“Cabo Wabo” by Van Halen

"Cabo Wabo" turns up on OU812 (say it out loud: "Oh You Ate One Too"), the Van Halen record that came out on May 24, 1988, their eighth studio album and the second with Sammy Hagar at the mic. All four members share the writing credit, and the band produced it with Donn Landee, who also recorded it, during the stretch from September 1987 to April 1988 when the album was being made.

Hagar sings lead and plays electric guitar too, right next to Edward Van Halen, who adds keyboard on top of his guitar. Michael Anthony holds down the bass and joins Edward on backing vocals, and Alex Van Halen handles drums and percussion. The whole thing has the loose, sun-baked strut of a band enjoying its second wind.

Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz.