Listen to Sammy Hagar share some personal history around the release of Van Halen’s Balance album. This video was released today, on the 21st anniversary of the album.

“Although it is mixed with both dark and light, I am very proud of this album — the last great Van Halen record of all original material to hit #1!” —Sammy

Listen to the video above. And visit VHND’s Balance page for tons of great info and photos about the classic album.

Read more: http://www.vhnd.com/2016/01/24/sammy-hagar-on-the-21st-anniversary-of-van-halens-1-album-balance/#ixzz3yIQZR9Zm

I like the production on the album one of their best sounding albums I think.
Favourites are.

THE SEVENTH SEAL
DTM
AMSTERDAM
AFTERSHOCK
BALUCHITHEERIUM
TAKE ME BACK
FEELIN’

Maybe Sammy should be listening “Glory Days” by Springsteen! LOL!

I love love love this album. I think the guitar crunch is excellent. Also enjoyed the Seventh Seal seriousness, and Feelin’ – it was good to hear NON-party songs (like the superb Mine All Mine). Love this album!

I loved the Balance tour and album. I loved Dave and the era no doubt but something about that album and tour I loved. Ed’s sound was freaking incredibly HUGE and majestic. If you listen to any Balance era boots, Seventh Seal and ATBL were freaking amazing…..

Rob

Definitely the best sounding of the van hagar lot.

VAiN: Definitely the best sounding of the van hagar lot.

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An indirect but positive Sammy comment – I think hell just froze over!!

As much as I like Balance I thought 5150 was better. But thats just me.

videoman320: As much as I like Balance I thought 5150 was better. But thats just me.

I liked the energy and attitude of 5150 over Balance… but the production “sound quality” of 5150 was the worst Van Halen album, until Van Halen III.

I agree with jroundy. Overall I like 5150 better. The songs are just more classic, but the sound quality of balance is far superior.
Maybe the producer (Fairborn?) but more likely a product of the times. When listening to many albums I find that the mid nineties to early 2000s production quality is much better than other eras. Something started getting better than the past decade around 1994 but then went to crap again around 2002, mix and production wise that is.
There is something about Balance though that gives me a feeling of Fair Warning, for a Sammy album anyway.

jroundy: I liked the energy and attitude of 5150 over Balance… but the production “sound quality” of 5150 was the worst Van Halen album, until Van Halen III.

I believe that’s because about half of the album was slated for DLR. To me there’s a hard transition from the DLR slated tunes to the hagar originals. I’d love to hear the music from good enough with the lyrical treatment of yankee rose. I think that would work.

guitard: An indirect but positive Sammy comment – I think hell just froze over!!

The VHND tracks from the album without vocals were truly awesome.

VAiN: I believe that’s because about half of the album was slated for DLR. To me there’s a hard transition from the DLR slated tunes to the hagar originals. I’d love to hear the music from good enough with the lyrical treatment of yankee rose. I think that would work.

I’ve always thought the same thing Vain…. would love to hear Roth’s take on Good Enough, Summer Nights or even 5150…..

vhrob: I’ve always thought the same thing Vain…. would love to hear Roth’s take on Good Enough, Summer Nights or even 5150…..

I’ve always thought this as well. While we’re in wishful thinking mode, I would have liked Ed to have done those with his 1984 tour/Letterman/Farm Aid tone instead of the weak sound he got on the album.