VAN HALEN women and children first HS3415

The Heavier Side of Van Halen: ‘Women And Children First’ (HS 3415)

Today’s entry explores the darker, heavier third album from the American hard rock giants. We are examining a 1983 US pressing of Women And Children First by Van Halen, released on Warner Bros. Records with the catalog number HS 3415.

A Raw and Aggressive Sound

Originally released in 1980, this album marks a distinct shift in the band’s evolution. While still produced by the legendary Ted Templeman and engineered by Donn Landee, the music is rawer and more experimental than their previous pop-oriented hits. It is famous for being the first album where Edward Van Halen utilized keyboards, playing a Wurlitzer electric piano through a Marshall amp on the opening track “And The Cradle Will Rock…” The album also features the tribal drum intro of “Everybody Wants Some!!” and the blistering speed of “Romeo Delight,” a track that heavily influenced the thrash metal genre.

Acoustic Blues and Studio Antics

The album showcases the band’s diversity with tracks like “Take Your Whiskey Home,” which starts with acoustic blues before exploding into hard rock. “Could This Be Magic?” features a rare female backing vocal appearance by Nicolette Larson and captures a loose, campfire atmosphere. The instrumental “Tora! Tora!” serves as a menacing introduction to “Loss Of Control,” highlighting the band’s chaotic energy.

US Pressing Details

This copy is a US pressing bearing the catalog number HS 3415. While the original release was in 1980, this specific issue dates to 1983, likely representing an early reissue on the Warner Bros. label. The cover photography by Norman Seeff and the “Helmut Newton” credit for the poster (originally included in early copies) remain iconic visuals of the David Lee Roth era.