Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
About halfway through OU812—the beginning of "Source of Infection," to be exact—Van Halen explicitly nods to their past, with a slash-and-burn guitar/drums showcase that's all fire and flair and warm-blooded rock 'n' roll that sounds a whole lot like "Hot For Teacher" until the moment where Sammy Hagar chews his way into the scene with a weird "hey fellow teens, let's party" vibe that sounds like your dad singing Sweet's "Ballroom Blitz." It's simultaneously the best and worst moment on this odd, middling album. OU812 manages to contain two of the latter-day lineup's most iconic hits ("When It's Love" and "Finish What Ya Started") along with some of its strangest missteps (the languid and directionless "Black and Blue," the obnoxiously dumb "Cabo Wabo"). Thankfully, there are plenty of moments of dazzling instrumental brilliance that show that Eddie Van Halen was, ironically, playing at a creative and technical peak that unfortunately isn't matched by the bland corporate rock of the songwriting and the equally by-the-numbers approach of Hagar's vocals. © Jason Ferguson/Qobuz
More info
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From $10.83/month
Sammy Hagar, Lead Vocals, Writer - Alex Van Halen, Drums, Percussion, Writer - Eddie Van Halen, Keyboards, Writer, Lead Guitar, Background Vocals - Donn Landee, Recorded by - Bernie Grundman, MasteringEngineer - Van Halen, MainArtist - MICHAEL ANTHONY, Writer, Background Vocals, Bass
© 1988, 2023 Warner Records Inc., a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 1986, 2023 Warner Records Inc., a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved.
Sammy Hagar, Lead Vocals, Writer - Alex Van Halen, Drums, Percussion, Writer - Eddie Van Halen, Keyboards, Writer, Lead Guitar, Background Vocals - Donn Landee, Recorded by - Bernie Grundman, MasteringEngineer - Van Halen, MainArtist - MICHAEL ANTHONY, Writer, Background Vocals, Bass
© 1988, 2023 Warner Records Inc., a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 1986, 2023 Warner Records Inc., a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved.
Sammy Hagar, Lead Vocals, Writer - Alex Van Halen, Drums, Percussion, Writer - Eddie Van Halen, Keyboards, Writer, Lead Guitar, Background Vocals - Donn Landee, Recorded by - Bernie Grundman, MasteringEngineer - Van Halen, MainArtist - MICHAEL ANTHONY, Writer, Background Vocals, Bass
© 1988, 2023 Warner Records Inc., a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 1986, 2023 Warner Records Inc., a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved.
Sammy Hagar, Lead Vocals, Writer - Alex Van Halen, Drums, Percussion, Writer - Eddie Van Halen, Keyboards, Writer, Lead Guitar, Background Vocals - Donn Landee, Recorded by - Bernie Grundman, MasteringEngineer - Van Halen, MainArtist - MICHAEL ANTHONY, Writer, Background Vocals, Bass
© 1988, 2023 Warner Records Inc., a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 1986, 2023 Warner Records Inc., a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved.
Sammy Hagar, Lead Vocals, Writer - Alex Van Halen, Drums, Percussion, Writer - Eddie Van Halen, Keyboards, Writer, Lead Guitar, Background Vocals - Donn Landee, Recorded by - Bernie Grundman, MasteringEngineer - Van Halen, MainArtist - MICHAEL ANTHONY, Writer, Background Vocals, Bass
© 1988, 2023 Warner Records Inc., a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 1986, 2023 Warner Records Inc., a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved.
Sammy Hagar, Lead Vocals, Writer - Alex Van Halen, Drums, Percussion, Writer - Eddie Van Halen, Keyboards, Writer, Lead Guitar, Background Vocals - Donn Landee, Recorded by - Bernie Grundman, MasteringEngineer - Van Halen, MainArtist - MICHAEL ANTHONY, Writer, Background Vocals, Bass
© 1988, 2023 Warner Records Inc., a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 1986, 2023 Warner Records Inc., a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved.
Sammy Hagar, Lead Vocals, Writer - Alex Van Halen, Drums, Percussion, Writer - Eddie Van Halen, Keyboards, Writer, Lead Guitar, Background Vocals - Donn Landee, Recorded by - Bernie Grundman, MasteringEngineer - Van Halen, MainArtist - MICHAEL ANTHONY, Writer, Background Vocals, Bass
© 1988, 2023 Warner Records Inc., a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 1986, 2023 Warner Records Inc., a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved.
Sammy Hagar, Lead Vocals, Writer - Alex Van Halen, Drums, Percussion, Writer - Eddie Van Halen, Keyboards, Writer, Lead Guitar, Background Vocals - Donn Landee, Recorded by - Bernie Grundman, MasteringEngineer - Van Halen, MainArtist - MICHAEL ANTHONY, Writer, Background Vocals, Bass
© 1988, 2023 Warner Records Inc., a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 1986, 2023 Warner Records Inc., a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved.
Sammy Hagar, Lead Vocals, Writer - Alex Van Halen, Drums, Percussion, Writer - Eddie Van Halen, Keyboards, Writer, Lead Guitar, Background Vocals - Donn Landee, Recorded by - Bernie Grundman, MasteringEngineer - Van Halen, MainArtist - MICHAEL ANTHONY, Writer, Background Vocals, Bass
© 1988, 2023 Warner Records Inc., a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 1986, 2023 Warner Records Inc., a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved.
Album review
About halfway through OU812—the beginning of "Source of Infection," to be exact—Van Halen explicitly nods to their past, with a slash-and-burn guitar/drums showcase that's all fire and flair and warm-blooded rock 'n' roll that sounds a whole lot like "Hot For Teacher" until the moment where Sammy Hagar chews his way into the scene with a weird "hey fellow teens, let's party" vibe that sounds like your dad singing Sweet's "Ballroom Blitz." It's simultaneously the best and worst moment on this odd, middling album. OU812 manages to contain two of the latter-day lineup's most iconic hits ("When It's Love" and "Finish What Ya Started") along with some of its strangest missteps (the languid and directionless "Black and Blue," the obnoxiously dumb "Cabo Wabo"). Thankfully, there are plenty of moments of dazzling instrumental brilliance that show that Eddie Van Halen was, ironically, playing at a creative and technical peak that unfortunately isn't matched by the bland corporate rock of the songwriting and the equally by-the-numbers approach of Hagar's vocals. © Jason Ferguson/Qobuz
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 9 track(s)
- Total length: 00:46:37
- Main artists: Van Halen
- Label: Rhino - Warner Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
© 1988, 2023 Warner Records Inc., a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved. ℗ 1988, 2023 Warner Records Inc., a Warner Music Group Company. All Rights Reserved.
Improve album information
Why buy on Qobuz?
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalog with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets, and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.
Playlists