Customer Reviews

Van Halen: Video Hits, Vol. 1

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Only problem I have with this tape is you only get 3 David Lee Roth era videos!! I know they did mostly live videos before that, but Oh Pretty Woman would have been a bonus. You get 13 classic VH videos. VH once said when Sammy joined they could never top Dave in the video showman ship department. So why 10 Sammy videos guys? Still worth it for any VH fan!! Also be warned, if your after the "Dreams" video with the blue Angels in it, this does not have it. The version is the live version they released in the early 90s, live at the Wisky:( Hot For Teacher is my all time favorite video and it does have that!! Rock on!!!!!

I have learned a big lesson through the purchase of this video, some groups will show their fans respect and give them DTS with high quality video. Not the case here. This is simply a VHS version recorded to DVD. Not to brag but I could have done this in my basement and produced better quality. If you do not believe me, purchase this DVD then purchase the The Eagles - Hell Freezes Over. I guarantee you will want you money back.

These are excellent videos, well produced and filmed, and Van Halen is in top form on all of them. The first three are from the David Lee Roth era, who was lead singer back when brothers Eddie and Alex Van Halen started the group in the late '70s, along with Michael Anthony on bass. David is part acrobat/clown, part Vegas glitzy showman, and very entertaining with his athletic, campy humor; he's also a good vocalist for that type of material, backed by the solid musicianship of the group, and the guitar wizardry of Eddie.

Enter Sammy Hagar, replacing David in 1985, and giving the group a different style, with some of the material leaning towards serious subjects, stronger vocals ("When it's Love" is superb), and though it doesn't have the fun of the David era, it's equally lively. "Dreams" has the footage from the Whiskey-a-Go-Go, and the final song, "Humans Being", is also the last that Sammy recorded with the group, and it is part of the soundtrack for the hit movie "Twister".
Total running time is 1 hour.
Song list:
"Jump"
"Panama"
"Hot for Teacher"
"When it's Love"
"Finish What Ya Started"
"Poundcake"
"Right Now"
"Dreams"
"Don't Tell Me (What Love Can Do)"
"Can't Stop Lovin' You"
"Not Enough"
"Humans Being"

Although early VH was not well known for their videos (it is about the music first afterall), the couple gems they did have are here (with the exception of "Oh! Pretty Woman"). "Hot For Teacher" is one of the coolest videos ever! The latter VH started to get more into videos after the release of "5150". "When It's Love" is fantastic as is "Finish What Ya Started". Then the totally awesome tune "Poundcake" has a great vid, too. Plus the award winning video for "Right Now". "Balance" has some excellent videos, too (though "Amsterdam" was the best along side "Not Enough"). So overall I totally recommend this great collection to every VH fan, without question(in the up-coming release of this video on DVD there will be a bonus video, "Without You" from "Van Halen 3").

The disc kicks off with the old film lead that started "Jump" and keeps on rolling through the final icy scenes of "Without You." Every video is just like you remember, except for a new version of "Dreams" (featuring the 1993 suprise show at The Whiskey in Hollywood to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the VAN HALEN release).

The only knocks are: not enough Diamond Dave (the 1984 videos "Jump", "Panama" and "Hot For Teacher" are the only DLR on the disc); and no filler material (one video follows the next with no out-takes, behind-the-scenes shots or interviews).

On the plus side, the DVD version includes the only video featuring just-departed Gary Cherone. And like any DVD, the picture and sound blow away the VHS version of this release.

Well worth the discounted Amazon price, VIDEO HITS VOLUME I is a great addition to any Van Halen fan's collection.

OK, we all love the video's that Van Halen has pumped out thru the years and yes I did purchase this DVD, but this is missing some key elements. Did you know Ive seen videos/live clips for "Hear about it Later", "Unchained", "If this is Love", "Runnin With the Devil" "Eruption/You Really Got Me", "Jaimies Cryin", "Pretty Woman", "Im the One" and others just from MTV alone. I'm confused with the Van Halen archives. It seems that Warner Bro's is waiting until were all deceised until they release a good DLR erra DVD compilation or live show. Believe me, the bootlegged "Us Festival" I have is good, but I'm tired of dealing with dealers online and at record swaps for a taste of something that should be legally released from the industry pigs. Is there an answer in sight?

I was overall very impressed with the DVD, I am a big fan of the videos that first started MTV and would really like to see more. However my favorite video is "Dreams" with the Blue Angels and this is not on this DVD, there is a live coverage of them in downtown L.A with news coverage of the riot. It's not all bad just disappointed. So if you are looking for the same video I am this is not it!!!!

Even though the 78-84 era has few videos, there were a lot of mainstays on MTV: (Oh)Pretty Woman, Dance the Night Away, Unchained, and Hear About it Later. There have also been promo videos from 1978 for Jamie's Cryin', Running with the Devil, and You Really Got Me. There are also tons of live footage of that era of VH. Hagar has been covered in Live Without a Net and Right Here Right Now, but the Roth era exists in 10th gen bootlegs or the 3 videos on the DVD. It's not a comprehensive "greatest hits", and with some creative director, a more complete "hits" (and fix the sound!) could be released, doing it justice. Add the MTV "Lost Weekend", the US Festival portions, some commentary, and some eggs, it would be an awesome package. If you're a Hagar fan, give it 4 stars. If you're a VH or Classic VH fan, it's 2 stars.

This is a great DVD with some real Van Halen classics. I have one complaint though.....the main reason that I bought the DVD was for the 'Dreams' video with the Blue Angels. The 'Dreams' video on this DVD is from a live performance and NOT the one with the Blue Angels. Enjoy!

I absolutely dig Van Halen. So I definitely got my money's worth with this one! All of the original videos are great! But the main reason I bought it was because I really wanted to see the original "Dreams" (blue angel) video. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your perspective), they ran the 1993 version, which is cool in it's own way. Had I known, I wouldn't have been crushed... as it was, it is really a cool DVD. But I sure wish I could have gotten that original dreams video.