The Best of Both Worlds (Van Halen album)

The Best of Both Worlds is the second greatest hits album by American hard rock band Van Halen, released on July 20, 2004 on Warner Bros. The compilation features material recorded with lead vocalists David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar, but omitting Gary Cherone's three-year tenure with the band. Prior to The Best of Both Worlds' release, Hagar reunited with Van Halen, and the band subsequently recorded three new tracks to include on the release. All three new songs were released as singles.

The Best of Both Worlds
Greatest hits album by Van Halen
Released	July 20, 2004
Recorded	1977–1994, 2004
Genre	Hard rock, heavy metal
Length	156:57
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Van Halen
Van Halen chronology
Van Halen III (1998) The Best of Both Worlds (2004) A Different Kind of Truth (2012)
Singles from The Best of Both Worlds
"It's About Time" Released: July 2004 "Up for Breakfast" Released: August 2004 "Learning To See" Released: November 2004

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Entertainment Weekly	B[2]
Rolling Stone	[3]

Debuting at #3 in the US,[4] the album was subsequently followed by a reunion tour, and certified Platinum. It is the last Van Halen album to feature contributions from Michael Anthony and Hagar.

Background

The compilation features 16 tracks taken from the six David Lee Roth era albums (1978–1984), and 14 from the four Sammy Hagar era albums (1986–1995), plus three live songs with Hagar from Live: Right Here, Right Now (1993), and three new songs with Hagar made for the compilation. The album was released in promotion of the new reunion tour featuring Hagar returning as lead singer. The three new songs were also performed live at various times.

Michael Anthony did not play bass guitar for the three new songs, although he did provide backing vocals for them. Anthony was not an official band member at that point and the songs were already recorded before he rejoined. The bass guitar on the new songs was played by Eddie Van Halen.[5]

According to Anthony, the original plans involved one disc dedicated to Roth and another to Hagar which would feature the three new songs, but problems while negotiating with Roth led to the track listing on the released album.[5]

Track listing

Disc one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Eruption" (from Van Halen, 1978)	Michael Anthony, David Lee Roth, Alex Van Halen, Eddie Van Halen	1:43
2.	"It's About Time"	Sammy Hagar, A. Van Halen, E. Van Halen	4:15
3.	"Up for Breakfast"	Hagar, A. Van Halen, E. Van Halen	4:57
4.	"Learning to See"	Hagar, A. Van Halen, E. Van Halen	5:15
5.	"Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love" (from Van Halen)	Anthony, Roth, A. Van Halen, E. Van Halen	3:48
6.	"Finish What Ya Started" (from OU812, 1988)	Anthony, Hagar, A. Van Halen, E. Van Halen	4:24
7.	"You Really Got Me" (from Van Halen)	Ray Davies	2:38
8.	"Dreams" (from 5150, 1986)	Anthony, Hagar, A. Van Halen, E. Van Halen	4:53
9.	"Hot for Teacher" (from 1984, 1984)	Anthony, Roth, A. Van Halen, E. Van Halen	4:43
10.	"Poundcake" (from For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, 1991)	Anthony, Hagar, A. Van Halen, E. Van Halen	5:20
11.	"And the Cradle Will Rock..." (from Women and Children First, 1980)	Anthony, Roth, A. Van Halen, E. Van Halen	3:34
12.	"Black and Blue" (from OU812)	Anthony, Hagar, A. Van Halen, E. Van Halen	5:27
13.	"Jump" (from 1984)	Anthony, Roth, A. Van Halen, E. Van Halen	4:04
14.	"Top of the World" (from For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge)	Anthony, Hagar, A. Van Halen, E. Van Halen	3:54
15.	"(Oh) Pretty Woman" (from Diver Down, 1982)	William Dees, Roy Orbison	2:53
16.	"Love Walks In" (from 5150)	Anthony, Hagar, A. Van Halen, E. Van Halen	5:11
17.	"Beautiful Girls" (from Van Halen II, 1979)	Anthony, Roth, A. Van Halen, E. Van Halen	3:57
18.	"Can't Stop Lovin' You" (from Balance, 1995)	Anthony, Hagar, A. Van Halen, E. Van Halen	4:08
19.	"Unchained" (from Fair Warning, 1981)	Anthony, Roth, A. Van Halen, E. Van Halen	3:29
Total length:			78:33

Disc two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Panama" (from 1984)	Anthony, Roth, A. Van Halen, E. Van Halen	3:32
2.	"Best of Both Worlds" (from 5150)	Anthony, Hagar, A. Van Halen, E. Van Halen	4:49
3.	"Jamie's Cryin'" (from Van Halen)	Anthony, Roth, A. Van Halen, E. Van Halen	3:30
4.	"Runaround" (from For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge)	Anthony, Hagar, A. Van Halen, E. Van Halen	4:20
5.	"I'll Wait" (from 1984)	Anthony, Michael McDonald, Roth, A. Van Halen, E. Van Halen	4:42
6.	"Why Can't This Be Love" (from 5150)	Anthony, Hagar, A. Van Halen, E. Van Halen	3:48
7.	"Runnin' with the Devil" (from Van Halen)	Anthony, Roth, A. Van Halen, E. Van Halen	3:36
8.	"When It's Love" (from OU812)	Anthony, Hagar, A. Van Halen, E. Van Halen	5:38
9.	"Dancing in the Street" (from Diver Down)	Marvin Gaye, Ivy Hunter, William Stevenson	3:45
10.	"Strung Out"/"Not Enough" (from Balance)	Anthony, Hagar, A. Van Halen, E. Van Halen	6:48
11.	"Feels So Good" (from OU812)	Anthony, Hagar, A. Van Halen, E. Van Halen	4:32
12.	"Right Now" (from For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge)	Anthony, Hagar, A. Van Halen, E. Van Halen	5:22
13.	"Everybody Wants Some!!" (from Women and Children First)	Anthony, Roth, A. Van Halen, E. Van Halen	5:10
14.	"Dance the Night Away" (from Van Halen II)	Anthony, Roth, A. Van Halen, E. Van Halen	3:10
15.	"Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love" (from Live: Right Here, Right Now, 1993)	Anthony, Roth, A. Van Halen, E. Van Halen	4:43
16.	"Panama" (from Live: Right Here, Right Now)	Anthony, Roth, A. Van Halen, E. Van Halen	6:39
17.	"Jump" (from Live: Right Here, Right Now)	Anthony, Roth, A. Van Halen, E. Van Halen	4:20
Total length:			78:24

Notes

• Track 10 on disc two combines the instrumental "Strung Out" with "Not Enough", although it is shown on the album track list as simply "Not Enough". Both songs were listed as individual tracks on the Balance album.

Personnel

Van Halen

• Sammy Hagar – lead vocals on tracks 2–4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 on disc 1; 2, 4, 6, 8, 10–12, on disc 2, rhythm guitar, backing vocals
• Eddie Van Halen – lead guitar, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, keyboards, backing vocals, bass on tracks 2-4 on disc 1
• Michael Anthony – bass, except on tracks 2-4 on disc 1, backing vocals
• Alex Van Halen – drums, percussion

Additional musicians

• David Lee Roth – lead and backing vocals on tracks 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19 on disc 1; 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 13, 14 on disc 2[6]
• Steve Lukather – backing vocals on tracks 2–4, 14 on disc 1; 10 on disc 2

Production

• Compilation producer: Van Halen
• Engineer: Bill Malina (on new songs)
• Product manager: Kenny Nemes
• Project assistants: Hugh Brown, Tom Consolo, Malia Doss, Jimmy Edwards, Alan Fletcher, Kevin Gore, Bill Inglot, Joanne Jaworowski, Anna Loynes, Mark McKenna, David McLees, Scott Pascucci
• Mastering supervisor: Glen Ballard
• Remastering: Stephen Marcussen
• Editorial supervision: Cory Frye
• Art direction: Sara Cumings, Jeri Heiden
• Design: Sara Cumings, Jeri Heiden
• Photography: Kevin Westenberg
• Liner notes: David Wild
• Discographical annotation: Steve Woolard

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2004–07) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA)[7] 31 Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[8] 33 Canadian Albums (Billboard)[9] 2 Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[10] 25 Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[11] 4 French Compilations[12] 27 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[13] 28 Irish Albums (IRMA)[14] 56 Italian Albums (FIMI)[15] 34 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[16] 9 Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[17] 17 Scottish Albums (OCC)[18] 12 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[19] 12 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[20] 55 UK Albums (OCC)[21] 15 US Billboard 200[22] 3

Year-end charts Chart (2004) Position US Billboard 200[23] 166

Singles

Year	Single	Chart	Position
2004	"It's About Time"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	6
	"Up for Breakfast"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	33

Certification

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[24]	Platinum	1,000,000^^
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. The Best of Both Worlds at AllMusic
2. Entertainment Weekly review
3. Rolling Stone Review
4. "The Best of Both Worlds – Van Halen". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
5. Harrell, John "Shooter" (March 17, 2006). "MICHAEL ANTHONY Speaks Candidly About VAN HALEN's Past And Future". blabbermouth.net. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
6. Roth was not a member at the time of this release therefore belongs in additional personnel.
7. "Australiancharts.com – Van Halen – The Best Of Both Worlds". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
8. "Austriancharts.at – Van Halen – The Best Of Both Worlds" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
9. "Van Halen Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
10. "Danishcharts.dk – Van Halen – The Best Of Both Worlds". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
11. "Van Halen: The Best Of Both Worlds" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
12. "Les "Charts Runs" de chaque Album Classé". InfoDisc (in French). Archived from the original (PHP) on August 20, 2008. Find "VAN HALEN" under the drop-down menu to see statistics.
13. "Offiziellecharts.de – Van Halen – The Best Of Both Worlds" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
14. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Van Halen". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
15. "Italiancharts.com – Van Halen – The Best Of Both Worlds". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
16. "Charts.nz – Van Halen – The Best Of Both Worlds". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
17. "Norwegiancharts.com – Van Halen – The Best Of Both Worlds". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
18. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
19. "Swedishcharts.com – Van Halen – The Best Of Both Worlds". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
20. "Swisscharts.com – Van Halen – The Best Of Both Worlds". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
21. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
22. "Van Halen Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
23. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2004". Billboard. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
24. "American album certifications – Van Halen – The Best of Both Worlds". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH.