Van Halen To Release New Box Set Highlighting Sammy Hagar Era

Van Halen will release a new boxed set this fall spotlighting the era featuring singer Sammy Hagar.

The upcoming set includes newly remastered versions of four multi-platinum studio albums, along with a selection of rarities recorded between 1989 and 2004.

The Collection II will be available on October 6 on 5 LPs for $124.98 and 5 CDs for $49.98. Both versions are available for pre-order at https://vh.lnk.to/TheCollectionII.

All the music in the set was mastered directly from the original master tapes, overseen by the band’s longtime engineer, Donn Landee.

Studio Rarities 1989-2004, an exclusive compilation that assembles eight gems from the Hagar era, includes “Crossing Over,” the B-Side to Balance‘s “Can’t Stop Lovin’ You,” and the band’s only non-album B-side.

The compilation boasts other exceptional highlights, including the band’s cover of Little Feat‘s “A Apolitical Blues” and the instrumental “Baluchitherium,” which were originally left off the vinyl versions of OU812 and Balance, respectively.

Additionally, the set features two songs the band contributed to the Twister soundtrack – “Humans Being” and the Grammy-nominated “Respect The Wind.” Rounding out the set are “It’s About Time,” “Up For Breakfast,” and “Learning To See,” which were recorded during the band’s temporary reunion with Hagar in 2004.

“These records were recorded before (without) ProTools or digital recording: it was analog on real to reel tape recorders,” said Hagar. “There’s a very special sound to that type of recording. We were careful not to destroy any of that, but to re-master with more modern technical equipment to bring out that wonderful magical sound. Where do you hear this stuff!? It’s never sounded better.”

(Photo: Rhino)