Van Halen's 1978 Debut Album Changed Music Forever — Now Available as a MoFi UltraDisc One-Step 2LP on SuperVinyl
 
Includes "Runnin’ with the Devil," "Eruption," and "You Really Got Me"
Mastered from the Original Analog Tapes and Cut at 45RPM on MoFi SuperVinyl
 
Van Halen's self-titled 1978 debut didn’t just introduce a band — it unleashed a revolution. With the arrival of Eddie Van Halen, a guitarist whose innovations would transform the instrument’s future, the album re-energized rock, blending heavy metal force with pop sensibility and sunny California swagger. Now, Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab presents the definitive version of Van Halen as a 180g 45RPM 2LP UltraDisc One-Step (UD1S) set, pressed on MoFi SuperVinyl from the original analog master tapes.
 
Mastering Chain: 1/4" / 30 IPS analog master to DSD 256 to analog console to lathe
 
Strictly limited to 12,000 numbered copies and pressed at RTI, this UD1S edition offers reference-grade sound, unearthing the raw power, energy, and personality embedded in every groove. Free from the limitations of conventional pressing, MoFi’s One-Step process and SuperVinyl formula deliver unmatched detail, clarity, and dynamic range — turning this 10x platinum classic into a fresh, visceral experience.
 
Packaged in a deluxe slipcase with foil-stamped jackets and faithful artwork, this collector’s edition honors every nuance, from David Lee Roth’s flamboyant vocals to Michael Anthony’s thunderous bass, Alex Van Halen’s double-kick drive, and Eddie’s legendary finger-tapping technique — introduced on the groundbreaking 102-second instrumental “Eruption.”
 
A Defining Album, Recut with Audiophile Precision
 
Van Halen was tracked mostly live in the studio with minimal overdubs under producer Ted Templeman, capturing the band's synergy and relentless energy. From the opening car horns of “Runnin’ with the Devil” to the kinetic blitz of “On Fire,” the album remains a time capsule of late-‘70s hard rock exuberance.
Though “You Really Got Me” was its only major single, nearly every track became a classic: “Jamie’s Cryin’” delivers pop-rock finesse; “I’m the One” struts with vaudeville charm; “Ice Cream Man” morphs from blues shuffle to rock eruption. The album’s depth and diversity shine brighter than ever on this UD1S pressing.
Named the 202nd Greatest Album of All Time by Rolling Stone and widely regarded as one of the most iconic debuts in history, Van Halen introduced a sound and a guitarist that felt beamed from another planet. The album remains a high-water mark in rock history — now cut with a level of sonic fidelity it has never before received.
 
About MoFi’s UltraDisc One-Step Process
 
The UD1S process eliminates two steps from traditional vinyl manufacturing — the father and mother plates — resulting in stampers created directly from the lacquer. This preserves maximum detail, dynamics, and tonal purity, minimizing distortion and delivering a listening experience as close to the studio master as possible. Because each lacquer yields only one stamper, UD1S editions are produced in limited quantities to maintain quality.
 
MoFi SuperVinyl: Superior Sound, Ultra-Quiet Surfaces
 
Co-developed by NEOTECH and RTI, MoFi SuperVinyl is a proprietary compound designed for maximum groove definition and minimal surface noise. Free of carbon dyes (you can see light through it), SuperVinyl enables the groove to replicate the original lacquer with near-perfect accuracy, producing stunning audio clarity and fidelity.
 
"As if to enrage those who think hard rock doesn’t merit audiophile treatment, this superb One-Step of the band’s eponymous debut will drive ‘em crazy.”
—Ken Kessler, Hi-Fi News