Van Halen – The Collection II (2023 Remaster) (2023) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Van Halen – The Collection II (2023 Remaster) (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 03:49:08 minutes | 5,00 GB | Genre: Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Rhino – Warner Records

They really should have changed the name to Van Hagar.

Regardless of your opinion on whether Sammy Hagar improved or diminished the quality of Van Halen’s music after replacing David Lee Roth as frontman—and, truly, there is no middle ground on this issue—there is no question that the band’s music was substantially different in those two eras. Eddie Van Halen’s guitar sound is different (less “brown sound”). Alex Van Halen’s drum sound is different (simultaneously fussier and less interesting). Michael Anthony is lost in the mix. The production approach is radically different (more congested and cold, far less live-sounding). It’s all just … different and this decidedly unique listening experience also resulted in a decidedly unique cultural experience. The Roth albums are, despite (or because of) their thorough immaturity and occasional stupidity, held closely to the hearts of millions of people, and that lineup of Van Halen means something to a great many rock fans. The Hagar era was, like its mid-’80s-to-early-’90s milieu, far more lucrative but also more professionalized and less personal. Hagar’s albums hit multi-platinum status within months of their releases and the band was hurling singles to the top of the charts throughout the four-album run (yes, even Balance had a Top 40 hit). Still, it’s safe to say that far fewer people love any of those albums as much as even the most casual fan of Diver Down does. That delta of “meaningfulness” could be what accounts for this remastered set of Hagar-era albums coming nearly a decade after the Roth albums were remastered and packaged up in a hi-res Collection, but whatever the reason for the delay has been, it’s fair to say (even for those with no love for the Hagar years) that this set is long overdue. Hearing these albums presented together does provide some new perspective on what Hagar gave the band, collects a handful of rare tracks from the era, and, more importantly, gives a much-needed sonic overhaul to albums like 5150 and OU812 that suffered from thin digital masters that did little to burnish their reputations. – Jason Ferguson

Tracklist:
1-01. Van Halen – Good Enough (2023 Remaster) (04:04)
1-02. Van Halen – Why Can’t This Be Love (2023 Remaster) (03:47)
1-03. Van Halen – Get Up (2023 Remaster) (04:36)
1-04. Van Halen – Dreams (2023 Remaster) (04:53)
1-05. Van Halen – Summer Nights (2023 Remaster) (05:03)
1-06. Van Halen – Best of Both Worlds (2023 Remaster) (04:48)
1-07. Van Halen – Love Walks In (2023 Remaster) (05:10)
1-08. Van Halen – 5150 (2023 Remaster) (05:43)
1-09. Van Halen – Inside (2023 Remaster) (05:01)
2-01. Van Halen – Mine All Mine (2023 Remaster) (05:14)
2-02. Van Halen – When It’s Love (2023 Remaster) (05:39)
2-03. Van Halen – A.F.U. (Naturally Wired) (2023 Remaster) (04:30)
2-04. Van Halen – Cabo Wabo (2023 Remaster) (06:59)
2-05. Van Halen – Source of Infection (2023 Remaster) (04:01)
2-06. Van Halen – Feels So Good (2023 Remaster) (04:31)
2-07. Van Halen – Finish What Ya Started (2023 Remaster) (04:25)
2-08. Van Halen – Black And Blue (2023 Remaster) (05:26)
2-09. Van Halen – Sucker in a 3 Piece (2023 Remaster) (05:52)
3-01. Van Halen – Poundcake (2023 Remaster) (05:12)
3-02. Van Halen – Judgement Day (2023 Remaster) (04:38)
3-03. Van Halen – Spanked (2023 Remaster) (04:52)
3-04. Van Halen – Runaround (2023 Remaster) (04:21)
3-05. Van Halen – Pleasure Dome (2023 Remaster) (06:57)
3-06. Van Halen – In ‘N’ Out (2023 Remaster) (06:04)
3-07. Van Halen – Man on a Mission (2023 Remaster) (05:03)
3-08. Van Halen – The Dream Is Over (2023 Remaster) (03:59)
3-09. Van Halen – Right Now (2023 Remaster) (05:21)
3-10. Van Halen – 316 (2023 Remaster) (01:29)
3-11. Van Halen – Top of the World (2023 Remaster) (03:54)
4-01. Van Halen – The Seventh Seal (2023 Remaster) (05:18)
4-02. Van Halen – Can’t Stop Lovin’ You (2023 Remaster) (04:07)
4-03. Van Halen – Don’t Tell Me (What Love Can Do) (2023 Remaster) (05:55)
4-04. Van Halen – Amsterdam (2023 Remaster) (04:45)
4-05. Van Halen – Big Fat Money (2023 Remaster) (03:57)
4-06. Van Halen – Doin’ Time (2023 Remaster) (01:44)
4-07. Van Halen – Aftershock (2023 Remaster) (05:27)
4-08. Van Halen – Strung Out (2023 Remaster) (01:29)
4-09. Van Halen – Not Enough (2023 Remaster) (05:12)
4-10. Van Halen – Take Me Back (Déjà Vu) (2023 Remaster) (04:42)
4-11. Van Halen – Feelin’ (2023 Remaster) (06:35)
5-01. Van Halen – A Apolitical Blues (2023 Remaster) (03:51)
5-02. Van Halen – Baluchitherium (2023 Remaster) (04:05)
5-03. Van Halen – Crossing Over (2023 Remaster) (05:05)
5-04. Van Halen – Respect the Wind (2023 Remaster) (05:47)
5-05. Van Halen – Humans Being (2023 Remaster) (05:08)
5-06. Van Halen – It’s About Time (2023 Remaster) (04:15)
5-07. Van Halen – Up for Breakfast (2023 Remaster) (04:58)
5-08. Van Halen – Learning to See (2023 Remaster) (05:16)

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