October 30, 1996

VAN HALEN'S Best of Volume 1, released on October 22, has entered the Billboard "Top 100" Retail Album chart at number one! With over one million copies shipped in America, the "Best of" has sold over 233,000 copies in its first week alone. It is the band's fifth studio album in a row to reach the top position on the Billboard charts -- a 10 year string of consecutive #1's which began with 5150 and continued through OU812, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, and Balance.

The album's lead single, "Me Wise Magic" is one of two new tracks which VAN HALEN recorded specifically for the "Best of," and is currently the #1 track at rock radio in America, with over 213 stations across the country and over 5000 spins a week.

The band's outstanding retail chart number is also only the third time a greatest hits package has debuted at #1 on Billboard since Soundscan's inception in 1991.