Album of the Day

Its desire to party hearty matched by dazzling musical chops, Van Halen was at the top of the hard rock world when frontman David Lee Roth left for a solo career. Enter Sammy Hagar, who had a decade's worth of experience with the band Montrose and on his own. The first album from the new line-up was 5150, and it was as successful as any the original quartet had ever released, powered by the hit singles “Why Can't This Be Love,” “Dreams” and “Love Walks In.” While it marks VH's first foray into balladry, the collection rocks just as hard as ever (check out the guitar-shredding action on "Get Up") - it truly is the “best of both worlds.” This week in 1986, Van Halen topped the U.S. album chart for the first time with 5150, and the set is a highlight not just of the “Van Hagar” years but of the band's entire career.