Van Halen – Best Of Volume I

I have a copy unlike any of these. Mine has a gold leaf promotional stamp DJ version. not sure how to add to this list?

The copy I have is from this batch with the Olyphant Y188 in the matrix. Batch "M1S22". While it has the mastering SID barely readable under the wea mfg. line, there is no mould SID code on the clear hub anywhere. Moulded in, stamped, or otherwise.

Where’s the “vinyl”???!!!!! Come on!!! Someone? Anyone? Let’s goooooooooooooo! Damn!

Is this the one that has the version of Runnin’ With The Devil where the solo is too early in the song?

Van Halen were active for almost three decades in two distinct incarnations, the most successful being the tenure of frenetic, high-kicking frontman David Lee Roth, or, as he was better known, Diamond Dave. Upon Dave's departure in 1985, the Red Rocker of "I Can't Drive 55" fame, Sammy Hagar, was appointed to replace him. Naturally, despite his own established vocal credentials, plain old Hagar was unable to compete with his predecessor's boundless charisma, joviality and on-stage acrobatics, a fact even the band poked fun at. Owing to this jarring contrast between the two eras, deg a compilation of the very best songs from both chapters should have been a simple case of devoting a single disc to each. In of track selection and completeness, "Best of Volume I" does not fulfil expectations. ittedly, it may include a wealth of the band's big hits, but there are some glaring omissions and questionable choices by the compiler that render this far less enjoyable for the more discerning listener. And yet, for the casual fan it is a great boon, providing them with a welcome alternative to sifting through entire albums to locate the doozies. From "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love," "Runnin' With the Devil," "And the Cradle Will Rock," "Jump," to "Panama", a surfeit of lyrically unchallenging guitar-driven rousing rock music is contained herein, a consolation perhaps for the unfathomable inclusion of inferior tracks and new reunion recordings in place of much better options, namely "Hot For Teacher," "Beautiful Girls," and "Everybody Wants Some!!". Unfortunately, whilst every single track on side one is a shining moment, encapsulating Eddie Van Halen's guitar genius and Dave's scintillating swagger, the same cannot be said for side two. Despite a few exceptions, "Why Can't This Be Love?" and "When It's Love", the Hagar years did nothing to fortify Van Halen's legacy, in fact, they sullied it somewhat. It seems that having the best of both worlds does not make for a harmonious listen. That being said, if you can avoid comparisons and the incongruous bifurcated aspect of the disc, you can forgive a lot of the negatives and appreciate the benefits of having all the hits to hand.

As the good times gave way to less and less variety and quality in the mid-'80s, Van Halen suffered a creative slump that they never quite recovered from. Van Halen MK1 is arguably the band at their peak, hence why a best-of should not really feature as many Hagar contributions as Roth, nor should it contain unreleased filler when a deep cut or fan favourite would be for the better of the album as a cohesive whole. Aside from largely being a missed opportunity to assemble something that could truly highlight Van Halen's assets, "Best of Volume I" is an acceptable career-spanning overview that serves its purpose in presenting all the variations, phases and trademarks of the band in a succinct fashion. In the very likely event of requiring a quick fix of Van Halen's winsome brand of proficiently executed and confidently delivered rambunctious party rock, then this should go down very nicely indeed.

Rating: 4/5

Quite a reasonable selection of tracks.When's volume 2 due?. 8/10