Tough call isn't it.

One has wimpy ballads and soft chorusy songs, but has melody.


The other has sone real hard rock and angry vocals by Mr Hagar, but most of the songs are boring. (Im my opinion)

Still, my vote goes to OU812.

Not even close to any Dave-era records, though.

Hmm... which one, which one...

Guess I'd have to give Balance the slight nod on this. I like the sound of the For UCK era songs (which I group Balance in with) a bit better.

------------------
"That's How it Is When You Tell the Truth"

Maybe its because I had so much fun in '88-89, but I love OU812. When I hear it, I think fun fun fun.Every song on there kicks except Sucker and Apolitical. Although Balance has a better sound, its not as good as OU812, IMO.

Balance is my favorite Sam era album, and OU812 is my least favorite. Just my opinion.

I hate to skip songs when I listen to music, and I have to skip more songs on Balance than I do on OU812 so I would have to say that OU812 is the better album, although Balance does have some kick ass tunes.

I would have to choose "OU812" over "Balance." I thought "Balance" was the weakest Van Hagar album by far. I think "A.F.U.," "Black and Blue," "Source of Infection," were all good. The only song I thought was any good off of "Balance" was "Aftershock."

OU812

I'd pick Balance. There are only 4 songs on Balance I like and 5 on OU812 but the songs on Balance are a whole lot better.

------------------
Eat Us And Smile!

The self-proclaimed Heart Break Kid of VHLinks!

Your frienldy, neighborhood Ice Cream Man.

while OU812 has (arguably) one of the best Van Hagar songs (when it's Love), Balance is just an amazing album. How can you argue with those pounding rockers 'aftershock', 'seventh seal', and 'feelin', and the softees 'cant stop lovin you', and 'not enough'. 'Crossing over' should have been on the US release! get the mp3 if you have the chance...its great. 'Feelin' is one of Sammy's most emotional songs EVER.
peace

------------------
If I were you, and you were me...wonder who I'd rather be

I'll go with Balance, cuz I thought OU812 was a rush job. Ed kinda got lazy with his lead work on OU812 and the whole sound of that album is limp. Balance had some oomph to it, but you do have to do a bit of track skipping.

i say ou812. I had a blast in 88/89 also so i could be biased as well. Bruce Fairbairn though was a genius producer on Balance. I only hope someone,someday sits down and fixes ou812 and remasters it with some balls.

Damn we is being tough here. Okay my take, I was 15 when OU812 came out, started drinking and really just went crazy. VH was already my favorite band, so I listened religiously. I love everthing on OU812 even A Apolitical Blues and Sucka! Source Of Infection is definitely cool, it doesn't try to be a badass tune and all. Balance equally as cool, I have been listening to it alot lately. Comes and goes you know? Seventh Seal, DTMWLCD, Amsterdam, Big Fat Money, Aftershock, Take Me Back ( Deja Vu) and Feelin' are awesome. However, I give the nod to OU812 because I can listen to it without skipping any tracks! That and Finish What You Started was playing when I lost my virginity!

------------------
Eat Us And Smile!

The Innovator Of Violence!

OU812 ... it cracke me up !!!

Eddie_italian from Italy

Dunno,
for the rockers I'll choose OU812 (A.F.U. is a great kickass song, Cabo Wabo is one song where I love the chord progression in the middle), for the ballads Balance (Deja Vu, Can't Stop Lovin'You).
But I really think they are the weakest production in Van Hagar era.

OU812 and F.U.C.K. are my least favorite Sammy-era albums. The only song I skip over on Balance is Big Fat Money. Love all the rest. Balance is one of my favorite VH albums ever. Not just with Sammy.


--------------------
"I'm just a normal jerk who happens to make music." -EVH

0u812

idon't know. i agree with deanO, and i dislike the last two on ou812, but i like all the others, so i guess i'll go with that.

No doubt about it.... BALANCE will out beat any Hagar era albums except 5150.

IMO Balance, it's my second favorite Hagar era VH album next to For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge. OU812 was cool too, but I skip more songs listening to that album than I do Balance. Seventh Seal, Don't Tell Me & Aftershock kick ass, heavy shit! Amsterdam, kinda lame lyrics yet fun.

ou812http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/cool.gif

------------------
sheepa latta peepah dabba looka foh a moonbeam

This is the best comparison I have seen here.


OU812 is my all time Fav., it was released on my birthday(05/24) and was the CD that took me full force into the VH world. When it's Love and Cabo Wabo are 2 of my all time fav. tunes. Also OU812 was the first tour that I ever saw, first concert ever! Black and Blue was playing the first time I got laid.


But, Balancewas awsome, it had a little of everything on it. From the hard edge of Seventh Seal to the make you think words of Take me Back (Deja Vu), to the out of left field tone of Big Fat Money, this is a tough call.

My vote goes to OU812 for it's total package and incredible range of songs, from When it's Love to Black and Blue to Finish What ya Started, OU812 is the most over looked VH albubm ever.

------------------
Everybody's lookin' for somethin', somethin' to fill in the holes

I don't know about this one. Truthfully, I don't have the CD of OU812, so I haven't listened to it for a long time, but I remembered it as being a little heavy on the ballads and the other tunes just didn't have the hook of a good rocker. I think I like Balance better, although I skip over Amsterdam. I'm not bashing Sammy here, but that was my complaint about Van Halen from 85-96, there were too many ballads. I don't mind a song about love once in awhile, but why not do So This Is Love instead of When It's Love? That's why I like Aftershock and Don't Tell Me What Love Can Do. They're mature, but they have attitude.

------------------
Could this be magic?

ou812

ou812. Balance just didn't feel like halen

It's very close (IMO) between these two.....Black & Blue is kick ass and so is Seventh Seal.....in the end I'd go with Balance because it's more hard core......

------------------

"one break coming up!" - David Lee Roth

I've always thought that OU812 was the worst Van Hagar album......to me it's a boring album. When I bought Balance and listened to it the first time, I didn't like it. But as time went on, that album really grew on me! Aftershock, Amsterdam, Don't Tell Me (What Love Can Do, the Seventh Seal, and the instrumental Baluchitherium are all kickass tunes! I definitely give Balance the nod over ou812......it's my second favorite Van Hagar album behind F.U.C.K.!

------------------
Eat Us And Smile!

Classic VH Eruption (http://members.tripod.com/BigTrouble_77/index.htm)

The only songs on OU812 I really like are:

Mine All Mine
Feels So Good

I like almost all of Balance, so I give it the nod...

ou812 has better songs . Balance was better produced and has a heavy sound . But IMO Balance has too many damn ballads . ou812 has FEELS SO GOOD , WHEN IT's LOVE but those are really cool songs . Sammy was trying to be too deep on Balance . Except for AMSTERDAM . I like ou812 better .

ou812 ...

------------------
"Broken down 'n' dirty dressed in rags"

"Yah looking back all the years of video tape I suddenly realize now,
that I look like a fish!" Alex Boceebus Vo Halen

why do u compare this albums???

balance means a good hard rock job
and ou 812 represents a good ballad rock job

------------------
I reach across to the other side to make contact with you.You fill my dreams.I wanna tell you,tell me why you´re crossing over...

Definitely Balance
- Japan version with "Crossing Over".

Coming in close in second is - don't kill me for it - VH3.
These two albums have a musical quality that you can never get enough of. VH3 has been one of the only cassettes in my car for over a year now, and you always here something new on it.

Balance, ...

------------------
*StoneWeiserKing*

*Chronic Bud Smoker Of VHForums*

OU812 is my Favorite Sammy Era album, so I will go with it. There is a lot of diversity on that album which I love.

------------------
Living at a Pace that KILLS!

Balance gets my pick.

------------------
"If you take a Van Halen record and stick it in your collection, it'll melt all your other records." -DLR

Balancehttp://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/biggrin.gif

------------------
"What is understood need not be discussed."---Loren Adams

Whoa old topic!http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/eek.gif

0U812 is my favorite album period!http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/cool.gif

It's got so much variety in it, and a lot of really great songs like Mine All Mine, Feels So Good, When It's Love and Finish What Ya Started.

------------------
Right Now you're reading my post!
She's a vision from coast to coast...
Kicking back ain't kicking you...
Don't disturb my paradise,
i've asked you once, I asked you nice...
Up Front Fanatics!

I give the edge to Balance on this one. Note that neither of these are my favoright VH albums. IMHO they both seem to lack something.

------------------
((Just My Two Cents))
and thats about what its worth

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by YankeeRose:
Whoa old topic!http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/eek.gif

0U812 is my favorite album period!http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/cool.gif

It's got so much variety in it, and a lot of really great songs like Mine All Mine, Feels So Good, When It's Love and Finish What Ya Started.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Wordhttp://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/wink.gif, ...

I wonder who di this?(pulling old ass threadshttp://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/wink.gif) ... http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/cool.gif

Late ...



------------------
*StonedWeiserKing*

*ChronicBudSmoker of VHForums*

*Broken Down 'n Dirty Dressed in Rags*

*This is Home, It's the Only One I Know*

"It's all about the posts!" -NB on #1000