When I was growing up in Georgia, Van Halen's "1984" used to spin constantly on my first record player. (Actually, I'm sure that was its' name: the Fisher-Price My First Record Player.)

I was at least 5 or 6 years old when 1984 found its way into our house. My parents wouldn't let me listen to my brother's other record: Twisted Sister's Stay Hungry. So, it was either VH or The Chipmunks Greatest Hits (this was during their 80's revival, so they sang songs like Elvis Costello's "Pump It Up" instead of "Witch Doctor"). I chose both, but oddly, it was the Chipmunks that stayed in my record collection the longest. Still, I had some good times listening to 1984.

Like the time my older brother and I argued over the words to the title track. At that time, I was only interested in two cuts off the album: "Panama" and "Jump". The argument was pure older/younger brother material. I argued that my words WERE the words to the song. He argued that it didn't have any words. He was right; still, I thought my words were a pretty good fit. (Don't ask me to remember them all; though I do remember shouting "Nineteen-EIGHTYFOUR!" a lot.)

Later, I would discover "Hot For Teacher". Around this time, I also found out how to change the speed on a record from 33 to 45 and vice versa. I still can't figure out why listening to that opening guitar solo on 45 RPM was so hilarious, but to me it was.

When I was 9 years old, going on 10, we moved to our first house in Norfolk. My Fisher-Price record player was still working. My brother was moving on from Van Halen to hardcore punk, Metallica, and the Dead Kennedys. I was still listening to 1984 and the Chipmunks. My younger brother, David, and I shared a room and a two-tiered bunkbed. Around this time, we had also gotten cable. MTV was still airing videos and so I got my first glimpse of DLR in action. Oh, sure - I had the photo grabs on the Panama single of him flying tethered through the air in his spandex pants, giant sunglasses, and ghettoblaster, but nothing could prepare me for seeing the man in motion. Of course now that I'm older, I know where he got all that extra energy from (rhymes with "propane"). Still, it didn't stop me from climbing atop my bunkbed and launching myself to the floor with every "Might as well jump"...

Years went by. I found They Might Be Giants, then Nirvana, and with my teenage years came the rejection of all that dorky, younger James found enjoyable. That also included Van Halen.

And now, here in 2008 I find myself stealing..err...downloading...err "previewing" Van Halen's 1984 so that I can have it in my collection again.

Boolzie-boolzie-bop!