The Best Of Both Worlds

What can I say? The Best of the Best of Van Hallen. I purchased this for my 15 year old nephew to introduce him to what Rock is all about and he loves it. Can't go wrong with this one!

THIS COLLECTION IS OKAY,I JUST THINK IT'S MISSING ALOT OF THE CLASSICS,SUCH AS ICE CREAM MAN,TOP JIMMY,GIRL GONE BAD, YOU KNOW THE CLASSICS.......

I used to own this a couple of years ago,but I became immediately dissatisfied with the fact that the band never kept its promise of releasing "Best of Van Halen vol.2". There are 36 songs here and the worst songs are the embarassing three new songs that the band recorded with Sammy.Another complaint is the essay included which has very poor photographs and uninspired writing.I believe that a band with such a loyal following owes its many fans over the years a lot more than this... What adds insult to injury is the fact that the three awful songs that introduce this compilation force the listener to press "skip" all the time. So,I guess, let's wait for the next Van Halen reunion of some sorts and the complimentary compilation with three new songs:"Best of the Best volume 3". Next time, just make them the last three tracks...

Van Halen has released the definitive greatest hits collection here. I'm still waiting for a new studio album from Van Halen with David Lee Roth. Sammy Hagar is a fitting substitue. I'm surprised Gary Cherone didn't last longer in the band.

My favorite Van Halen songs:

1. Jump
2. Panama
3. Can't Stop Lovin' You
4. Not Enough
5. Runaround
6. Top of the World
7. hot for teacher
8. love walks in
9. when it's time for love
10. poundcake

Van Halen has released a must-have collection here and let's hope a new album gets released soon!!!

I stopped listening to VH after For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, which I thought was a disappointing album - indulgent and overblown. (I loved OU812 and 5150)

Picking up where I left off over 10 years ago - the Best of Both Worlds is a good collection to both discover and re-discover the band - minus the clunkers.

The 3 new songs are for the most part, pretty good. Eddie's chops are still monstrous. However, I think Van Hagar has run its course almost, and the guys will have to dig deep down if they're going to top themselves (and if they ever re-unite).

But back to the collection. I agree with some reviewers that it's a schizophrenic line-up. I stand in the Van Hagar camp more than the David Lee Roth camp - and intercutting the two tracks kinda works sometimes, and sometimes not. Still, with the CD button - these issues are not a big deal. Doing a chronological song line-up would've been boring.

The main thing about hearing the two singers side by side is how Eddie's guitar - the great constant of the band - has remained the great rudder throughout even though the songs themselves hold up, and sometimes not. Most striking is how Eddie's guitarwork (for me anyways) hits its streamlined stride once the 1984 album was produced - more polished and sophisticated. His versatility continues to amaze and impress, even while the songwriting has not progressed in the same vein.

I also noted that Sammy Hagar lost his variety after the OU812 album - for one reason - his bellowing voice tries to match the power of Eddie's guitar - with mixed results. While Roth played off Van Halen's guitar rather than trying to match it - Hagar gets into a powerplay which doesn't define the melody lines that his voice brought into the band's first two Hagar era albums.

People have criticised the band's foray into keyboards and synths. Ironically, I think some of VH's best tracks - Jump, Dreams, Love Walks In - are absolutely made with keyboards. And note how Hagar's voice dovetails nicely with these tracks. Somehow, going straight ahead on the guitar path has perhaps done the boys in.

Eddie should probably do a Joe Satriani at some point or find new collaborators to work with. It's time.

But enjoy this collection anyways - when all is said and done, Van Halen rocked as well as any other band on their best day.

PS - they ignored Gary Cherone - for shame. And yest, David Lee Roth did deserve a picture in there dammit.