Van Halen - The Collection II (2023 Remaster) (2023) (Hi-Res)

THE COLLECTION II spotlights Van Halen’s second incarnation, with singer Sammy Hagar, guitarist Eddie Van Halen, drummer Alex Van Halen, and bassist Michael Anthony. The upcoming set includes newly remastered versions of four multi-platinum studio albums, along with a selection of rarities recorded between 1989 and 2004. All the music in the set was mastered directly from the original master tapes, a process overseen by the band’s longtime engineer, Donn Landee.

THE COLLECTION II is the long-awaited sequel to The Collection, a compilation released in 2015 that focused on the six studio albums recorded by the band’s original line-up, which featured singer David Lee Roth. THE COLLECTION II picks up where its predecessor left off and covers the four consecutive #1 albums released during the Hagar era: 5150 (1986), OU812 (1988), FOR UNLAWFUL CARNAL KNOWLEDGE (1991), and BALANCE (1995). THE COLLECTION II concludes with STUDIO RARITIES 1989-2004, an exclusive compilation that assembles eight gems from the Hagar era for the first time. Among these rarities is “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. All three debuted that year on Van Halen’s second greatest hits collection, THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS.

Tracklist
Disc: 1
1 Good Enough (2023 Remaster)
2 Why Can't This Be Love (2023 Remaster)
3 Get Up (2023 Remaster)
4 Dreams (2023 Remaster)
5 Summer Nights (2023 Remaster)
6 Best of Both Worlds (2023 Remaster)
7 Love Walks In (2023 Remaster)
8 5150 (2023 Remaster)
9 Inside (2023 Remaster)

Disc: 2
1 Mine All Mine (2023 Remaster)
2 When It's Love (2023 Remaster)
3 A.F.U. (Naturally Wired)[2023 Remaster]
4 Cabo Wabo (2023 Remaster)
5 Source of Infection (2023 Remaster)
6 Feels So Good (2023 Remaster)
7 Finish What Ya Started (2023 Remaster)
8 Black And Blue (2023 Remaster)
9 Sucker in a 3 Piece (2023 Remaster)

Disc: 3
1 Poundcake (2023 Remaster)
2 Judgement Day (2023 Remaster)
3 Spanked (2023 Remaster)
4 Runaround (2023 Remaster)
5 Pleasure Dome (2023 Remaster)
6 In 'N' Out (2023 Remaster)
7 Man on a Mission (2023 Remaster)
8 The Dream Is Over (2023 Remaster)
9 Right Now (2023 Remaster)
10 316 (2023 Remaster)
11 Top of the World (2023 Remaster)

Disc: 4
1 The Seventh Seal (2023 Remaster)
2 Can't Stop Lovin' You (2023 Remaster)
3 Don't Tell Me (What Love Can Do)[2023 Remaster]
4 Amsterdam (2023 Remaster)
5 Big Fat Money (2023 Remaster)
6 Doin' Time (2023 Remaster)
7 Aftershock (2023 Remaster)
8 Strung Out (2023 Remaster)
9 Not Enough (2023 Remaster)
10 Take Me Back (Déjà Vu)[2023 Remaster]
11 Feelin' (2023 Remaster)

Disc: 5
1 A Apolitical Blues (2023 Remaster)
2 Baluchitherium (2023 Remaster)
3 Crossing Over (2023 Remaster)
4 Respect the Wind (2023 Remaster)
5 Humans Being (2023 Remaster)
6 It's About Time (2023 Remaster)
7 Up for Breakfast (2023 Remaster)
8 Learning to See (2023 Remaster)