Advantages: Good quantity/ quality
Disadvantages: Confusing tracklist

...Not many bands sum up good time rock n roll better than Van Halen, Their mix of cheeky lyrics and innovative music videos coupled with the undoubted talent of the members of the band ensured them massive succsess and a reputation as a "cool" band to like. This hits package gives a fairly accurate account of most of Van Halens famous songs, obviously some fans would point to certain omissions but as a whole this ticks most boxes. Van Halen when they burst onto the scene consisted of guitarist Eddie Van Halen, drummer Alex Van Halen, bass player Michael Anthony, and singer David Lee Roth. This line up often dubbed "Classic Van Halen" rode high on the back of meat and potatoes rock songs punctuated with Eddie Van Halens virtuoso guitar technique and David Lee Roths hugley charismatic stage presence. This era is well represented... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Good collection of their hits.
Disadvantages: Can get v. repetitive and drab.

...Well this double CD beast of a release from the 70’s and 80’s rocks legends contains 36 tracks of their greatest hits; with 3 live version of some of their most famous songs. Some of these tracks are even previously unreleased tracks too, so there is something to keep any fan happy! 2h 35min and 26 seconds of value for money! 01 – Eruption A blindingly fast and furious opener. It is his trademark tapping soloing work, the tune although not fantastic is enjoyable. 02 – It’s about time Opens with a damn cool metal sounding riff, which almost doesn’t sound like Van Halen at all until the singing starts. This is one of the tracks previously unreleased, and its pleasantly good, not too different from the classics, but it shows they still have it. Overall a big thumbs up! 03 – Up for breakfast Starting off with a weird pulsating... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: All the awesome classics from the band
Disadvantages: Less quirkiness to the album

...I absolutely adore Van Halen. Their music is inspiring, eveything about them just shows that with a little hard work, you can acheive anything. Eddie van Halen has to be one of the most amazing guitarists of all time, introducing tapping to the scene, something that had NEVER been done before. Dave Lee Roth, the wild child, full of inspiration and constantly causing crazy happenings. They're a team of guys just out to show everyone that their music is great. And it is. When this album came out I wasn't too excited, because I don't normally go for 'greates hits' albums, they're too cliche. I like to appreciate bands for their quirky hits. But this album is hard to stay away from. Van Halens classics are just unbeatable, so having them on one album is just perfect. there's 'eruption' for people with a desire to hear the solo that rocked... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Great selection of VH Videos. Well produced
Disadvantages: No Extras

...Released in 2000, this DVD features good quality, Van Halen music videos spanning the bands career. All 3 singers are featured, being Roth, Van Hagar, and the very brief time of Gary Cherone. The best year featured has to be 1984. All the classics ('Jump', 'Panama', and 'The Cradle will rock'.) These songs made Van Halen who they are. Eddie Van Halen can be seen fooling around in 'Jump' and 'Hot For Teacher' along with Dave. The DVD run time is just over an hour, and I feel that playing it through a good system really enhances the music - giving me deeper understanding of how and why the song was written. I was a little disappointed to not find any additional menus on the DVD with extras or pictures. This is only a minor pickup from me though. It is the videos that are important. This is a classic band - The DVD... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Brilliant
Disadvantages: none

...Van Halen's impact on rock music should not be underestimated. Guitarist Eddie Van Halen influenced guitar playing possibly more than any other player in history using his two hand tapping technique and virtuoso approach. He also revolutionised the way guitars are built and set up. Couple this with lead singer David Lee Roth's hugely engaging persona and energetic style and you had a recipe for massive success. Van Halen changed the direction of rock music, gone were pondering "epics" of the prog rock scene or depressing heavy metal lyrics and in was good time songs about partying, and girls delivered in an accessible way. This accessibility brought more women into the fan base; rock on the whole was still a mans world. Van Halen didn't hate the world and had a good time, this helped inspire a new wave of music, and the hard rock scene... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Heavy rock at it's most extreme-as far as music goes anyway. all round talent
Disadvantages: None I can think of but it might annoy the neighbours esp if they like hip-hop.

...I purchased this album back in 1979 on vinyl, having never heard of the Van Halen back then, it was by complete fluke I heard a track called "Eruption". I've never heard anything like it before of since-the most heavy awesome guitar solo of all time! Well, a little history about Van Halen of the top of my head. Originaly started off as : DAVID LEE ROTH: Vocals EDDIE VAN HALEN: Lead Guitar ALEX VAN HALEN: Drums and Percussion MICHAEL ANTHONY: Bass Guitar and the line-up which is featuerd on this debut album. Well, Van Halen used to be named Mammoth, supported Kiss in the States in 1977, changed their name to that of the surname of the Lead Guitarist and Drummer (yes they are brothers...), and were selling out 6000 seater venues before finally landing a record deal with Warner Brothers. Well IMO Van Halen... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: A must have Van Halen album,memorable
Disadvantages: none

...I can remember picking this album up at a car boot sale in about 1989 along with OU812, van halen 2 and Loud and clear by Sammy Hagar who would later join Van Halen replacing then frontman David Lee Roth. I couldn't wait to get my newly aquired vinyl home. I dont think i had heard any Van Halen up to that point. What a treat my ears were in for. Right from the first of the 11 tracks you get a dose of Eddies great tone and guitar wizardry. I really couldnt believe this album was realeased in 1978 cause this album was keeping up with anything i was listening to at this point. Running with the devil gets things running and is followed by the famous Eddie Van Halen solo by the name of Eruption. Its more of an example in how to set a standard few will reach than a solo. It wasnt even really supposed to be on the album but the record... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: not really bad
Disadvantages: not really good

...This album of US-Hardrockers Van Halen is the last one with shouter Sammy Hagar, who has been replaced by Ex-“Extreme”-Singer Gary Cherone on “Van Halen III” in 1998. The rest of Van Halen consists, as we are used to, of Eddi Van Halen on guitar, Michael Anthony on bass and Alex Van Halen an drums. “Balance” does not fit it’s name, because nothing is really balanced on this CD. The length of 53 minutes is filled with VH-typical partyrock, mainstream – tunes for airplay, real Hard Rock songs and some slow ballads. Van Halen remain themselves, everyone has to decide by him/herself, if this is good or not. “Balance” is far from being a must-have. “The Seventh Seal” is a quite representative Van Halen – Rocker, the riff is well known. “Can’t Stop... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Fun song, great solo
Disadvantages: a bit commercial

...Can i raise a practical question at this point? No, not "are we doing stonehenge tommorrow", but why is Jump registered under albums by Van Halen? It was on their album '1984', and should be in the singles category. Anyway, since its here i'll give it a review anyway. There are 2 main things that put people off this song. The first thing is that people think it's too commercial. Well, i suppose it is. I won't be the only Van Halen fan annoyed