The Best of Both Worlds (Van Halen album)

The Best of Both Worlds is a compilation album by the American hard rock band Van Halen, released in 2004. It is notable for being the first compilation to span Van Halen's entire career, including material from both the David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar eras, as well as the brief Gary Cherone era.

The album features a selection of the band's most popular songs, along with three newly recorded tracks with Sammy Hagar: "It's About Time," "Up for Breakfast," and "Learning to See." These new songs were the first recordings featuring Hagar since 1996's Best Of – Volume I.

The album's title, "The Best of Both Worlds," is also the name of a Van Halen song from their 1986 album, 5150, which was the first album featuring Sammy Hagar as the lead vocalist. The title itself is generally interpreted as a reference to the band's different lineups and eras, aiming to showcase the highlights from each period.

The release of The Best of Both Worlds was accompanied by a tour featuring Sammy Hagar alongside Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, and Michael Anthony. This reunion tour was highly anticipated by fans and proved to be commercially successful. However, tensions within the band ultimately led to further changes in the lineup in subsequent years.

The compilation album is considered a good starting point for listeners interested in exploring Van Halen's extensive discography, offering a broad overview of their musical evolution and enduring appeal across different vocalists and musical styles.