‘Best of Both Worlds’ – 5150 (1986)

Do yourself a favor and watch this restored video of their performance of Best of Both Worlds from 1986’s 5150 Tour. The song’s title inspired the name of the joint Hagar-Roth eras compilation album, and Hagar’s 2024 “Best of All Worlds” tour, which celebrated Eddie and Van Halen’s music.

23. ‘Humans Being’ – Twister (1996)

The soundtrack for 2024’s disaster sequel Twisters is fantastic, full of amazing original songs from many country artists, however Twister‘s Humans Being is the best track between the two movies. The tornado-chasing caravan off-roading through fields to this song is simply badass. It’s the last track to feature Hagar’s vocals until 2004’s It’s About Time.

22. ‘Sinner’s Swing!’ – Fair Warning (1981)

Sinner’s Swing! alone should’ve landed Fair Warning millions more in sales. What were you all up to in 1981?

21. ‘Cabo Wabo’ – OU812 (1988)

The song that would go on to inspire the Cabo, Mexico-based restaurant/nightclub chain. Cabo Wabo was inspired by Hagar’s observance of a drunk man walking through the streets of Cabo in the mid-1980s. The track is perfect for any drive down to the beach.

Hagar’s Cabo Wabo was originally a joint venture with the Van Halen brothers, until the brothers became dissatisfied with the establishment, which was a money pit at the time. Hagar bought the brothers out and turned the business around, which infuriated them even more.

20. ‘Beautiful Girls’ – Van Halen II (1979)

It’s not a complete beach day if I don’t hear this song once.

19. ‘Mean Street’ – Fair Warning (1981)

“This is hhhooooooommmmmeeee. Thissss isss mmmeeeaaannn ssstreeet.”

18. ‘Top of the World’ – For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (1991)

17. ‘Jamie’s Cryin” – Van Halen (1978)

Jamie’s Cryin’ is the entire banded turned up to 10, so it’s only fitting that my top-10 starts off with this stellar track from their debut record.

16. ‘Love Walks In’ – 5150 (1986)

Hey 1980s, this is synthesizer done right.

15. ‘Top Jimmy’ – 1984 (1984)

Top Jimmy is based on a buddy of Roth’s who worked at a bar he was financially invested in. It’s worth the read if you have the time.

14. ‘Poundcake’ – For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (1991)

The drill sound on Poundcake comes from Eddie playing with a Makita 6012HD drill, which he’d wrap in his iconic Frankenstrat stripes and play at shows. While I never had the pleasure of seeing Eddie perform live, it was still a treat seeing Joe Satriani replicate it live at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion this past August.

13. ‘Hot for Teacher’ – 1984 (1984)

A Van Halen brothers masterclass. Roth’s lyrical artistry makes this hit track a fun way to help close out Roth’s first stint with the band.

12. ‘Right Now’ – For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (1991)

Hagar claims Right Now is the best song he’s ever written for Van Halen. He was “tired of writing cheap sex songs.”

11. ‘Eruption’ – Van Halen (1978)

I typically have a negative bias toward instrumentals and interludes when doing ranking lists like this because it’s typically difficult to put them against fully-fledged-out songs. Eddie Van Halen completely erases that conundrum with Eruption. For how revolutionary this track was for what the rest of us mortals thought a guitar could do, I’ve made the rare decision to separate Eruption from You Really Got Me.

I can only imagine what it’d have been like to have heard this for the first time as someone living in 1978. That 70s Show needed an episode on Van Halen alone, and I’m perplexed that hardly a mention of the band ever took place.

10. ‘Unchained’ – Fair Warning (1981)

It should be no surprise that Unchained is my top track off Fair Warning. Again, WHY DID THIS ALBUM NOT SELL MORE!?!?!?!?! I blame One Foot out the Door.

9. ‘Dreams’ – 5150 (1986)

This song may be one of Hagar’s best vocal performances ever.

For my younger audience; Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie, anyone? My brother and I tended to “practice” our Power Rangers acrobatics as small children whenever it’d come on my dad’s basement stereo.

8. ‘Dance the Night Away’ – Van Halen II (1979)

The top-5 kicks off with the best track off Van Halen II; Dance the Night Away. It’s a big reason Van Halen in my mind was able to carry the moment from their first record to the second. I’d have loved to have attended parties when this song was on the charts. “Daaannnceee the nnniiighhht awayyy!”

7. ‘Can’t Stop Loving You’ – Balance (1995)

The best song off of Balance, Can’t Stop Loving You proved Van Halen was still fully capable of writing massive hits midway through the 1990s amid the recent years of imbalanced emotions and egos within the band.

6. ‘Summer Nights’ – 5150 (1986)

I had to restrain myself from putting this song at one. It may be my favorite Van Halen song from any era, and I do not care how controversial that sounds. Growing up in the Midwest, there were years where it felt dark and cold eight months out of the year – depressing. Summer Nights often found its way through the stereo speakers at the Huff house on those early 2000s nights, drumming up some of the warmest childhood memories I have. Those summer nights spent with family were precious, and the music that played in the background ended up being a big part of that. Songs like Summer Nights keep those memories alive every time they come on, and while it’s a bit on the nose, it’s perfect regardless.

5. ‘You Really Got Me’ – Van Halen (1978)

With all respect to the Kinks, I’m sorry but this is no longer your song. Van Halen proved it was turning rock and roll on its head with this track. Rock hasn’t been the same since, and thank god for that.

4. ‘Why Can’t This Be Love’ – 5150 (1986)

Was there any other answer? Why Can’t This Be Love is the best track from Hagar’s time with Van Halen in my opinion. It was the band’s first single with Hagar, and while there have been several detractors since the song’s release, it and 5150 being a major departure from Van Halen’s sound, it’s stood the test of time in my mind.

Stay tuned for more from my “Ranking Every Song” series, along with a future list featuring all the Van Halen songs from every era combined.

3. ‘Panama’ – 1984 (1984)

A song so great, even Sammy Hagar will play it! “Panama” is the one of the ultimate Van Halen tracks, and it kind of makes you wonder what else the original Van Halen lineup could’ve achieved had they survived the mid-80s together. I feel sorry for anyone that grew tired of it due to how often it’s been replayed over the last 40 years. I’m thankful I’m not one of them! “PANAMA!!!”

2. ‘Jump’ – 1984 (1984)

I imagine it was a shock for many when “Jump” was first released to hear synth on a Van Halen record, but man did they kill it! Without a doubt the most fun and musically inclusive track the band put out from this era; there’s something for everyone! Paired with an equally-fun music video and it’s no wonder the song was the biggest hit the band ever had due to its commercial appeal.

1. ‘Runnin’ with the Devil’ – Van Halen (1978)

The best Van Halen song is THE song that essentially started it all, as track No. 1 on their debut record. Rock music from the moment needle touched vinyl for the first time on “Runnin’ with the Devil” was forever changed, and we should all be thankful for it. Eddie Van Halen changed the way the guitar could be played, inspiring countless guitarists and fueling the shift toward harder and heavier-rocking tracks as the 1070s came to a close, ushering in the 1980s.

It’s been several years now, but the world isn’t the same without you Eddie; rest in peace guitar hero.