Van Halen
Live: Right Here, Right Now
© Warner Bros.
December 15 - 21, 2024
Year of Release: 1993
Rating:
Disc One:
Poundcake
Judgement Day
When It's Love
Spanked
Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
In 'N' Out
Dreams
Man On A Mission
Ultra Bass
Pleasure Dome/Drum Solo
Panama
Love Walks In
Runaround
Disc Two:
Right Now
One Way To Rock
Why Can't This Be Love
Give To Live
Finish What Ya Started
Best Of Both Worlds
316
You Really Got Me/ Cabo Wabo
Won't Get Fooled Again
Jump
Top Of The World
See how this album ranks...
The Complete WSVNRadio Album Archive History List
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
purchase CD's from
Hear a song from this album as part of our Podcast Station! Click on the logo below
|
Van Halen returns with the Live: Right Here, Right Now release, from 1993. By this time in 1993, Sammy Hagar
was the permanent lead singer for Van Halen. With the 2-disc Live album, there were the obvious songs that featured
Sammy from their previous studio releases. What's also (interesting) to hear, are the songs that original lead singer
David Lee Roth sang, yet it's Sammy on vocals. So the question is: Were the DLR songs meant to be left alone, or did
Sammy do a good (or better) job in covering those DLR songs?
Disc One: The live albums begins with two songs there were originally from For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (with
Sammy) - "Poundcake" and "Judgement Day." (Truthfully, there were only two songs that I thought that really
stood out, and both of those songs are included in this live album; they are both on Disc 2 of this album. "When It's
Love" (from OU812 (with Sammy) - is truly one of the best songs recorded during the "Van Hagar" era. Even the
live version is just as great as the original studio version. Originally from For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge,
"Spanked" is next live track. Just as the previous two tracks from Carnal, they are all Sammy-induced songs,
rocking in Sammy style.
The next live track was orginally from the Van Halen debut, with David Lee Roth - "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout
Love," as that DLR vs SH question arrives... Actually, Sammy does quite well on this VH/DLR classic. A deep cut,
originally from the Canal album, it's another cool Sammy rocker - "In 'N' Out." "Dreams" (from the
5150 album (with Sammy), is also another great tune from the "Van Hagar" era - the intro piano sounds kind of weak,
yet it kicks into the greatness of how the studio version was/is. It's a little faster than the original studio version,
so the studio version would have to be the better of the two. Although, Sammy and VH rocks it, live. And, another deep
cut orignally from Carnal, rocking in Sammy style, "Man On A Mission." "Ultra Bass" features the bass solo
by VH original bassist, Michael Anthony. And the Alex Van Halen drum solo is on "Pleasure Dome/Drum Solo." "Pleasure
Dome" was another original track from the Carnal studio album.
"Panama" (originally from 1984 with DLR) - Sammy rocks it, just as well as DLR did. (Sammy tells a whole
different spoken story as DLR did, towards the end of the song - Sammy tells the audience "Right Now," as it referred to
the song of the same name, from the Carnal album.) Another great "Van Hagar" tune from 5150 is next,
"Love Walks In." And, just as great as the studio version was, so is the live version. Ending the first disc is
another original Carnal track - "Runaround." (I do remember the original studio version getting radio
airplay.)
Disc Two: "Right Now" (from the Carnal album) leads off the live second disc. The studio track, as well
as "Top Of The World" (the last live track on Disc 2), were the two standouts from the For Unlawful Carnal
Knowledge. (The video of "Right Now" was another great highlight.) Oh, and the original album title were the
first letters of each word in what would be the final title; the original title was rejected, of course. (Figure it out...)
The live version of "Right Now" is just as powerful as it's original. "One Way To Rock" was originally from
the Sammy Hagar solo album, Standing Hampton. Since Sammy had a successful solo career before he joined Van Halen,
it's great to hear his "new band" cover his solo material. Actually, Sammy's solo material is different than Van Halen,
however, he has always rocked in his own way, whether it be on his own before, during, and after Van Halen. "One Way
To Rock" proves that. "Why Can't This Be Love" (originally from 5150). and another great song from the
"Van Hagar" era, and another great song live. "Give To Live" (from Sammy's solo I Never Said Goodbye),
slows down the pace from all the previous rocking songs, and it's a good way to "mellow out" a bit. Sammy can sing a ballad
just as good as he can rock it out.
"Finish What Ya Started" is not only one of the best "Van Hagar" tunes, but it's one of the best songs from
OU812. It's always been a catchy tune, and Van Halen was always good at having classic rock tunes, and catchy
tunes, from both the DLR and "Van Hagar" eras. "Best Of Both Worlds" (originally from 5150 [deep cut]} is
next; Rockin' Sammy. "316" (orignally from Carnal) showcases Eddie Van Halen's great solo guitar work.
"You Really Got Me/Cabo Wabo" (originally from Diver Down [with DLR] / OU812) - DLR did the Kinks
classic remake originally, and Sammy does it well. However, DLR gets the final vote on the better of the two. "Cabo
Wabo" - Sammy would form a future band, called Sammy Hagar & The Wabos. Many bands and artist who have performed live,
have had their takes on Rock's past songs and the artists that made them famous. Van Hagar does their take on The Who's
classic, "Won't Get Fooled Again" - a great cover by Van Halen, and one of Rock's most greatest tunes. "Jump"
(originally from 1984 with DLR) - once again, Sammy does a good job with the most popular song in the career of Van
Halen. "Top Of The World" (originally from Carnal), ends the live album, and another great song heard live.
Both the DLR and Hagar eras were exceptional, and both singers defined their own "Eras" for Van Halen. It's hard to
believe that Eddie Van Halen is no longer with us (he passed away in 2020, age 65). Van Halen left behind a great legacy
of great Rock music. Whether it be David Lee Roth, Sammy Hagar, Gary Cherone (one album), they all defined Van Halen as
one of Rock's greatest bands. Was the DLR era better than the "Van Hagar" era? Some would say the original DLR era was
best; despite the differences between Roth and his fellow bandmates, Sammy Hagar defined his own style and era with Eddie,
Michael, and Alex. Both David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar toured together as "Sam & Dave." Now, there was an odd couple...
The Live: Right Here, Right Now defines Sammy Hagar at his finest in concert, along with the other band members
of Van Halen, showing that they can perform live in an exceptional manner. I'm not big on live albums, but this Live
album is quite good. Of course, there were far more Sammy tunes throughout the set on this album. It was great to hear
Sammy's takes on Van Halen songs that were originally recorded with David Lee Roth. He did them all extremely well.
There is a DVD of this live album, with additional songs (two) that were not on the CD release. Relive Van Halen in their
live and exceptional perforances. Thank you, Eddie, and all you created with your band, Van Halen. You will never be
forgotten.
© 2024 WSVNRadio.net. All rights reserved.
Review or any portion may not be reproduced
without written permission. Cover art is the
intellectual property of Shady/Interscope Records
and is used for reference purposes only
|