On October 22, 1996, Van Halen released Best Of: Volume I, their first greatest-hits album, during what was perhaps the most tumultuous period in the band’s history.
The 17-track collection featured classics from both the David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar eras, along with three songs making their album debut.
Two brand-new recordings reunited the original Van Halen lineup with David Lee Roth for the first time since 1984: “Can’t Get This Stuff No More” and “Me Wise Magic.” The album also included “Humans Being,” the final song recorded and released by Van Halen with Sammy Hagar before his departure earlier that year.
The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and arrived amid enormous excitement and speculation about a full-fledged reunion with Roth. Those hopes reached a fever pitch when the original lineup appeared together at the 1996 MTV Video Music Awards. But the reunion quickly fell apart, and Gary Cherone was announced as Van Halen’s new singer the following month.
The story behind the album is explored in Morgan Brown’s book, Van Halen – Every Album, Every Song. Here’s Brown’s account of the compilation and the extraordinary circumstances surrounding its release:
From ‘Van Halen: Every Album, Every Song’ by Morgan Brown
In 1996, after years of resisting, the band finally released a ‘Best of’ compilation. Packaged in a sombre black sleeve, with no photos except a black and white shot of their practice space, it seemed perversely calculated to undersell Van Halen’s colourful legacy, giving no indication of the larger-than-life delights contained therein. The chronologically ordered tracklisting was largely as expected, although there were a few questionable decisions, such as the absence of anything from Diver Down. The real story of the album was the inclusion of two new recordings by the original line-up. According to Hagar, the plan had been to include new songs with both singers, a suggestion which hastened his departure. Dave, meanwhile, was keen to make peace with the band. His solo career had faltered in recent years, and he was happy to be asked to work on new material. Accounts of the abortive reunion vary. Eddie insisted he was very clear that Roth’s return was solely for this one-off recording project, while Dave felt that he and the public were led on by the possibility of a full-blown reunion. The press pushed the reunion speculation, although matters were complicated by leaked reports that the band were also auditioning other singers – a rumour later borne out by a leaked recording of them playing ‘Panama’ with Mitch Malloy in the summer of 1996.
Nevertheless, the band pressed on with publicity for the compilation, including an infamous appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards. Interviewers wanted to know what the future held for the band, and while Roth was enthusiastic, the Van Halen brothers were cagey, with a sullen Eddie refusing to commit to more than the two songs already recorded. Soon the whole thing fell apart as it became clear there were no long-term plans to continue with Roth, and several more years of very public bitterness ensued. In November 1996, former Extreme singer Gary Cherone, another client of manager Ray Danniels was announced as the new vocalist, having been quietly hired before the debacle with Roth unfolded.
Pick up Van Halen: Every Album, Every Song at Van Halen Store
Van Halen – Best Of: Volume I (1996)
Tracklisting:
- Eruption
- Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love
- Runnin’ with the Devil
- Dance the Night Away
- And the Cradle Will Rock…
- Unchained
- Jump
- Panama
- Why Can’t This Be Love
- Dreams
- When It’s Love
- Poundcake
- Right Now
- Can’t Stop Lovin’ You
- Humans Being
- Can’t Get This Stuff No More
- Me Wise Magic
Thirty years later, Best Of: Volume I remains a fascinating snapshot of Van Halen’s history, both musically and personally. What should have been a celebration of the band’s remarkable career instead became intertwined with one of its most controversial chapters.
Do you remember buying this CD in 1996? What did you think when you first heard the two new songs with Roth?