If you're looking for a gift for a new (or maybe even an old) Van Halen fan, Rhino has you covered in March with the release of the band's first six albums in one package.
The Studio Albums 1978-1984 is a no-frills package of VH's first great era, all the albums released with original vocalist David Lee Roth at the helm. Featuring the now-immortal six-string styles of Eddie Van Halen, the devastating rhythm section of bassist Michael Anthony and drummer Alex Van Halen and the clean production of Ted Templeman, this box is a crash course in killer pop-rock, from the strains of "Eruption" to MTV-ready hits "Jump," "Panama" and "Hot for Teacher," plus classic covers of The Kinks ("You Really Got Me"), Roy Orbison ("Pretty Woman") and Martha Reeves and The Vandellas ("Dancing in the Street").
Roth, of course, famously went solo shortly after 1984; Sammy Hagar famously took the vocal reins until 1996, when Roth returned for a greatest-hits package. Gary Cherone of Extreme sang on one album, Van Halen III (1998), and Hagar took them through another round of touring (and another hits set) from 2003 to 2005, after which he and Anthony both left the band. In 2006, Roth returned with new bassist Wolfgang Van Halen (Eddie's son) to tour the world; in 2012, this lineup released a new album, A Different Kind of Truth. (WHEW!)
All discs in the package are presumably sourced from Chris Bellman's digital remasters from 2000, so if you've got those, you've probably no reason to upgrade. But if somehow you've gone this long without owning these? Then a) What the heck, I thought we were pals, and b) get them now! The box is available March 26 in the U.S. and February 25 in the U.K. - pre-order it here (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.).
The Studio Albums 1978-1984 (Warner Bros./Rhino, 2013)
Disc 1: Van Halen (originally released as Warner Bros. LP BSK 3075, 1978)
Disc 2: Van Halen II (originally released as Warner Bros. LP HS 3312, 1979)
Disc 3: Women and Children First (originally released as Warner Bros. LP HS 3415, 1980)
Disc 4: Fair Warning (originally released as Warner Bros. LP HS 3540, 1981)
Disc 5: Diver Down (originally released as Warner Bros. LP BSK 3677, 1982)
Disc 6: 1984 (originally released as Warner Bros. LP 23985, 1984)
Release Round-Up: Week of October 6
Right Now: Van Halen's Second Phase Gets Remastered for New Box Set
Sit Down, I Think I Love You: Rhino's RSD Lineup Includes Grateful Dead, Dio, Stevie Nicks, Todd Rundgren, Madonna, and More "Nuggets"
Eruption: Mobile Fidelity Reissues First Six Van Halen Albums on Hybrid SACD, One-Step Vinyl
Is it going to be packaged like the Rush Sectors boxset with all the discs in mini lp sleeves with a booklet? That would be great along with a DVD of vintage live performances and a disc of the Gene Simmons demos. Now that would be an awesome VH boxset!
More likely, this will just be the discs in card sleeves with no booklet, no liner notes, etc. Warner put out similar boxes for Madonna, Green Day, etc.
And Chicago...and Joni Mitchell...and...
Bare bones packaging of already available masters/remasters in lightweight cardboard sleeves with no liner notes or booklet to speak of. A cheap and easy way to fill in a gap in your collection, but not a replacement for anything you already own by any means.
Suprisingly, the Joni Mitchell set had gatefold covers!