1396 - Van Halen Runnin' with the Devil 1978

"Runnin' with the Devil" is the first track from Van Halen's 1978 eponymous debut album. The song lyrics were inspired by the Ohio Players song "Runnin' from the Devil". Lead singer, “Diamond” David Lee Roth, had rested his voice for days to record the track but couldn’t quite nail the vocals. In his must-read autobiography, "Crazy from the Heat", Roth explains that to remedy the problem, he went outside, ate half a cheeseburger, smoked a joint, went back in, and nailed it on first take. “Runnin’ With the Devil” sets the tone. Roth screeches, cajoles and croons with the assurance of a veteran pitchman hawking his product to any sucker who dares to pause. He introduces Van Halen’s guitar solos with genuine anticipatory glee.