Best of Volume I
Encyclopedia
Best of Volume I is the first compilation of studio tracks by American
hard rock
band Van Halen
, released in 1996
.
In addition to material from nine of the band's first ten studio albums (nothing from Diver Down
was included), Best of Volume I also features the band's contribution to the Twister soundtrack ("Humans Being
") and two newly recorded songs with original vocalist David Lee Roth
("Can't Get This Stuff No More
" and "Me Wise Magic
"). These two songs were released as singles to promote the Best Of compilation.
Initial pressings of the album contained an alternate edit of "Runnin' with the Devil
" where the verses, chorus and solos were arranged in a different order than that of the original album version. It was reported that this was accidental and subsequent pressings have replaced this version with the one found on Van Halen
. However, some radio stations still play this erroneous version of the song.
The album itself, while not controversial, sparked a great deal of in-band controversy because of the personnel issues surrounding the band at the time. Sammy Hagar
, who by this time had been a member of Van Halen for 11 years, equal to the amount of time as the previous vocalist, David Lee Roth, left the band in June 1996 due to a number of unclear circumstances. Some sources reported that Hagar was dissatisfied with the decision to issue a "greatest hits" collection, and was instead more inclined to do an entirely new album of new material. In either case, the band announced that Hagar had left the band and the band was instead working with David Lee Roth on new material for inclusion on the disc. This was not to last, as Roth and Edward clashed publicly and the band once again was without a lead singer, before hiring Gary Cherone
. http://www.vanhalenfaq.com/biography.php All songs except "Humans Being", "Can't Get This Stuff No More", and "Me Wise Magic" are included on The Best of Both Worlds
.
† denotes a single
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
band Van Halen
Van Halen
Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
, released in 1996
1996 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1996.-January:* January – At the trial of two American teenagers, Nicholaus McDonald and Brian Bassett, for the murder of Bassett's parents and young brother, defense lawyers attempt to lay the blame for the murders on the fact...
.
In addition to material from nine of the band's first ten studio albums (nothing from Diver Down
Diver Down
Diver Down is the fifth studio album by American hard rock band Van Halen, released in 1982. It spent 65 weeks on the US album charts and had, by 1998, sold four million copies in the US.-Background:...
was included), Best of Volume I also features the band's contribution to the Twister soundtrack ("Humans Being
Humans Being
"Humans Being" is a song recorded and contributed by the rock band Van Halen for the film, Twister. The song's lyrics proved a major source of contention, as Eddie Van Halen felt compelled to rewrite Sammy Hagar's lyrics, calling them "cheesy"...
") and two newly recorded songs with original vocalist David Lee Roth
David Lee Roth
David Lee Roth is an American rock vocalist, songwriter, actor, author, and former radio personality. Roth was ranked nineteenth by Hit Parader on their list of the 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Singers of All Time....
("Can't Get This Stuff No More
Can't Get This Stuff No More
"Can't Get This Stuff No More" is a song on American hard rock band Van Halen's 1996 compilation Best of Volume I. The song was one of two new songs recorded exclusively for the album . "Can't Get This Stuff No More" is also Eddie Van Halen's first and only use of the Heil Talk Box...
" and "Me Wise Magic
Me Wise Magic
"Me Wise Magic" is a song by Van Halen that first appeared on the compilation album Best of Volume I. It was recorded in 1996 during the band's brief reunion with original vocalist David Lee Roth along with another new track, "Can't Get This Stuff No More". The song reached #1 on the Mainstream...
"). These two songs were released as singles to promote the Best Of compilation.
Initial pressings of the album contained an alternate edit of "Runnin' with the Devil
Runnin' With the Devil
"Runnin' with the Devil" is a rock song and the first track from Van Halen's 1978 eponymous debut album. The song lyrics were inspired by the Ohio Players song "Runnin' from the Devil". In 2009 it was named the 9th greatest hard rock song of all time by VH1....
" where the verses, chorus and solos were arranged in a different order than that of the original album version. It was reported that this was accidental and subsequent pressings have replaced this version with the one found on Van Halen
Van Halen (album)
Van Halen is the debut studio album by American rock band Van Halen, released in February 1978.- History :Recorded in 1977, Van Halen sold over 10 million copies in the US alone, becoming one of the most successful debuts by a rock band. Along with 1984, it gives Van Halen two original albums with...
. However, some radio stations still play this erroneous version of the song.
The album itself, while not controversial, sparked a great deal of in-band controversy because of the personnel issues surrounding the band at the time. Sammy Hagar
Sammy Hagar
Sam Roy "Sammy" Hagar , also known as The Red Rocker, is an American rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Also sings Country Music....
, who by this time had been a member of Van Halen for 11 years, equal to the amount of time as the previous vocalist, David Lee Roth, left the band in June 1996 due to a number of unclear circumstances. Some sources reported that Hagar was dissatisfied with the decision to issue a "greatest hits" collection, and was instead more inclined to do an entirely new album of new material. In either case, the band announced that Hagar had left the band and the band was instead working with David Lee Roth on new material for inclusion on the disc. This was not to last, as Roth and Edward clashed publicly and the band once again was without a lead singer, before hiring Gary Cherone
Gary Cherone
Gary Francis Caine Cherone is an American rock singer-songwriter. He is best known for his work with the rock group Extreme, as well as his short stint as the lead singer for Van Halen on their 11th album Van Halen III and subsequent tour. In recent years he has released solo recordings. In 2007,...
. http://www.vanhalenfaq.com/biography.php All songs except "Humans Being", "Can't Get This Stuff No More", and "Me Wise Magic" are included on The Best of Both Worlds
The Best of Both Worlds (Van Halen album)
The Best of Both Worlds is a greatest hits album by American hard rock band Van Halen, released in 2004. The title references both their song of the same name, and the fact that the album has songs from their two main vocalists David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar...
.
Track listing
- "Eruption" – 1:42 (Michael AnthonyMichael AnthonyMichael Anthony Sobolewski , known professionally as Michael Anthony, is an American musician who is currently the bass player in the rock supergroup Chickenfoot...
, David Lee RothDavid Lee RothDavid Lee Roth is an American rock vocalist, songwriter, actor, author, and former radio personality. Roth was ranked nineteenth by Hit Parader on their list of the 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Singers of All Time....
, Eddie Van HalenEddie Van HalenEdward Lodewijk "Eddie" Van Halen is a Dutch-American guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter and producer, best known as the lead guitarist and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...
, Alex Van HalenAlex Van HalenAlexander Arthur "Alex" Van Halen is a Dutch-born American musician, best known as the drummer and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen. Originally, his brother Eddie had taken lessons for drums, while Alex practiced guitar...
)- (from Van HalenVan Halen (album)Van Halen is the debut studio album by American rock band Van Halen, released in February 1978.- History :Recorded in 1977, Van Halen sold over 10 million copies in the US alone, becoming one of the most successful debuts by a rock band. Along with 1984, it gives Van Halen two original albums with...
, 1978)
- (from Van Halen
- "Ain't Talkin' 'bout LoveAin't Talkin' 'Bout Love"Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love" is a song by Van Halen, from their 1978 eponymous debut album.When Eddie Van Halen originally wrote the song a year before the album was released, he did not consider it good enough to show his bandmates....
" – 3:47 (Anthony, Roth, Van Halen, Van Halen)- (from Van HalenVan Halen (album)Van Halen is the debut studio album by American rock band Van Halen, released in February 1978.- History :Recorded in 1977, Van Halen sold over 10 million copies in the US alone, becoming one of the most successful debuts by a rock band. Along with 1984, it gives Van Halen two original albums with...
, 1978)
- (from Van Halen
- "Runnin' with the DevilRunnin' With the Devil"Runnin' with the Devil" is a rock song and the first track from Van Halen's 1978 eponymous debut album. The song lyrics were inspired by the Ohio Players song "Runnin' from the Devil". In 2009 it was named the 9th greatest hard rock song of all time by VH1....
" – 3:32 (Anthony, Roth, Van Halen, Van Halen)- (from Van HalenVan Halen (album)Van Halen is the debut studio album by American rock band Van Halen, released in February 1978.- History :Recorded in 1977, Van Halen sold over 10 million copies in the US alone, becoming one of the most successful debuts by a rock band. Along with 1984, it gives Van Halen two original albums with...
, 1978)
- (from Van Halen
- "Dance the Night Away" – 3:04 (Anthony, Roth, Van Halen, Van Halen)
- (from Van Halen IIVan Halen II-Personnel:*David Lee Roth - lead vocals*Eddie Van Halen - electric and acoustic guitars, backing vocals*Michael Anthony - bass guitar, backing vocals*Alex Van Halen - drums-Production:*Producer: Ted Templeman...
, 1979)
- (from Van Halen II
- "And the Cradle Will Rock...And the Cradle Will Rock..."And the Cradle Will Rock..." is a song written and performed by Van Halen. It appears on their 1980 album Women and Children First. It was the only single off the album. It is also the first song released by the band that featured the keyboard playing of Eddie Van Halen. The distortion added to...
" – 3:31 (Anthony, Roth, Van Halen, Van Halen)- (from Women and Children First, 1980)
- "UnchainedUnchained (song)"Unchained" is a song from Van Halen's fourth album, Fair Warning. Guitarist Eddie Van Halen wrote the main riff at 4:00 in the morning with engineer Donn Landee while they were doing some overdubbing on the album. The song features prominent use of the MXR M-117 flanger, which became a popular...
" – 3:27 (Anthony, Roth, Van Halen, Van Halen)- (from Fair WarningFair Warning (Van Halen album)Fair Warning is the fourth studio album by American hard rock band Van Halen. Released in 1981, it sold more than two million copies, but was still the band's slowest-selling album of the David Lee Roth era...
, 1981)
- (from Fair Warning
- "JumpJump (Van Halen song)"Jump" is a song by the American rock group Van Halen. It is the only single the group released in their career to reach number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It was released in 1984 as the second track on the album 1984...
" – 4:04 (Anthony, Roth, Van Halen, Van Halen)- (from 19841984 (Van Halen album)1984 is the sixth studio album by American hard rock band Van Halen. One of the band's more popular albums , 1984 is to date the final album featuring singer David Lee Roth before he left the band in the spring of the following year.-Background and recording:Eddie Van Halen,...
, 1984)
- (from 1984
- "PanamaPanama (song)"Panama" is a song from Van Halen's album 1984. It was the third single released from that record and is one of their most recognized songs.-Background:...
" – 3:31 (Anthony, Roth, Van Halen, Van Halen)- (from 19841984 (Van Halen album)1984 is the sixth studio album by American hard rock band Van Halen. One of the band's more popular albums , 1984 is to date the final album featuring singer David Lee Roth before he left the band in the spring of the following year.-Background and recording:Eddie Van Halen,...
, 1984)
- (from 1984
- "Why Can't This Be LoveWhy Can't This Be Love"Why Can't This Be Love" is a song by Van Halen, off the album 5150, the band's first with lead singer Sammy Hagar, who had replaced founding member David Lee Roth in late 1985...
" – 3:45 (Anthony, Sammy HagarSammy HagarSam Roy "Sammy" Hagar , also known as The Red Rocker, is an American rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Also sings Country Music....
, Van Halen, Van Halen)- (from 51505150 (album)5150 is the seventh studio album by American hard rock band Van Halen, released in 1986 through Warner Bros. Records. The album was the first to be recorded with new lead singer Sammy Hagar who replaced David Lee Roth....
, 1986)
- (from 5150
- "DreamsDreams (Van Halen song)"Dreams" is a song by Van Halen released in 1986 from the album 5150. It was the second single from that album, and it reached #22 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart that year...
" – 4:54 (Anthony, Hagar, Van Halen, Van Halen)- (from 51505150 (album)5150 is the seventh studio album by American hard rock band Van Halen, released in 1986 through Warner Bros. Records. The album was the first to be recorded with new lead singer Sammy Hagar who replaced David Lee Roth....
, 1986)
- (from 5150
- "When It's LoveWhen It's Love"When It's Love" is a song recorded by Van Halen. It was released as a single from their album OU812. It was the most popular song from that album, hitting #1 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks charts and #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song has been a live performance staple since it was...
" – 5:36 (Anthony, Hagar, Van Halen, Van Halen)- (from OU812OU812OU812 is the 8th studio album by American hard rock band Van Halen, released in 1988. The album title is allegedly a joke on Van Halen's previous lead singer David Lee Roth's 1986 album Eat 'Em and Smile . However, "OU812" was also seen in the 70s sitcom Taxi written on a wall...
, 1988)
- (from OU812
- "PoundcakePoundcake"Poundcake" is a Van Halen song and the opening track on their 1991 album For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge. "Poundcake" was the first song to be released as a single from the album making #1 on U.S. Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart and #74 in the UK Singles Chart.-Song characteristics:It is a double...
" – 5:22 (Anthony, Hagar, Van Halen, Van Halen)- (from For Unlawful Carnal KnowledgeFor Unlawful Carnal KnowledgeFor Unlawful Carnal Knowledge is the ninth studio album by American hard rock band Van Halen, released in 1991 through Warner Bros. Records. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart and maintained the position for three weeks...
, 1991)
- (from For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
- "Right NowRight Now (Van Halen song)"Right Now" is a rock song written by the group Van Halen for their album For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge. The song reflects on living for the moment and not being afraid of making a change. Vocalist Sammy Hagar has said that he was writing the lyrics to this song at the studio very late one night,...
" – 5:21 (Anthony, Hagar, Van Halen, Van Halen)- (from For Unlawful Carnal KnowledgeFor Unlawful Carnal KnowledgeFor Unlawful Carnal Knowledge is the ninth studio album by American hard rock band Van Halen, released in 1991 through Warner Bros. Records. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart and maintained the position for three weeks...
, 1991)
- (from For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
- "Can't Stop Lovin' YouCan't Stop Lovin' You"Can't Stop Lovin' You" is a song by American hard rock band Van Halen. It was released in 1995 as the third single from Balance.The song was written by all members of Van Halen and is about everlasting love and friendship...
" – 4:08 (Anthony, Hagar, Van Halen, Van Halen)- (from BalanceBalance (Van Halen album)Balance is the 10th studio album by American hard rock band Van Halen. It was released in 1995 and, to date, is the fourth and final Van Halen album of all-new material featuring lead singer Sammy Hagar. It was also a more complete divergence from their earlier, more heavy metal sound...
, 1995)
- (from Balance
- "Humans BeingHumans Being"Humans Being" is a song recorded and contributed by the rock band Van Halen for the film, Twister. The song's lyrics proved a major source of contention, as Eddie Van Halen felt compelled to rewrite Sammy Hagar's lyrics, calling them "cheesy"...
" – 5:14 (Anthony, Hagar, Van Halen, Van Halen)†- (from Twister movie soundtrack, 1996)
- "Can't Get This Stuff No MoreCan't Get This Stuff No More"Can't Get This Stuff No More" is a song on American hard rock band Van Halen's 1996 compilation Best of Volume I. The song was one of two new songs recorded exclusively for the album . "Can't Get This Stuff No More" is also Eddie Van Halen's first and only use of the Heil Talk Box...
" – 5:16 (Anthony, Roth, Van Halen, Van Halen)†- (new song, 1996)
- "Me Wise MagicMe Wise Magic"Me Wise Magic" is a song by Van Halen that first appeared on the compilation album Best of Volume I. It was recorded in 1996 during the band's brief reunion with original vocalist David Lee Roth along with another new track, "Can't Get This Stuff No More". The song reached #1 on the Mainstream...
" – 6:09 (Anthony, Roth, Van Halen, Van Halen)†- (new song, 1996)
† denotes a single
Personnel
- David Lee RothDavid Lee RothDavid Lee Roth is an American rock vocalist, songwriter, actor, author, and former radio personality. Roth was ranked nineteenth by Hit Parader on their list of the 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Singers of All Time....
– lead vocalSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
s, producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
(1-8,16-17) - Sammy HagarSammy HagarSam Roy "Sammy" Hagar , also known as The Red Rocker, is an American rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Also sings Country Music....
– lead vocals, rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
, producer (9-15) - Eddie Van HalenEddie Van HalenEdward Lodewijk "Eddie" Van Halen is a Dutch-American guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter and producer, best known as the lead guitarist and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...
– lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
, keyboardKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
s, backing vocalBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
s - Michael Anthony – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocals, producer - Alex Van HalenAlex Van HalenAlexander Arthur "Alex" Van Halen is a Dutch-born American musician, best known as the drummer and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen. Originally, his brother Eddie had taken lessons for drums, while Alex practiced guitar...
– drumDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
s, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, producer - Ted TemplemanTed TemplemanTed Templeman is an American record producer.-Career:He began his career in the mid 1960s in the Santa Cruz area as a drummer in a band called The Tikis. At the suggestion of Lenny Waronker, the group decided to change their name. Harpers Bizarre was born in 1966, with Templeman switching to...
– producer - Don LandeeDon LandeeDonn Landee is an American record producer and recording engineer. Much of his work as an engineer has been done with producer Ted Templeman. The pair worked with a wide variety of artists for Warner Bros. Records during the 1970s and 1980s. Landee is probably most notable for his work on Van...
– engineerAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
, producer - Mick JonesMick Jones (Foreigner)Michael Leslie "Mick" Jones is an English guitarist, songwriter, and record producer best known as the founding member of the rock band Foreigner.-Life and career:...
– producer - Andy JohnsAndy JohnsAndy Johns is an engineer and producer who worked on well-known rock albums such as Led Zeppelin's IV and The Rolling Stones' Exile on Main Street. His sound is exemplified by Free's album Highway, which he engineered and produced....
– producer - Bruce FairbairnBruce FairbairnBruce Earl Fairbairn was a Canadian musician and international record producer from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He was active as a producer from 1976 to 1999 and is considered one of the best of his era...
– producer - Erwin Musper – engineer
- Glen BallardGlen BallardGlen Ballard is an American songwriter and record producer, best known for co-writing and producing Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill , which won Grammy Award for "Best Rock Album", and "Album of the Year" amongst others, and is ranked by the Rolling Stone amongst The 500 Greatest Albums of...
– producer
Album
| Chart (1996) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Top 50 Albums | 11 |
| Austrian Top 75 Albums | 16 |
| Canadian Top Albums | 1 |
| Finnish Top 50 Albums | 3 |
| German Albums | 7 |
| Netherlands Top 100 Albums | 12 |
| New Zealand Top 50 Albums | 2 |
| Norwegian Top 40 Albums | 36 |
| Swedish Top 60 Albums | 19 |
| Swiss Top 100 Albums | 26 |
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
45 |
| US Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
1 |
| Chart (2002) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Catalog Albums Top Pop Catalog Albums Top Pop Catalog Albums is a fifty-position weekly albums chart produced by Billboard magazine which ranks the best selling catalog titles, regardless of genre. Billboard defines a catalog title as one that is more than eighteen months old and that has fallen below position 100 on the Billboard 200... |
21 |
| Chart (2008) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Hard Rock Albums | 18 |
Singles
Billboard (North America)| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | "Humans Being Humans Being "Humans Being" is a song recorded and contributed by the rock band Van Halen for the film, Twister. The song's lyrics proved a major source of contention, as Eddie Van Halen felt compelled to rewrite Sammy Hagar's lyrics, calling them "cheesy"... " |
Mainstream Rock Tracks | 1 |
| 1996 | "Me Wise Magic Me Wise Magic "Me Wise Magic" is a song by Van Halen that first appeared on the compilation album Best of Volume I. It was recorded in 1996 during the band's brief reunion with original vocalist David Lee Roth along with another new track, "Can't Get This Stuff No More". The song reached #1 on the Mainstream... " |
Mainstream Rock Tracks | 1 |
| 1997 | "Can't Get This Stuff No More Can't Get This Stuff No More "Can't Get This Stuff No More" is a song on American hard rock band Van Halen's 1996 compilation Best of Volume I. The song was one of two new songs recorded exclusively for the album . "Can't Get This Stuff No More" is also Eddie Van Halen's first and only use of the Heil Talk Box... " |
Mainstream Rock Tracks | 12 |