Part 6/10:
With a budget of $544,000, the band entered Sunset Sound Recorders in Hollywood. According to producer Don Landy, they recorded 28 tracks in about two hours, favoring a live-to-tape approach that encapsulated their raw energy. The end result was an album that harkened back to a time when real talent was front and center—a stark contrast to the New Wave era that dominated the charts.
Breakout Hits and Unexpected Covers
Van Halen's self-titled debut album released in February 1978 featured several standout tracks, including "You Really Got Me," a Kinks cover that was their first single. Peaking at number 36 on the Hot 100, the band initially aimed for an original song as their debut single, leading to conflicting feelings about the cover.