Writers: Edward Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, and David Lee Roth
Producer: Ted Templeman
Recorded: Summer 1983 at 5150 in Hollywood, California
Released: December 31st, 1983
| Players: | David Lee Roth — vocals Edward Van Halen — guitar, synthesizer, vocals Michael Anthony — bass, vocals Alex Van Halen — drums |
| Album: | 1984 (Warner Bros) |
“I'll Wait” was the third single from Van Halen's 1984 album.
Like its predecessor “Jump,” “I'll Wait” featured a prominent synthesizer hook that surprised many Van Halen fans who were more accustomed to Edward Van Halen's powerful guitar showcases.
However, Van Halen learned to play piano before he picked up guitar and always maintained an interest in keyboards.
Van Halen once told Guitar World magazine, “I don't know crap about (synthesizers), really. I can play keyboards, and I twist the knobs until I get the sound that I like.”
The 1984 album peaked at Number Two on the Billboard 200 and at Number 15 in the U.K. It's sold well over 10 million copies.
The album was released on New Year's Eve at the band's insistence.
1984 was the group's first album to be recorded at Edward Van Halen's 5150 home studio.
Some U.K. record sellers banned 1984 because of its cover, which depicted an infant smoking a cigarette.