Ice Cream Man by Van Halen

Album: Van Halen (1978)

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Songfacts®:

This was written and originally recorded by the Chicago blues musician John Brim. Born in 1922, Brim recorded this at Chess Records in 1953. In 1994, he released a compilation album called The Ice Cream Man.
This is one of David Lee Roth's favorites. He pushed to get it on Van Halen's first album as a tribute to the blues.
The first verse is just Roth singing and playing acoustic guitar. The full band joins in after that.
Like many American blues songs, the lyrics are loaded with double entendres, making it a perfect song for David Lee Roth to sing. At the beginning of the song, Roth says, "Dedicate one to the ladies," making it clear that when he brags that his "flavors are guaranteed to satisfy," he's not talking about the frozen treat.
This was one of two covers on Van Halen's first album. The other, "You Really Got Me," was their first single.
Van Halen included this on a cassette they gave Gene Simmons before they had a record deal. Simmons didn't like this song, but let them record it anyway when he flew them to New York to make a demo. They didn't get a deal out of it, but when Warner Brothers finally signed them, the songs on the demo, including this, made up much of their first two albums.
In 1659 the Sicilian chef Francesco Procopia dei Coltelli perfected the making of ice cream. Twenty seven years later dei Coltelli opened Le Procope, the first cafe in Paris. Here after being considered a dessert for royalty alone, ice cream was made available to the general public for the first time. (From the book Food for Thought: Extraordinary Little Chronicles of the World by Ed Pearce)

Comments: 17

Lawoman from SocalThis song is about late night, unreciprocated, booty calls.
Brandon from LafayetteIt is indeed - puddin pie banana, check John Brim recordings for “puddin pie apple” and smack whoever decided it was “bim bam”. Would love to know if John Brim was censored into “Apple” or if DLR just took it up a notch.
Malachi from StockholmThe 12-16-19 stretch at the beginning of the solo, descending over the E-B-G and D-strings, just might be the most painful experience for any guitarist. The question remains: why didn't EVH just tap it? Instead, he stretches his fretting hand and picks the notes, which has lead to dislocated joints in untold guitarists since early 1978.
Brian from Albuquerque, NmDuffy: I hear you about people and times being much better back then. I wish I could go back.
Ross from New Yorkthis song has my favourite guitar solo
Rockawsom from Murieta, CaSupposedly Dave says, "I got puddin' pie, banana, dixie cups....." but it's surely NOT good lemonade
Dave T from Milton Keynes, UkWhat's with all the bitching about EVH and Page? This is supposed to be about the song! They are both great. What I'd like to know is, who rewrote the original Ice Cream Man for VH?
Loretta from Southeast MiDidn't they originally have a video to go with that song where David Lee was dressed up AS an Ice Cream man with ice cream truck AND Sexy girls? I tried looking it up on Youtube and Yahoo video but could not find it : ( !
Willie from Scottsdale, AzIt's a fun song, quit bitching about Jimmy Page, and BTW some of you need to learn how to spell.
Marcus from Fresno, CaBut eddies in rehab looks all F'd up and sad looking. his best days are way behind him Duffy. Page still looks like a rock star and collaborates with everybody because everybody wants to play with a LICING LEGEND. plus they are two very different guitarists. To each their own i guess.
Evan from Calgary, Canadaduffy i wouldn't say eddie blows page away, i agree he is a better guitarist but page is still amazing
Patrick Hamilton from Braintree, Englandreally kicks arse - everything you want from a rock band doing a straight out rocker imo.
Jeff from Sothington, Ctjimmy and eddie have different styles..jimmy has more scratchy distortion and has more blues roots that EVH...eddie plays with all kinds of slidding, tapping, and of coarse his signature pinch harmonics...i think eddie may be a better player than jimmy but i like Page's stlye more..o and the song yes..it is a great cover song one of my favorite guitar solos by master van halen
Devon from Westerville, OhThis song is great. alos it appears in a episode of Homicide life on the street. it appears in Wanted dead or alive part 1 or 2. this episode is in season 7.
Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScWo wo wo wo wo Duffy! I beg to differ. I don't know about either of the gyts looks, but they are both great guitar players. I personally like Jimmy Page better, but I don't want to knock Eddy Van Halen either.
Duffy from Yakima, AlI saw them in '78,79,80,81,82.People and times were so much better back then.Now it's like the end days or something.Lame music and a repressive goverment.Eddie Van Halen BLOWS away Jimmy page! WHO wants a looser like page? Not me! Eddie is good looking!
Renee from Corona, Caits alright. not one of my favorite songs by van halen.

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