These are almost certainly the 2000 remasters but those were so good if you don't have these albums this seems the way to go. No idea of whether they are in jewel cases or mini sleeves.

Now let's get a Sammy-era box set newly remastered, eh? Eddie says no I'm sure.

Haven't seen a finalized track listing for these, but knowing VH, there will likely be no bonus tracks.

I've already got the 2000 remasters, so I'll pass on this one.

No bonus cuts-no chance of any such thing this just a repackaging of the albums. At best, maybe a booklet. This isn't for us in any way, this is for the casual fan.

I might bite for short money since I never got around the getting the 2000 remasters, but at the current pre-order price, I'll pass. This needs to get sub-$30 for me to consider it.

On another note, I see some of the remasters at Wal Mart and Best Buy all the time for $5 and they sound so very nice.

Agreed. And that they'll likely be in cardboard sleeves works against it for me as well.

I do like the WB logo and print on the CDs though. If it was new mastering (likely it would ruin things) and a booklet-at $25-$30 I'd think about it but still pass. I'm very fine with what is out right now.

If I remember correctly, my copy of the first album had the "palm tree" label on it. I had a Black Sabbath LP with that label as well.

If the price is right I'll bite as I can live the card sleeves, don't think every cd from the 80's is manna from heaven (some came from hell!) but like the retro WB labels.

They did a retro Casablanca label for KISS's Destroyer (Resurrected) reissue and I remember thinking years back that they should have done that for the 1997 remastered CDs.

So I'll give Rhino/WB points for the labels on the VH CDs.

Which might give hope new mastering was included or something of interest, but I 100% doubt it. And again, I don't see any reason these need new mastering. But the Sammy era deserves some acknowledgemnet even though I really only care for the first 2 of his stint. And there are bonus cuts they go with.

Of course, what the world wants is the Uber Deluxe Van Halen III remaster!

Well, of course!

Believe it or not, I read an interview around 2000 in which Eddie blamed the failure of VHIII on the mastering. He said it sounded great when it left the studio, but it got screwed up in the mastering process. Yeah, that was it...the mastering ruined that album.

Nice for the few people who never owned any VH but I already have all these albums and still have the vinyl!!!

Bump: Added the UK pre-order link to the Pete's opening post. (The Studio Albums sets are a Rhino UK series.) As you guys assumed, there are no bonus tracks. Just the original albums.

I want the Sammy years remastered. I still kick myself for letting the Japanese remastered set get thru my hands years back.

Rick A.

This is actually somewhat tempting for me as I never bought any of the remasters...just have all the initial CD releases. I'm assuming the 2000/2001 remasters were pretty good, because I think every time these get reissued in Japan they always go back and use that batch of remasters instead of re-doing the mastering for the Japanese market.

AMEN!

and there ARE a few bonus tracks out there from both VAN HALEN genres, such as a few instrumental versions.

Won't get that though. Eddie's too big of an ass to do that. He's afraid Sam and Mike will get royalties.

EVH is a jerk. I never used to think that way but the way he did Mike for the reunion tour pissed me off royally.

I agree Mark in what he did to Mikey. Not good, I say one thing though, "Chickenfoot" kicks some ass.

Rick A.

I used to think Eddie was a cool person. That changed around 1996, when Sammy was forced out of the band. He came off as very bitter and spiteful in interviews when talking about Hagar.

Still think he's a great musician, but he has a habit of treating former bandmates and ex-wives rather shabbily.

I wonder if he was always a grumpy, bitter person and it's just come out more and more over the years. The alternative, that a likable, happy go lucky guitar wizard turned into a grumpy bitter jerk, is kind of depressing to contemplate.