Unbeknownst to fans at the time, come 1995 the relationship between Sammy Hagar and the brothers Van Halen had seriously deteriorated. Their fourth album together, Balance, was released that January, and by the following spring, they’d split.
The recording of the LP had been anything but smooth, leading producer Bruce Fairbairn to ask Eddie Van Halen if he had anything more pop-sounding in his archives. Too lazy to dig around in the vaults, the guitarist came up with “Can’t Stop Lovin’ You,” easily one of the most Top 40 ready songs the band ever released. Check out my piece at Ultimate Classic Rock to find out how the song came together and why it wasn’t as light and airy as it might’ve appeared on the surface.
When the “Can’t Stop Lovin’ You” single was released, it did so with what is to date the only non-album B-side Van Halen has ever put out, “Crossing Over.” It’s such a weird and dark sounding number, one that deserved its own delving into, which I also did for Ultimate Classic Rock. That track can be listened to below, and be sure to dig into my articles on both songs.
The Chronicles of Michael Christopher 
Leave a Reply