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In mid-1977 Mo Ostin and Ted Templeman of Warner Bros. Records saw Van Halen perform at the Starwood in Hollywood.

Although the audience was small, the two were so impressed with Van Halen that within a week they offered the band a recording contract.

The group recorded their debut album at Sunset Sound Recorders studio in mid September to early October 1977, recording guitar parts for one week and then recording vocals for two additional weeks.

All of the tracks were laid down with little over-dubbing or double tracking.

Minor mistakes were purposely left on the record and a simple musical set-up was used to give the record a live feel.

During this time they continued to play various venues in Southern California, including some notable concerts at the Pasadena Convention Center produced by their promoter and impresario, Steve Tortomasi, himself a fixture in the local rock and roll scene.