Van Halen Once Performed… A Country Song?

Yeah. We're jumping back to 1988 for this one. First year in radio for me, still yet to lose my "rookie" status, working the ye olde late night shift, spinning the hits of the day, of which today's tune was one occupying a slice of the rotation, sometimes three times an hour. In the catalog of the Halen's Van, it still remains an anomaly. Is that...IS THAT A COUNTRY SONG?It certainly feels that way. In an era of machine tooled pop, girl friendly hair metal and whatever "Kokomo" was, this song stood out. Even on the album it came from, knuckle-headly titled "OU812", it sounds like a visitor from another record. At least until lead singer Sammy Hagar starts doing his thing. Even then, you're not quite sure? When's the rip roaring guitar solo? The drums aren't going to that lunatic place they normally go to, man. What is going on here? Who is this band? Van Hagar? Now the David Lee Roth fans are really gonna hate us...BECAUSE THIS IS A BIG HIT!

Today's song was written at two in the morning by Sam and Eddie on Sammy's beach front porch, cos Sammy wouldn't let Eddie in, because smoking.  It charted at a comfortable number two in 1988. And...it's a country song, sort of. Dig on your-

-K-101.7 SONG OF THE DAY!

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