Van Halen - Video Hits - Vol. 1 [1996]

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Not enough DLR...far too much Hagar...a little Cherone..........2007-03-22

It`s always going to be tricky when a band has (at least up until now!) three changes of lead singer, and you really do get a sense of the massive changes in style that the band underwent with each switch.

Of course, anything with Eddie involved will always be loved by me, but the DVD is subconsciously divided into three parts - you have the Roth era, Van Hagar, and the very brief time with Gary Cherone. I don`t accept the wild criticism that Cherone took at the time of Van Halen III, it`s a decent album; and I think better than the lame 0U812 for example. Not even close to the quality of the first six VH albums, but then nothing in the history of music is. I really like the one Cherone song, "Without You", although I never like songs being reduced in time to suit video channels...it`s a better listen on the album at around six minutes. The video is sort of odd too, but it has it`s moments. I think this line-up could have gone somewhere.

The Sammy Hagar stuff is...well, it`s just no fun...I love "Poundcake", and some of the other songs with him...but it`s not because of him, it`s despite him singing...Eddie carried the band so much more between 1986-95 and you can be tricked into not realising how truly stinky Hagar`s lyrics were! The videos are pretty much done by numbers, especially "When It`s Love" and "Dreams". Nice to see "Humans Being" included, a song I like for two reasons; it`s great, and because it was the song that provoked Hagar`s leaving!

And now the real stuff, the DLR years. Well, the DLR year! 1984 is all there is, as though songs like "And The Cradle Will Rock", "Mean Street", "Dance The Night Away", "Runnin` With The Devil" and countless other absolute stellar platinum-plated classics didn`t exist. It`s lovely to see a young Eddie and Dave horsing around in "Jump", "Panama" and the fabulous "Hot For Teacher". They make this DVD an essential addition to any collection, but you can skip most of the middle unless you really fancy some unexceptional, almost AOR Hagar stuff with unoriginal videos. What it does do most of all is highlight how perfect the classic VH line-up was. How the legend was almost spoiled by Hagar. And how Cherone wasn`t that bad. But most of all, how desperately the world needs (egos and addictions permitting) rock`s most amazing guitarist and the best showman/singer duelling for the limelight.

A Good Selection...but could be improved.......2004-12-28

This is a good selection of Van Halen's music videos but I would have liked to see more stuff prior to '1984' here. Remember a DVD can contain loads of video, so why not fill it up with every music video they did? Don't get me wrong, all the gems are here ;'Jump','Panama','Hot For Teacher', 'Poundcake', 'Don't Tell Me (What Love Can Do)', but where is 'Jamie's Cryin','You Really Got Me', 'Pretty Woman', 'Feels So Good', 'Top Of The World', 'Amsterdam' (this may have been cut because of the drug related lyrics) and 'Fire In The Hole'? If my knowledge serves me correctly then including these would complete the collection. Surely it wouldn't have been too difficult to have included them?

Overall, a good collection, but more could have been included!

So Close...........2002-01-16

A pretty Good collection - which it should be noted are collected here by video merit as opposed to song merit (there is nothing that predates 1984 here). However, there is a progressive line and you can visibly see the band mellow and grow up, as their dress sense improves, their horsing around on stage calms down and even in the "Balance" days when they sport new short haircuts. The last two tracks Im not a fan of, Humans Being is a real change in style and Gary Cherone being allowed to join was never going to work. But other than that, no complaints at all, guitar genius at his very best

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