Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Alright, this one’s going to blow your mind. Today we’re featuring the iconic hit Jamie's Cryin' that never so much as placed on the Billboard Hot 100… even though there’s no doubt it should have. Jamie's Cryin' was released as a single by one of the greatest bands around, Van Halen, as part of their debut album in the late 70s. But it got no love. Fast forward a decade later, and Jamie's Cryin' was sampled without Van Halen’s permission for the #2 rap hit Wild Thing by Tone Loc. but that's what the media has reported for years. But here's the real truth from original bassist Michael Anthony
#classicrock #70smusic #shorts #vanhalen
So, it’s time for another edition of #1 in Our Hearts. This show honors songs that were so unbelievably great, they absolutely should've been #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. But for whatever reason, be it radio play, lack of marketing, label support or just sheer stupidity, the song came up short. On today’s episode, from Van Halen’s 1978 debut album, we’re featuring Jamie’s Cryin’.
The beginnings of Van Halen go back to the 60s in Pasadena, California when adolescent brothers Eddie and Alex Van Halen formed their first band The Broken Combs. Growing up, the two each played several instruments, with Eddie even spending some time on the mic… though that wouldn’t last. Various iterations of the Van Halen brothers band would follow through the years, including outfits called Trojan Rubber Co. and Genesis. By the early 70s, they were going by the name Mammoth. Not long into the decade Eddie on guitar and Alex on drums recruited David Lee Roth to sing lead, after which they would also settle on bass player Michael Anthony.
By 1974, Mammoth established themselves on the Los Angles club scene playing a mix of 60s and 70s cover songs and hard rock originals. The band’s first break came when Kiss’s Gene Simmons caught one of their gigs. He was amazed by their intensity, Eddie’s raw power on the guitar, and Roth’s flashy style. Simmons produced a Mammoth demo, however, it was rejected by labels across the board. The guys then discovered that the name Mammoth was already registered to another band, so at Roth’s suggestion, they went with “Van Halen” over Eddie’s “Rat Salad.”
On the strength of Gene Simmons’ glowing reviews, producer Ted Templeman checked out a Van Halen gig and was likewise impressed by what he saw… even writing a letter of intent on a napkin. Templeman then convinced Warner Brothers Records to sign the band. Prior to recording their first album, Templeman had Van Halen cut a massive 30-song demo, essentially recording their complete catalog in a single two-hour session. This strategy allowed Templeman to get a solid feel for how Van Halen worked in the studio, and helped him figure out which tracks they should include on the debut LP.
Alright, this one’s going to blow your mind. Today we’re featuring the iconic hit Jamie's Cryin' that never so much as placed on the Billboard Hot 100… even though there’s no doubt it should have. Jamie's Cryin' was released as a single by one of the greatest bands around, Van Halen, as part of their debut album in the late 70s. But it got no love. Fast forward a decade later, and Jamie's Cryin' was sampled without Van Halen’s permission for the #2 rap hit Wild Thing by Tone Loc. but that's what the media has reported for years. But here's the real truth from original bassist Michael Anthony
#classicrock #70smusic #shorts #vanhalen
So, it’s time for another edition of #1 in Our Hearts. This show honors songs that were so unbelievably great, they absolutely should've been #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. But for whatever reason, be it radio play, lack of marketing, label support or just sheer stupidity, the song came up short. On today’s episode, from Van Halen’s 1978 debut album, we’re featuring Jamie’s Cryin’.
The beginnings of Van Halen go back to the 60s in Pasadena, California when adolescent brothers Eddie and Alex Van Halen formed their first band The Broken Combs. Growing up, the two each played several instruments, with Eddie even spending some time on the mic… though that wouldn’t last. Various iterations of the Van Halen brothers band would follow through the years, including outfits called Trojan Rubber Co. and Genesis. By the early 70s, they were going by the name Mammoth. Not long into the decade Eddie on guitar and Alex on drums recruited David Lee Roth to sing lead, after which they would also settle on bass player Michael Anthony.
By 1974, Mammoth established themselves on the Los Angles club scene playing a mix of 60s and 70s cover songs and hard rock originals. The band’s first break came when Kiss’s Gene Simmons caught one of their gigs. He was amazed by their intensity, Eddie’s raw power on the guitar, and Roth’s flashy style. Simmons produced a Mammoth demo, however, it was rejected by labels across the board. The guys then discovered that the name Mammoth was already registered to another band, so at Roth’s suggestion, they went with “Van Halen” over Eddie’s “Rat Salad.”
On the strength of Gene Simmons’ glowing reviews, producer Ted Templeman checked out a Van Halen gig and was likewise impressed by what he saw… even writing a letter of intent on a napkin. Templeman then convinced Warner Brothers Records to sign the band. Prior to recording their first album, Templeman had Van Halen cut a massive 30-song demo, essentially recording their complete catalog in a single two-hour session. This strategy allowed Templeman to get a solid feel for how Van Halen worked in the studio, and helped him figure out which tracks they should include on the debut LP.
