"Love Walks In" is a power ballad[2][3][4] by American rock band Van Halen released as the third single from the band's seventh studio album, 5150 (1986). It was the first song the band wrote with vocalist Sammy Hagar.[5][6][7] It peaked at number 4 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart,[8] and reached number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100.[9]
| "Love Walks In" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Van Halen | ||||
| from the album 5150 | ||||
| B-side | "Summer Nights" | |||
| Released | July 28, 1986[1] | |||
| Recorded | 1985–1986 | |||
| Studio | 5150 Studios, Studio City, California | |||
| Genre | Synth-rock | |||
| Length | 5:11 | |||
| Label | Warner Bros. | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Eddie Van Halen, Sammy Hagar, Alex Van Halen and Michael Anthony | |||
| Van Halen singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background
editTo quote Hagar:
I'm a firm believer - have seen, have felt, have been contacted three or four different times. I have received information that has been valuable in my life from those people (extraterrestrial life), and they have used me. I'm gonna sound like a complete nut here, but they have used me in an experimental fashion. The easiest way to put it is that they downloaded my brain information.[10]
Hagar wrote the lyrics on the spot and sang it live with a hand-held mic.[11][12]
Billboard called it a "tricky little tune" that goes "from hard-rock swagger to a graceful chorus hook."[13]
Charts
edit| Chart (1986–1987) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[14] | 65 |
| US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[15] | 4 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[16] | 22 |
Personnel
edit- Sammy Hagar — lead vocals, lead guitar (live version)
- Eddie Van Halen — guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
- Michael Anthony — bass guitar, backing vocals
- Alex Van Halen — drums
References
edit- ^ "FMQB" (PDF). p. 34.
- ^ "The new van Halen: Revamped, revitalized and ready to rock".
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2 November 2020). "Eddie Van Halen: Happy Trails". sterlewine.substack.com.
- ^ "Van Halen's '5150' VS. David Lee Roth's 'Eat 'Em And Smile' – Great Rock Debates". Van Halen News Desk. October 24, 2013.
- ^ "Van Halen - "Love Walks In" - Live Without A Net (1986)". YouTube. 19 October 2012. Archived from the original on 2021-12-12. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
- ^ Tannenbaum, Rob (October 6, 2020). "Eddie Van Halen's 12 Essential Songs". New York Times.
- ^ III, J. C. Macek (29 February 2016). "The Most Unintentionally Terrifying "Love Songs" Ever Written, PopMatters". PopMatters. Retrieved 2021-06-21.
- ^ "Van Halen - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
- ^ "Van Halen - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
- ^ "Love Walks In by Van Halen - Songfacts".
- ^ Elliott, Paul (March 2014). "The best of both worlds". Classic Rock. No. 194. p. 48.
- ^ Blabbermouth (2019-03-25). "SAMMY HAGAR Looks Back On VAN HALEN's '5150' Album (Video)". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 2021-06-21.
- ^ "Reviews". Billboard. August 16, 1986. p. 69. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0734." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
- ^ "Van Halen Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
- ^ "Van Halen Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
