Album of the Day

Born on this day in 1947, former Montrose frontman Sammy Hagar stepped up to the mic with Van Halen when David Lee Roth jumped to a solo career. The first studio set from the reconfigured foursome, 5150, would become Van Halen's first No.1 album and remains a highlight not just of Van Halen, Mark II, but of the band's entire career. The collection marks VH's first foray into balladry (“Love Walks In,” “Dreams”), though the guys rock as hard as ever on songs like “Best Of Both Worlds” and the Top Ten hit “Why Can't This Be Love.” The group's instrumental work, particularly Eddie's Van Halen's playing, is more sophisticated than ever on 5150, and we'll give the 6x platinum-certified set another spin in memory of the legendary guitarist.