Best of Van Halen, Vol. 1

by Van Halen

Overview

In theory, a Van Halen greatest-hits collection should be easy to assemble, but Best Of, Vol. 1 proves that isn't the case. By trying to give the David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar eras equal space, they wind up not representing either particularly well. The first eight songs run through several of Diamond Dave's biggest songs -- "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love," "Runnin' With the Devil," "And the Cradle Will Rock," "Jump," and "Panama." It's hard to argue with any of the choices, yet significant songs like "You Really Got Me," "Beautiful Girls," "(Oh) Pretty Woman," "I'll Wait," and "Hot for Teacher" are missing. Similarly, the Sammy era has many big hits -- "Why Can't This Be Love," "Dreams," "When It's Love," and "Right Now" -- but skips over hits like "Love Walks In," "Black and Blue," and "Finish What Ya Started." Clearly, the collection would have been better served if it had been assembled as a double-disc set, with Dave and Sammy getting a disc apiece. Furthermore, the much-hyped reunion tracks with Roth, "Can't Get This Stuff No More" and "Me Wise Magic," are a slight disappointment; the band sounds good, but neither track contains a memorable hook. Also, the presence of "Humans Being," one of Van Halen's worst tracks, is an insult, considering how many great songs are missing. Nevertheless, Best Of, Vol. 1 remains a good single-disc encapsulation of Van Halen's career, even if it isn't a definitive retrospective. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	10/22/1996
Label:	Warner Bros.
UPC:	0093624633228
Rank:	4991

Tracks

1. Eruption
2. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
3. Runnin' With the Devil
4. Dance the Night Away
5. And the Cradle Will Rock...
6. Unchained
7. Jump
8. Panama
9. Why Can't This Be Love
10. Dreams
11. When It's Love
12. Poundcake
13. Right Now
14. Can't Stop Lovin' You
15. Humans Being
16. Can't Get This Stuff No More
17. Me Wise Magic

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Van Halen   Primary Artist
Eddie Van Halen   Primary Artist,Guitar,Keyboards,Percussion,Synthesizer,Piano (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Steve Lukather   Guitar
David Lee Roth   Vocals
Sammy Hagar   Vocals,Guitar (Rhythm),Vocals (Background)
Alex Van Halen   Drums,Percussion,Vocals (Background)
Michael Anthony   Bass,Guitar (Bass),Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Gene Meros   Second Engineer,Engineer
Lee Herschberg   Engineer
Michael Scott   Engineer,Mixing Engineer
Peggy McCreary   Engineer
Ken Deane   Engineer,Second Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Stine Schyberg   Art Direction
Joan Parker   Coordination
Corey Bailey   Engineer
Jo Motta   Coordination
Ted Templeman   Mixing Engineer,Producer
Chris Bellman   Remastering,Mastering Engineer,Digital Remastering,Remastering Engineer
Eddie Van Halen   Composer,Lyricist,Producer
Erwin Musper   Engineer
David Lee Roth   Composer,Lyricist,Producer
Van Halen   Producer
Jim Fitzpatrick   Engineer
Sammy Hagar   Composer,Lyricist,Producer
Ray Davies   Composer
Mick Jones   Producer
Mike Plotnikoff   Engineer
Mike Fraser   Mixing Engineer
George Marino   Mastering Engineer
Alex Van Halen   Composer,Lyricist,Producer
Bruce Fairbairn   Producer
Gary LeMel   Musician
Glen Ballard   Producer
Donn Landee   Engineer,Producer
Andy Johns   Engineer,Producer,Mixing Engineer
Kent Nebergall   Engineer
Gregg Geller   Mastering Engineer
Bobby Hata   Mastering Engineer
Michael Anthony   Composer,Lyricist,Producer
Michael Llewellyn   Photography
Beth Naranjo   Coordination
Logan Jervis   Engineer
Joan Vallejo   Coordination