# In 1978, Van Halen finally released their debut single, but Eddie was instantly “bummed” by the result

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/in-1978-van-halen-finally-released-their-debut-single-but-eddie-was-instantly-bummed-by-the-result/
- Published: 2026-11-09T23:30:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-10T00:33:40+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/1978-van-halen-debut-single-eddie-instantly-bummed/
- Topics: Music

## Key points

- Eddie wanted an original song as Van Halen’s first single.
- Their Kinks cover reached the US Top 40.
- The debut album climbed to number 19.

## Summary

Van Halen’s first single was a cover of The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me”, a choice that disappointed guitarist Eddie Van Halen, who wanted the band to lead with an original song. The single nonetheless reached the US Top 40 and helped introduce the group to a wider audience.

Producer Ted Templeman backed the cover, while Eddie later said he would have preferred the band’s own “Jamie’s Cryin’”. Their debut album also featured originals including “Runnin’ with the Devil” and “Eruption” and reached number 19. The band had spent five years working towards a record deal, and the article says they received 70 cents for each album sold.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.