Project "DISCOVERY"

Updated 09/22/02

Background:  I have been working on a project that I call "Discovery" for the past few years. "Discovery" is a collection of the highest quality-sounding Van Halen songs recorded live from all three Van Halen Eras. "Discovery" is of the same premise as the bootleg "Reunion", but will include Sammy and Gary songs and will be of much better sound quality. It is not my intention to include "commercially released" live songs on "Discovery".  It is my goal and objective to create Discovery to be the absolute Ultimate Van Halen Concert Audio Experience. As it stands now, Discovery will be a total of 4 CDs.

The History of Discovery is quite simple. About four years ago, I got heavily into collecting Van Halen Bootlegs and Radio Shows. Obviously, it all came about pretty much when CDR technology became available. The first "draft" version of Discovery consisted of a 2 CD set and only included three Dave-era songs. The second draft version of Discovery was a 3 CD set and included a whopping six Dave-era songs.   As you can see below, the Dave-era disc now has about 18 songs on it.

If anyone has any suggestions or would like to contribute a live track for inclusion, then I welcome any and all input.

Distribution:  I  will never sell Discovery once it is complete and final. I will gladly share Discovery and that is part of my objective. Hard core Van Halen boot traders and collectors will obviously have all of the songs that will be included on Discovery. Although the experienced and major collector may enjoy Discovery, I think that Discovery will be more for the newbie or the true Van Halen fan that does not have or desires to have a large boot collection.

Current Status:  I have completed "re-mastering" of the Dave Era tracks and are now working on the Sammy tracks (Disc 2 and 3).  I will post a tentative track listing for Disc 2 and 3 in a few days.

I am still trying to find audio from two of the Don Kirshner Rock Concert Videos from 1979, "You're No Good" and "Dance the Night Away".  If I get one or both of these before I am finished with the Sammy and Gary stuff, then I may either replace an existing "Dave" track or I may expand the set.

I  use Sonic Foundry's Sound Forge XP Studio 5 and MAGIX's Audio Cleaning Laboratory for my "re-mastering".

Here is the current set list as of Sunday, September 22, 2002 .

Dave Era (Draft Complete)
Track No. Title Source Date
1 Van Halen Introduction I Want To F**k Your Girlfriend 5-29-83
2 Running with the Devil Westwood One Radio Show 5-29-83
3 (Oh) Pretty Woman Westwood One Radio Show 5-29-83
4 You Really Got Me - Happy Trails Westwood One Radio Show 5-29-83
5 Sunday Afternoon in the Park Homeground 6-19-81
6 Little Guitars Assaults Quebec 4-21-84
7 Summertime Blues Assaults Quebec 4-21-84
8 Hear About It Later Warner Brothers Video 6-11-81
9 Unchained Warner Brothers Video 6-11-81
10 So This is Love? Warner Brothers Video 6-11-81
11 Cathedral - House of Pain Assaults Quebec 4-21-84
12 Down in Flames Shinjuku 78 6-19-78
13 Eruption Live in Tokyo 78 6-17-78
14 Last Night Live in Tokyo 78 6-17-78
15 Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love Live in Tokyo 78 6-17-78
16 D.O.A. Live in Tokyo 78 6-17-78
17 Bottoms Up! Live in Tokyo 78 6-17-78

  Sammy Era Tracks Under Consideration

One Way to Rock - ’86 New Haven - Live Without a Net

Summer Nights - ’86 New Haven - LWOAN

Best of Both Worlds - ’86 New Haven - LWOAN

Good Enough - ’86 New Haven - Radio Show

Wild Thing - ’86 New Haven - Radio Show

AFU - ’91 Tokyo – I Can’t Tell

Black ‘n Blue - ’91 Tokyo – I Can’t Tell

You Really Got Me - ’91 Tokyo – I Can’t Tell

Rock ‘n Roll - ’86 New Haven – LWOAN

"5150" - ’86 New Haven – LWOAN

I Can’t Drive 55 - ’86 New Haven – LWOAN

Ain’t Talkin Bout Love - ’86 New Haven – LWOAN

Outta Love Again Drum Solo - ’93 Costa Mesa – Merrie Melodies

Mine All Mine Live - '95 Toronto - Balanced in Toronto

The Dream is Over - ’91 RHRN DVD

Big Fat Money - ’95 Toronto – Rocks the Beer Hall

Aftershock - ’95 Pensacola – Random Shot

The 7th Seal - ’95 Europe – Aftershock

Judgement Day - ’95 Europe – Aftershock

Don’t Tell Me - ’95 Europe – Aftershock

Amsterdam - ’95 Europe – Aftershock

Runaround - ’95 Pensacola – Random Shot

Feelin - ’95 Toronto – Rocks the Beer Hall

Take Me Back - ’95 Pensacola – Random Shot

You Really Got Me - '95 Orlando 

Gary Era Tracks Under Consideration

Unchained - ’98 Hershey – Radio Show

Mean Street - ’98 Hershey – Radio Show

Romeo Delight - ’98 Hershey – Radio Show

Alex 1998 Drum Solo - ’98 Osaka

Dance the Night Away - ’98 Hershey – Radio Show

Feel You Love Tonight - ’98 Hershey – Radio Show

Humans Being - ’98 Hershey – Radio Show

Somebody Get Me A Doctor - ’98 Hershey – Radio Show

Fire in the Hole - ’98 Hershey – Radio Show

Year to the Day - ’98 Hershey – Radio Show

Guitar Solo - ’98 Hershey – Radio Show

Year to the Day (Reprise) - ’98 Hershey – Radio Show

Jamie’s Cryin’ - ’98 Osaka

I’m the One - ’98 Morioka

Dirty Water Dog - '98 Osaka

 

What do you think? Feel free to e-mail me with your comments and/or suggestions.

Contact: chetdakota@aol.com