Van Halen’s 1995 album, Balance, was released 30 years ago this past January. Balance was the band’s 10th studio effort overall, and the last of its four albums featuring singer Sammy Hagar.
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To commemorate the album’s 30th anniversary, an expanded version will be released on August 15. Balance (Expanded Edition) will feature two LPs, two CDs, and Blu-ray. The deluxe collection will include the 2023 remaster of the original album, as well as rare tracks and music videos. Among the bonus tracks are several previously unreleased live performances from a June 1995 concert at Wembley Stadium in London.
[RELATED: 3 Highlights From Van Halen’s Last Album With Sammy Hagar]
A live version of the Balance song “The Seventh Seal” from the Wembley Stadium show has been made available as an advance digital track from the reissue.
The other rare recordings included in the deluxe set are the B-side “Crossing Over,” and two songs from the soundtrack of the 1996 film Twister—“Humans Being” and “Respect the Wind.”
The Blu-ray features restored promotional videos for several songs from Balance, including “Can’t Stop Lovin’ You,” “Amsterdam,” and “Not Enough.” A previously unreleased live video of Van Halen performing “The Seventh Seal” in Minneapolis in July 1995 also appears on the disc.
The two LPs feature remastered versions of Balance’s 12 tracks, as well as an etching on one side of the second disc. The reissue marks the first time that the album will be available on vinyl in 30 years.
Balance (Expanded Edition) can be pre-ordered now. You can check out an unboxing video for the collection at the Rhino label’s official YouTube channel.
More About the Balance Reissue
Standalone two-CD and two-LP versions of the Balance reissue also will be released on August 15. The two-CD set will include the remastered album and the aforementioned rarities.
The two-LP collection will be available on standard black vinyl and limited-edition orange vinyl.
More About Balance
Released on January 24, 1995, Balance topped the Billboard 200 for a week in February of that year. It was Van Halen’s fourth consecutive album to reach No. 1 on the chart.
Balance was recorded amid tensions between Hagar and the Van Halen brothers that led to the Red Rocker’s departure from the group in 1996.
The album included the hit “Can’t Stop Lovin’ You,” which reached No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart.
Balance also featured “Don’t Tell Me (What Love Can Do),” which topped Billboard’s Mainstream Rock tally. Another song, “Amsterdam,” peaked at No. 9 on that chart.
Meanwhile, the Balance track “The Seventh Seal” was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Hard Rock Performance category.
In 2004, the album was certified triple platinum by the RIAA for sales of more than 3 million copies in the U.S.
Balance (Expanded Edition) CD and Blu-ray Track List:
CD One: 2023 Remaster
- “The Seventh Seal”
- “Can’t Stop Lovin’ You”
- “Don’t Tell Me (What Love Can Do)”
- “Amsterdam”
- “Big Fat Money”
- “Strung Out”
- “Not Enough”
- “Aftershock”
- “Doin’ Time”
- “Baluchitherium”
- “Take Me Back (Déjà Vu)”
- “Feelin’”
CD Two
- “Crossing Over”
- “Humans Being”
- “Respect the Wind”
Live at Wembley Stadium, London, England (June 24, 1995) - “The Seventh Seal”*
- “Feelin’”*
- “Ain’t Talkin’ ’Bout Love”*
- Guitar Solo*
- “You Really Got Me”*
- “When It’s Love”*
- “Jump”*
- “Right Now”*
Blu-ray
“Don’t Tell Me (What Love Can Do)” – Promo Video
“Can’t Stop Loving You” – Promo Video
“Amsterdam” – Promo Video
“Not Enough” – Promo Video
“The Seventh Seal” – Live at Target Center, Minneapolis, MN (July 30, 1995) =*
“Humans Being” – Promo Video
* = previously unreleased.
(Photo by Randee St. Nicholas/©Warner Music Group)
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