Van Halen began a new chapter 40 years ago with the release of 5150, the first album featuring the lineup of Sammy Hagar, Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, and Michael Anthony. 5150 marked the band’s first #1 album with hits like Why Can’t This Be Love, Dreams, and Best Of Both Worlds and continued their streak of multi-Platinum releases.
Rhino will release 5150 (Expanded Edition) on March 27th, just days after the album’s 40th anniversary. The LP/3CD/Blu-ray collection includes the 1986 album remastered directly from the original master tapes, overseen by the band’s longtime engineer Donn Landee. Additionally, an Amazon-exclusive green vinyl version will be available the same day.
The set also introduces more than 90 minutes of previously unreleased live recordings from the band’s August 27th, 1986 concert at New Haven Veterans Memorial Coliseum in New Haven, Connecticut. These are joined by a selection of rare 7” single edits and extended 12” versions. The Blu-ray includes a new high-definition upgrade of Live Without a Net, Van Halen’s double-Platinum 1986 concert video that was also recorded that same August night in New Haven, along with promotional videos for Dreams and Why Can’t This Be Love. Pre-order here.
Standalone versions of 5150 featuring the remastered album and rarities will also be available the same day as a 2CD set or a 2LP on black vinyl. Ahead of the release, the live version of Summer Nights from the New Haven show is available today digitally, along with the HD remastered video (see below) and listen here.
Van Halen recorded 5150 at Eddie’s 5150 Studios in California beginning in late 1985. Released on March 24, 1986, the album debuted at the top of the Billboard 200, becoming the band’s first #1 release. It quickly became one of the best-selling albums of Van Halen’s career, earning 6x Platinum certification in the U.S., and was followed by the extensive and highly successful 5150 Tour. On stage, the new lineup focused on new material like Love Walks In,Best Of Both Worlds, and Get Up, while still delivering early VH favorites like Panama and Ain’t Talkin’ ’Bout Love.
5150 (Expanded Edition):
LP/3CD/Blu-ray Track Listing
LP: Original Album Remastered
Side One:
- Good Enough
- Why Can’t This Be Love
- Get Up
- Dreams
- Summer Nights
Side Two:
- Best Of Both Worlds
- Love Walks In
- 5150
- Inside
Disc One: Original Album Remastered
- Good Enough
- Why Can’t This Be Love
- Get Up
- Dreams
- Summer Nights
- Best Of Both Worlds
- Love Walks In
- 5150
- Inside
Disc Two:
- Best Of Both Worlds (Single Edit)
- Dreams (Single Edit)
- Love Walks In (Single Edit)
- Why Can’t This Be Love (Extended Version)
- Dreams (Extended Version)
- Best Of Both World (Live)
- Rock And Roll (Live)
- Love Walks In (Live)
Disc Three
New Haven Veteran Memorial Coliseum, New Haven, CT (8/27/86)
- There’s Only One Way To Rock
- Summer Nights
- 5150
- Panama
- Best Of Both Worlds
- Love Walks In
- Guitar Solo
- I Can’t Drive 55
- Ain’t Talkin’ ’Bout Love
- Wild Thing
- Why Can’t This Be Love
- Rock And Roll
Blu-ray:
Live Without a Net (HD Upgrade)
Dreams (Promo Video)
Why Can’t This Be Love (Promo Video)
5150:
2LP Track Listing
LP One:
Side One:
- Good Enough
- Why Can’t This Be Love
- Get Up
- Dreams
- Summer Nights
Side Two:
- Best Of Both Worlds
- Love Walks In
- 5150
- Inside
LP Two:
Side One:
- Best Of Both Worlds (Edit)
- Dreams (Edit)
- Love Walks In (Edit)
- Why Can’t This Be Love (Extended Version)
- Dreams (Extended Version)
Side Two:
- Best Of Both Worlds (Live)
- Rock And Roll (Live)
- Love Walks In”(Live)
5150:
2CD Track Listing
Disc One:
- Good Enough
- Why Can’t This Be Love
- Get Up
- Dreams
- Summer Nights
- Best Of Both Worlds
- Love Walks In
- 5150
- Inside
Disc Two:
- Best Of Both Worlds (Edit)
- Dreams (Edit)
- Love Walks In (Edit)
- Why Can’t This Be Love Extended Version)
- Dreams (Extended Version)
- Best Of Both Worlds (Live)
- Rock And Roll (Live)
- Love Walks In (Live)
15 Responses
Hello again Dana!
I’m going to come right out and say it: I can’t stand DLR.
I have the albums he’s on – but I bought them to hear Eddie play (and Michael and Alex for that matter).
The first album is fantastic – I can even stand the vocals on that one. After that…..sorry, but unless I can remove the ‘Ego’, I can’t listen to them. (I don’t care for Diver Down by the way).
I also don’t really care much for the showmanship side of things. With Sammy, who didn’t jump around or do gimmicks, you had a proper musician. He could sing, he could play guitar (even duelled with Eddie live) and he could write lyrics and was able to work with others. It’s true what some others here have said: Eddie was the one who changed the band’s sound and direction – because he wrote all the music!
I don’t care how many albums DLR sold compared to Sammy with the band, for me (and others are going to disagree I know) but the Sammy era was the better of the two.
Cue the backlash…..!!!!! :()
Hello my British Bud,
As a woman, sometimes what the frontman looks like matters, and to some women (not me), that is all that matters.
Since Roth was the first long haired frontman I was attracted to (and at 12 I was confused about it, because he looked sort of like a woman with a hairy chest (lol)), Roth holds a special place in my heart.
While Hagar has better pipes, and GREAT TEETH, when he first joined Van Halen, I thought he looked like Side Show Bob from The Simpsons-LOL!
A couple of parallels regarding Van Halen, hear me out.
Black Sabbath & Van Halen:
Both bands move on from original singer, continue major success with replacements Dio & Hagar.
Discarded singers Ozzy & Roth form new bands, Blizzard Of Oz & DLR Band, and come out of the gate smokin’
Def Leppard & Van Halen:
Both bands go from hard rock to more pop friendly/commercially successful music in the mid-80’s.
I was a huge Sammy Hagar fan before he joined VH, and still am to this day. I felt it was a great fit at that time. The whole 80’s music genre was fantastic and so influential to me. I’m thankful for both versions of Van Halen, each one excellent in their own way.
MM, I agree with you 100%!!
I think I don’t get into these things because I don’t play CDs anymore and I don’t take the time for Blu-ray or DVDs. I do get into the vinyl.