~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Here we have an unheard, uncirculated soundboard recording of Van Halen on the final night their debut album tour in 1978, opening for Black Sabbath. Not even an audience recording of this show has circulated previously.
This recording exists only on the first side of the 90 minute master tape, clocking in at about 47 minutes long. The second side of the tape is blank, so it’s unknown for certain what unrecorded encore may have been performed. Dave hints during the show at possibly playing songs from their then-upcoming album, but none of those songs actually appear here. A newspaper review also indicates they played an encore with a “new tune” featuring a “ten minute jam”.
Track Listing:
01 On Fire [0:00] 02 I’m The One [3:06] 03 Bass Solo [8:27] 04 Runnin’ With The Devil [10:26] 05 Atomic Punk [14:58] 06 Drum Solo [17:43] 07 Jamie’s Cryin’ [19:43] 08 Ice Cream Man [23:59] 09 Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love [28:52] 10 Eruption [35:47] 11 You Really Got Me [40:32]
I was at this show – the set ended with You Really Got Me, no encore. The crowd went absolutely nuts and were crazy from the beginning! Some video clips of this show were leaked (and removed) about a month ago, mis-ID’d as the July 8 78 headline show in San Diego (the video was definitely Dec as it shows Ed playing the Shark for YRGM after Eruption, in July he switched to a white Les Paul Custom).
This recording is the entire 12/3/78 set. VH did not play any unreleased material during their set in Dec opening for Black Sabbath. The review you saw may have been for the July 8 78 SD Sports Arena show, which VH headlined. In July they played Somebody Get Me A Doctor, DOA, Bottoms Up, Down In Flames, and a Who-style cover of Summertime Blues in addition to almost the entire first album! Bottoms Up was the encore that night and it did indeed turn into a long extended jam. Many people don’t know that VH played at the San Diego Sports Arena twice in 78 and often confuse the two shows. I went to both.
