Written By Jason Voorhees

We here at Philly Rock Radio certainly hope that our loyal listeners have enjoyed our latest showcase of "Top Album Lists".  During each segment our favorite band's albums are rated and ranked from worst to first.  

Of course we had to start with the forefathers of heavy metal in Black Sabbath.  We then tackled the British legends Def Leppard for the sophomore piece.  As mentioned...if any of our listeners would like us to feature a specific band feel free to speak up or give us a shout out.

In any event...

The next band up on this carousel is Van Halen.  And when it comes to VH...which side of the ride you find yourself on depends on whether you prefer the David Lee Roth flavor or the Sammy Hagar variety.  This is a debate that is not easily settled and definitely shares many layers.

For me personally, I have always preferred the Sammy Hagar led version of the band.  With that being said, I have always maintained an objective mindset and admiration for the Diamond Dave era as well.  Both versions have produced many excellent albums which will make the task of ranking them that much tougher.

Van Halen's catalog remains one of the most unrivaled in hard rock/heavy metal history in large part to the man on the axe...Mr. Eddie Van Halen. 

When your band employs a guitar God you simply cannot go wrong.  The band has released twelve albums in total so two will be left off of this list.  Nonetheless, there will be some difficult decisions but we are definitely up for the challenge.  So get your popcorn ready, crank up the volume, pull up a chair and prepare yourselves for the Top Ten VH albums of all-time...

Often mislabeled a "cover album", this release often gets negative publicity.  In fact, Eddie Van Halen himself was angry at the way the album's production was rushed to get released by the label.  Although this is far from their best effort, Diver Down does have a lot of positive energy.  Even though the album is in fact cut in half by covers...those covers are pretty damn good!  "Where have all the Good Times Gone", "(Oh) Pretty Woman", and "Dancing in the Street" are all gold standard pieces of art.  And the original material is equally good as well.  While the album lacks the star power of the rest of their catalog, it does not warrant leaving it off the top ten list.  If this album had not been rushed, there is no telling where it could have landed.  So take a dive and get down with this classic.      

The final release of the Sammy Hagar era saw the band at the height of their maturity.  While the tensions and relationships were tumultuous at best, the band was able to focus and the result was another #1 on the US Billboard Top 200.  Balance saw the band take a deep dive; as far as a shift in topics and themes from what fans had grown accustomed too.  The album also employed a good amount of ballads, something die hard fans remained unhappy with.  Nonetheless, the band was able to release another top notch record that has stood the test of time.  Mainstream radio loved the record which regularly played "Can't Stop Loving You" and "Don't Tell Me What Love Can Do."  But the true gems were hidden like "Take Me Back (Deja Vu)", "Not Enough", and "Feelin".  Another great VH record down.

This was Van Halen at their most raw.  Full throttle rock and metal at its core.  VH's third studio album charted at #6 on the US Billboard Top 200 and was their heaviest to date.  One thing that truly stands out about this record is the bands shift from commercial popularity to an all out assault on the senses and the results paid off.  Timeless classics like "Everybody Wants Some" and "The Cradle Will Rock" are staples for any true Van Halen fan.  I also think this was the album where David Lee Roth truly exploited his song writing prowess and lyrical mastery.  No two VH albums are alike and this one was the next step in the bands rise to the top. Definitely a must own for VH enthusiasts and among the bands greatest of all-time.

Welcome to the second installment of the Van Hagar catalog.  The album would be hard pressed to top the success of its predecessor and rightfully so.  And although this record did not have the same level of success, it was still a damn good record.  In my opinion, this is the most diverse collection ever in the band's catalog.  From the opening guitar riff on "Mine all Mine", through the heart pumping ballad screaming "When its Love", to the bluesy ender "A Political Blues" the album has a fine mixture of style and content throughout.  Plus you can hear a focused man on a mission through Sammy's vocals.  Yet another US Top 200 Billboard hit for the band, the record has since went 4x platinum...an amazing feat for a band that thought life was over after Dave.

A pretty straight forward album title with an even straighter approach.  Less diverse than the previous two Hagar era records, this one was more guitar oriented with more in your face flavor.  The results was a blend of elite craftsmanship and production.  An album that can absolutely rock your socks off...one that you can put your top down too when racing down the freeway.  The tracks "Poundcake", "Runaround", and "Top of the World" were tremendous hit singles that defined the band's popularity in the music world then and now.  While "Right Now" became a staple on MTV for years to come as well as raising the bar to unseen levels once again.  An awesome album and one of my personal favorites. 

Sequels like Rocky2 and The Godfather2 are some of the most notable cinema sequels to rival their counterparts.  Well this was Van Halen's answer to their debut in music and the results were similar.  Not quite as epic as the beginning but certainly high level and impactful in quality.  "Eruption" meets acoustic with "Spanish Fly."  The album also produced more timeless classics to add to the bands catalog like "Dance the Night Away", "Somebody Get Me a Dr.", and "Beautiful Girls."  This was a killer record at a point in the band's life where it may have seemed impossible to recreate the magic of their first album.  While Van Halen faced enormous expectations; they were able to silence the critics thinking they were only one hit wonders by showing that they were at the top and here to stay.

Many Van Halen die-hard fans consider this the bands best overall piece of work.  No matter where you rank it, there is no doubt that this album belongs close to the very top of the scale for VH.  The band's fourth studio album is definitely their most dynamic.  Although the album didn't sell particularly well at first it still made it into the top 5 on the Top 200.  This album tends to portray a darker style of music than the bands previous efforts.  Tracks like "Unchained" are littered with attitude and Eddie displays a more ballsy approach on the axe.  I must admit, the more I listen to this record the more I grow to appreciate how truly good it is.  I might as well ​WARN you, this album is ​FAIRLY addictive and will light your pants on fire.  Give it a listen and you will instantly be hooked.     

When it was realized that David Lee Roth had left Van Halen, all hope was lost.  No band is supposed to survive the loss of such a charismatic and elite entertainer of that level.  Enter Sammy Hagar.  When the new album was finally released, it truly was like Dave had never left.  5150 was an instant classic and cemented the idea that bands can certainly overcome a change at the helm.  Sammy Hagar proved to be Van Halen's version of Brian Johnson or Ronnie James Dio, other lead vocalists that had joined star bands where the band refused to miss a beat.  Not only was this album iconic for Van Halen, it also produced some absolute gems.  "Best of Both Worlds", "Dreams", "Why Can't This Be Love" and "Love Walks In" are all top of the line stalwarts of their catalog.  Not to mention the album is the third highest seller coming in at 6x Platinum.  Not bad for a band that thought they had lost their way.

This is where it all began for me as far as Van Halen goes.  The first album I ever owned, and I was instantly a junkie.  While their debut album put the band on the map, 1984 catapulted the band into superstardom that is rarely seen.  Not only did the album chart well (#2) and sell a ton of records, it also produced three smash singles that were played out endlessly on MTV and radio.  This was Van Halen's "Black" album.  The record that infiltrated the bands presence into the mainstream like a shot of heroin.  This was the absolute peak for the band even though it was the end of the road for Diamond Dave.  Not only does the album have star power, its also riddled with sleepers like "I'll Wait", "Drop Dead Legs", "Top Jimmy", and "Girl Gone Bad."  Although its 36 years old, it still has the smell of a brand new car today.

The birthplace for Van Halen, their debut album just so happens to be their best as well.  Guitar god Eddie Van Halen was introduced to the world and the rest was history.  Van Halen's self titled album not only put Eddie Van Halen on stage, it was the beginning of the entire band's rise to the top.  "Eruption" hit the masses with a volcanic blast.  "You Really Got Me" screeched louder than a lion.  "Runnin with the Devil" shook people to the core.  "Jaime's Cryin" had all the girls panties in a bunch.  Ok...you get the point.  There is not one bad track on the album and it almost tells a story...sort of like a concept album but kind of not.  Anyways, I could write a book about how good this album is and it would not do it justice.  This is the album that all great guitarists pay close attention to and we all know why.  The crème de le crème on every level for Van Halen.  Masterpiece 101.

Written By Jason Voorhees

During last week's episode, we chronicled Black Sabbath's top ten albums of all-time.  Hopefully you all enjoyed the content and we received plenty of  feedback both positive and negative. 

Being die hard fans of heavy metal, it was easy to take a deep dive into the catalog of the band that started it all.  Black Sabbath is the perfect place to begin when traversing the heavy metal landscape.  With that being said, its time to embark on another journey into another band's path and to rank their most notable albums.

In this segment we will focus on the British Rock icons Def Leppard. 

This is yet another band that truly needs no backstory as their work speaks for itself.  Over 100 million records sold world wide.  2 Albums that have achieved RIAA Diamond certification.  One of only five bands ever to sell over ten million copies on two original studio albums in US history.  And a band that finally joined the ranks of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.

Def Leppard has overcome many odds during their existence and they have produced many great albums in their day.  Without further ado, here are Def Leppard's Top Ten albums of all-time...

An arena rock classic that rejuvenated the ever popular band.  This album saw Def Leppard embrace their roots quite frankly.  It debuted at #5 on the Billboard Top 200 and sold 55,000 copies during its first week.  Not bad for a band that had begun to descend the popularity ranks during the previous few years.  The bands members described the album tracks as being written in the style of "Hysteria" with the production style of "High and Dry."  Any time you are searching for success, its always a good idea to go back to what got you to the top and this was no different.  The band even recruited country singer Tim McGraw who performed on the super single "Nine Lives." Overall this was a solid effort for Leppard and put the band back on the map.  A definite must own for any and all Def Leppard purists.    

This album marked the return of the band's former star producer, Mutt Lange and the results did not disappoint.  Although his role was limited, the material was well worth the wait.  Euphoria debuted at #11 on the US Billboard Top 200 while producing the smash hit single "Promises" which Lange was responsible for producing.  While the album invoked a similar style as Hysteria it unfortunately missed the mark with some of the material.  There were some stretches where the album lacked focus.  Nonetheless, another pretty solid effort and definitely worthy of top ten prowess.  Despite the albums inconsistency, it did earn gold certification and according to the band ranks among their best albums of all-time.  Taking all of that into account, the album slots in perfectly at #9. 

Finally a return to the band's glory days.  Def Leppard's self titled album was the perfect annex for time travel as they were able to gracefully step back into the eighties and the results were priceless.  An instant classic that screams masterpiece.  This was the album that die hard fans were all waiting for.  An album that went back to the good ole days of yesteryear.  A solid effort up and down the lineup littered with star power.  Stand out tracks include "Let's Go", "Dangerous", "Man Enough", "We Belong" among many others.  Definitely worthy of the top ten and definitely one of Leppard's most consistent studio albums ever.  If you have not heard this one you will definitely want to check it out as I dare you to be disappointed. 

The fifth studio effort for Def Leppard unfortunately came at the low point for the band following the untimely death of guitarist Steve Clark.  As if that was not hard to deal with in itself for the band personally, the album was also the follow up to their greatest effort ever with Hysteria.  Despite all of the turmoil, Adrenalize was a huge success as the album debuted at #1 on the US Billboard Top 200.  A magnificent blend of hard rock mixed with potent pop rock flavor.  Released during the infancy of digital, the sound production may have been a bit overdone but it nonetheless succeeded in winning over the audience.  A solid album from top to bottom, Adrenalize represents Def Leppard's full transition from heavy metal pioneers to pop metal icons.  This album is still catchy today...28 years later!

If this was a popularity contest, Slang would probably fall much lower on this list.  However; this is a "best of" list which means that all boxes must be checked to truly get an idea of the albums overall achievement.  With that being said, Slang ​may be the most underrated album of Def Leppard's career.  While musical styles and genres shifted from glam to grunge, this was a difficult time period for bands that were used to playing glam and thrash metal.  Nonetheless, Def Leppard was able to release this stalwart as they transcended their musical boundaries both musically and lyrically.  The result was a terrific blend of grungy sound with a balance of their classic sound and energy.  I must admit that when this album was first released I absolutely hated it, but it has aged better than your local fine wine and spirits.  Definitely belongs among the best of Leppard's catalog.  

This was the album where it all began.  This was Def Leppard at its heaviest and the sound was delightful.  Probably their most "metal" album ever produced, their debut release was raw and to the point.  Steve Clark and Pete Willis formed a dynamic duo on guitars that could absolutely shred with the best of them.  Songs like "Wasted" and "Rocks Off" are still to this day considered some of Def Leppard's heaviest sounding tracks ever.  Remember, this was a time period where the British Invasion was in its earliest stages and bands like Judas Priest and Iron Maiden were dominating that scene.  Def Leppard was able to provide a unique sound that truly was original and different and the fans loved it.  The first may have not been their most polished effort but it certainly put Def Leppard on the map and there was no turning back.  

While On Through the Night was the album that put Def Leppard in the game, Pyromania was the absolute game changer.  A Heavy Metal masterpiece in both production and results and the rest is history.  The album reached #2 on the Billboard Top 200 and produced many hit singles including "Pyromania", "Photograph", "Rock of Ages" and "Foolin" among the most notable.  A classic from top to bottom, this album cemented Def Leppard's rise to the top of hard rock and heavy metal glory.  If you were to take a poll...this album would almost absolutely take the cake as far as everyone's favorite Def Leppard album.  Heavy but yet pop sounding.  Definitely mention worthy when ranking the band's top album ever.  For me its close but no cigar as there were others that check more boxes.

Casuals and mainstream Leppard fans may be questioning the placement of this album so high on the list.  But true metal fans and knowledgeable music fans will recognize the truth to the madness.  This was the first installment of the Vivian Campbell era in Def Leppard and this album is a true diamond in the rough.  While Vivian brought a new dynamic to the band, this album was the last one to include material from Steve Clark.  Overall, this may have been the bands most complete pieces of all-time.  First of all, it charted at #9 on the US Billboard Top 200 as well as going platinum in record sales.  But more important than notoriety and album sales, this album showed that Def Leppard could be just as dynamic with a new guitarist in toe.  Retroactive is extremely underrated and is the bands most dynamic album ever produced with a mixture of ballads and some heavy kick ass riffs.  Solid from top to bottom.

High and Dry was the band's second studio album and the first to feature producer Mutt Lange.  The production of the album was leaps and bounds better than the previous album and showed that Def Leppard was ready to be players in the heavy metal community.  The record hits the ground running with "Let it Go" and doesn't look back.  Overall a classic from beginning to end; there is not a clunker to be found.  Tracks like "Another Hit and Run" and "Mirror Mirror...Look into My Eyes" have star power written all over them.  While "You Got Me Runnin" and "Lady Strange" keep the ball rolling.  "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" was their first true ballad that foreshadowed their rise to pop.  This may be the most catchiest Leppard album ever produced and definitely remains my personal favorite.

Do you believe in miracles.  Well this album surely should have made you a believer as Hysteria was nothing short of spectacular.  Numbers alone do not show the sheer amazingness of this album (although over 25 million records sold worldwide is not too shabby in itself).  Every song on the album was a potential #1 hit.  In fact, six of the twelve tracks made it to the Top 20, something only a few albums have ever been able to accomplish.  The fact that the band was able to produce this album with a one armed drummer made that feat that much more amazing.  When looking back at albums that made lasting impacts on a bands legacy, you would be hard pressed to find one that matches up to this one.  This was definitely the crown jewel for Def Leppard and they struck gold.  This album is so good...it actually was ranked as the Top Hair Metal album of all-time by Rolling Stone Magazine.  This was definitely hard rock's answer to Michael Jackson's "Thriller."  They hit a grand slam and inside the park homerun on this one folks. 

Check out what we here at Philly Rock Radio are listening to this week. Just click on the song title or use our weekly Spotify playlist. And as always, we welcome you to add your new favorite song to our list!

It's hard to believe that today marks the 50th anniversary of Black Sabbath's release of it's debut album "Black Sabbath." 

This album is ground zero for heavy metal...point blank this is where it all began. A moment in time that laid the groundwork for an entire musical genre to come. Everything about this album was iconic...from the artwork on the cover...to Iommi's doom and gloom riffs...to Ozzy's harrowing vocals. No matter what your opinion is of Black Sabbath as a band, there is no doubt that it all began fifty years ago with this instant classic.

With that being said; the epic nature of this moment led me to thinking as to where this album ranks in Black Sabbath's top albums of all-time. 

I have decided to start a new feature here at Philly Rock Radio; which will be reviewing our favorite bands' top albums and ranking them from worst to first. This is not the first time that I will be undertaking this challenge and certainly will not be the last. However; I don't think there is a better place to start than with the grand daddies of them all...Black Sabbath.

As I have stated many times before...it is always a journey when creating any "top list" and doing so with bands top albums is no different. The very nature of these projects can cause controversy and widespread debate.  Nonetheless, taking on this task is fun and I welcome your thoughts and criticisms alike. Hopefully this segment will be a huge hit as we hit the ground running. Without further ado...Here are Black Sabbath's top ten albums of all-time ranked worst to first...hope you all enjoy!     

"13" marked the nineteenth and final studio release for the pioneers of heavy metal.  The album was the first release to include Ozzy and Geezer since the live album in 1995.  From top to bottom, this album truly packs a punch.  This was the ultimate return to the band's glory days as far as sound and style.  Black Sabbath brought their "A" game on this one and the results did not disappoint.  The only black eye I could find was the exclusion of Bill Ward which was the result of contract dysfunction.  Thirteen received mostly positive reviews and the album won multiple awards in the musical community.  Its only fitting that the band's final release would crack the top ten.  They definitely did save one of their best for last.

"Mob Rules" was the second installation of the Ronnie James Dio led era of the band.  It also marked a changing of the guard on drums as Vinny Appice took over in Bill Ward's stead.  The signature track, Sign of the Southern Cross was an instant classic and featured Dio at his absolute peak with Sabbath. The album also saw the return of legendary metal producer, Martin Birch which I think many times is forgotten.  Although the album does not get the notoriety of its predecessor, it certainly matched the intensity.  The style was much more aggressive and the in-your-face approach won instant praise with critics and fans alike.  A must own gem for any and all Sabbath fans.  "Falling off the edge of the World" may be the most underrated track of Dio's tenure with the band...check it out.

Often misunderstood, this album tends to get more negative publicity than good.  However; "Never Say Die" is a far better album in reality than it ever gets credit for.  True...the band was moving ever faster towards change in this point of their career.  Drugs and alcohol may very well have gotten the best of the bands glowing personalities.  The fact that the album was such a patchwork effort makes it all the more amazing that the band was able to produce an album  of any substance.  The album has since been certified gold and represents the most raw form of the band to date.  The shock and awe material gives the album credentials above its performance.  Ultimately an underrated album and one of Sabbath's quirkiest pieces of art ever assembled.

One of my all-time favorites, "Sabotage" many times goes unnoticed.  However; their sixth studio album showed growth and maturity for the band.  Symptom of the Universe was an instant classic and truly emphasized guitarist Tony Iommi's talents on the axe.  In fact, his use of the flat fifth during most of the tracks riffs was a precursor to what was to come in heavy metal sound.  Although the albums release was marred by a legal battle that threatened its recording prowess, the band rose above the controversy to create one of its most underappreciated efforts of all time.  The title of the album is profanely ironic in that the band was almost sabotaged numerous times during this recording.  Thankfully they beat the odds and the results are self explanatory...Black Sabbath triumphs once again.

"Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" is the fifth studio album release for Black Sabbath.  I call this album the Underground Paranoid.  A brilliant piece of artwork that you don't and will not hear on the radio everyday.  And to think that this album almost never transpired...makes it even more special.  The album is littered with heavy metal classics including the title track as well as "Fluff", "Sabbra Cadabra", "Killing Yourself to Live" and "Spiral Architect."  The album reached #11 on the US charts and further cemented Sabbath as one of the best of its time.  Definitely a must have for any heavy metal catalog and definitely one of Sabbaths all-time greats. 

One of Sabbath's most interesting releases, "Vol.4" continues the band's all out assault on the musical community.  This marked the first album not to be produced by Rodger Bain, with Iommi instead taking charge as the lead man.  Black Sabbath seemed to experiment a little more on this piece as they expanded their musical sound and style with reckless abandon.  In fact, the track "Changes" totally veered off course and was a definite culture shock to the heavy dark sound that Sabbath fans had grown accustomed too.  Nonetheless, the album maintained an aggressive fist full of metal approach with "Snowblind" and "Supernaut."  Another underappreciated album and definitely one of Sabbath's best.

When Ozzy Osbourne left Black Sabbath, many people thought that it was truly the end of the band.  Well folks...they could not have been more wrong.  Enter Ronnie James Dio...and the rest was history.  When "Heaven and Hell" was released in 1980, people quickly realized that Black Sabbath was alive and well and that the band could still kick ass and take names.  Dio brought a level to the band that Ozzy could only dream of.  You see, Ozzy was an entertainer but Ronnie was a true vocal God.  The album was a true hit from top to bottom and there is not one snoozer in sight.  From the opening riffs of "Neon Knights" to the title track "Heaven and Hell" and ending with "Lonely is the Word" this album is a heavy metal classic.  While many thought the band was going to hell, it was finally revealed that we the fans had been taken to heaven...Long live Ronnie James Dio.  This is also my personal all-time favorite.

Well here it is...the album that turns 50 today and the birthplace of it all.  Who knew that an album that only took two days to record; would become so legendary and that it would send ripples of epic proportions through the music world. But that's exactly what happened after their debut album was released.  No one had ever heard anything like it and everyone would become copycats from here on out as far as musical style and sound.  Like scenes out of a horror movie, this masterpiece spawned dark sounds and heavy riffs galore.  When you listen to this album your bound to have nightmares.  An album that bred a new genre and a work of art that catapulted a band into legends of that style. "Black Sabbath" is not only the beginning, its also the middle and the end as far as what the band is about...shock and awe.  I can put this album on today and still enjoy it fifty years later and that's the sign of a true classic.

"Master of Reality" was the bands third studio album and may have been their most real.  While their previous two albums were somewhat rushed, the band was able to spend more time on this one and the results definitely showed.  In fact, this was the band's first and only top ten release in the US up until "13" which came forty-two years later.  The album contains many hit tracks that all scream star power.  The album begins with the stellar "Sweet Leaf" which was written about marijuana.  "After Forever" is a song about religion.  Then there is the instrumental "Embryo" which leads into the epic "Children of the Grave."  Tony Iommi tuned down his guitar on this one and the sound was magnificent.  The band truly hit a grand slam on this album and the result was one of their best ever.  This album is so good it could get some greatest all-time mentions.  

This is the crème de le crème...the holy grail of heavy metal albums...and an easy choice for Black Sabbath's best of all-time.  Not only is "Paranoid" widely considered Sabbath's best...many consider it one of if not the greatest heavy metal albums of all-time.  A work of art from top to bottom starting with the albums cover art.  The album begins with "War Pigs" which on any other album would be considered the best track produced.  But once again...this is not any ordinary album.  The title track "Paranoid" and the timeless wonder "Iron Man" highlight an album that is littered with craftsmanship and skill.  "Paranoid" simply defines perfection and is as close to flawless that an album can come.  Heavy Metal's Goliath...the peak of the mountain for Black Sabbath and the epicenter of metal genius.

We certainly hope that you enjoyed our first episode of the new feature "Top Albums".  The next episode will feature the British Metal legends Def Leppard.  Looking for feedback on this segment and if there are any bands that you would like to see us feature in upcoming posts...please let Kevin and Johnny know.  Don't forget to check out their live radio show on Thursday evenings as well.  I will leave you with a video that was taken in from a Black Sabbath performance in France, 1970... as we close this out.  Thanks again and goodnight!