This Week's R E V I E W ...

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

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    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.





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