| "When It's Love" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Van Halen | ||||
| from the album OU812 | ||||
| B-side | "Cabo Wabo" | |||
| Released | June 1988 | |||
| Recorded | 1987 | |||
| Studio | 5150 Studios, Studio City, California | |||
| Genre | Pop metal[1] | |||
| Length | 5:38 | |||
| Label | Warner Bros. | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) |
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| Van Halen singles chronology | ||||
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| Official audio | ||||
| When It's Love (2004 Remaster) on YouTube | ||||
When It's Love is a power ballad[2] by American rock band Van Halen. It was released in 1988 as the second single from their eighth studio album OU812. It was the most popular song from that album, hitting #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts and #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[3] The song has been a live performance staple since it was released in 1988. The song was also included in the set list for the band's ill-fated 1998 tour with Gary Cherone. Eddie Van Halen has stated that this particular guitar solo is a nod to Eric Clapton.[4] It became their 3rd and last top 10 hit.
- ^ Greg Kot (September 3, 1991). "It's the Guitarist Who Still Makes Van Halen Rock". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "OU812 - Van Halen". AllMusic.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel. The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 6th ed, Billboard Publications, Inc. 1996. ISBN 0-8230-7632-6
- ^ Graff, Gary (June 19, 2021). "How Van Halen's 'When It's Love' Sparked 'OU812'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved July 1, 2021.