Peeling out of the high school parking lot while flipping the principal the bird, Women and Children First roars to life with “And the Cradle Will Rock…,” further cementing Van Halen’s reputation as America’s party-on house band. Heat of the moment livin’ courses through the album, the band’s vibrant alchemy fueling the steamy cat-calling “Everybody Wants Some!,” alcoholic crash ‘n’ burners “Romeo Delight” and “Loss of Control” (which segues out of the cool Sabbathy riff scrap of “Tora! Tora!”) and the assless chaps grinding blues-rockers “Fools” and “Take Your Whiskey Home.” The gleaming “In a Simple Rhyme” closes Women and Children with an underrated razor toothed pop/rocker, capping another LP brimming with the reckless brilliance of Van Halen in full flight. —Ben
