Eddie Van Halen Admitted He Was “Bummed” About Van Halen’s First Single in 1978
Van Halen achieved immediate commercial success with their 1978 debut single, yet guitarist Eddie Van Halen subsequently expressed disappointment about the choice of material. Producer Ted Templeman had advocated for releasing an established composition rather than an original track, a decision that frustrated Van Halen, who believed an original song like 'Jamie's Cryin'' would have made a stronger first impression for the band.
Ray Davies, who originally wrote the song for The Kinks in 1964, reflected on the newer rendition with mixed but ultimately good-natured sentiments. While acknowledging the technical proficiency and mainstream appeal of Van Halen's interpretation, Davies characterized it as a distinctly American presentation of his work. His perspective was tempered by the ironic reality that the cover eventually became more prominent than his original recording, an outcome he could appreciate with humor.
- Van Halen's 1978 debut single was a cover of The Kinks' 'You Really Got Me,' which became a commercial hit despite Eddie Van Halen's disappointment at not launching with original material
- Producer Ted Templeman selected the cover; Van Halen would have preferred 'Jamie's Cryin'', an original composition
- Ray Davies, The Kinks' songwriter, accepted the reinterpretation with humor, eventually becoming more associated with Van Halen's version than his own