Van Halen Thread v. Where Have All The Good Times Gone

[Kwyjibo]

So you mean it was better then VH3 (1998 - not that difficult) and Balance (1995)?  Balance is a completely different beast, not sure if ADKOT is better.

But regardless of that, I was really surprised that they had such a great record in them, they should have taken the momentum and put out another disc one or two years later.

[cramx3]

Really hard to compare Balance to ADKOT, but I think if you had to compare two such different albums I would probably choose ADKOT.  However, wasn't a large part of that album old music they had written?  Do they have it in them to write a new album?  If so I would welcome it for sure.

[Adami]

Not the biggest VH fan, but I wanted to check out something from ADKOT since I never heard it, so I looked up Tattoo..


Yea, that was not a great song. Is there a better one to look for?

[bl5150]

Not the biggest VH fan, but I wanted to check out something from ADKOT since I never heard it, so I looked up Tattoo..

Pretty much the worst song on it......bad choice of single.

[Kwyjibo]

Tattoo is by far the worst song on that record, so look for every other song. 

I especially like She's The Woman, As Is, Honeybabysweetiedoll (stupid stupid song title, but that song rocks), The Trouble With Never, Outta Space, Big River, Beats Workin'.

[Kwyjibo]

Really hard to compare Balance to ADKOT, but I think if you had to compare two such different albums I would probably choose ADKOT.  However, wasn't a large part of that album old music they had written?  Do they have it in them to write a new album?  If so I would welcome it for sure.

It is rumored that Eddie has tapes with riffs and ideas for numerous records, surely they can resurrect some good songs again if they are not able to write new ones.

[cramx3]

Really hard to compare Balance to ADKOT, but I think if you had to compare two such different albums I would probably choose ADKOT.  However, wasn't a large part of that album old music they had written?  Do they have it in them to write a new album?  If so I would welcome it for sure.

It is rumored that Eddie has tapes with riffs and ideas for numerous records, surely they can resurrect some good songs again if they are not able to write new ones.

Oh nice, didn't realize he had a huge archive.

Tattoo is by far the worst song on that record, so look for every other song. 

I especially like She's The Woman, As Is, Honeybabysweetiedoll (stupid stupid song title, but that song rocks), The Trouble With Never, Outta Space, Big River, Beats Workin'.

Yup, Tattoo was the first single I think and it's the worst song on the album.  I like China Town too, She's The Woman, The Trouble with Never.

But if you aren't the biggest VH fan, I'm not sure this album is going to change your mind since it's fairly similar to the older DLR albums

[Stadler]

So you mean it was better then VH3 (1998 - not that difficult) and Balance (1995)?  Balance is a completely different beast, not sure if ADKOT is better.

But regardless of that, I was really surprised that they had such a great record in them, they should have taken the momentum and put out another disc one or two years later.

I would go so far as to say that ADKOT is better than any of the Sammy records.   

I rate the Sammy records as:
- For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
- Balance
- OU812
- 5150

[Kwyjibo]

I can agree with your Sammy record ranking, but there's no way that ADKOT is better than F.U.C.K. I would put it maybe behind Balance.

[jammindude]

So you mean it was better then VH3 (1998 - not that difficult) and Balance (1995)?  Balance is a completely different beast, not sure if ADKOT is better.

But regardless of that, I was really surprised that they had such a great record in them, they should have taken the momentum and put out another disc one or two years later.

I would go so far as to say that ADKOT is better than any of the Sammy records.   

I rate the Sammy records as:
- For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
- Balance
- OU812
- 5150

As an entire album, I would agree with this.  Even the best Hagar albums are spotty.    And even though Carnal Knowledge is my favorite, I would almost have to say 5150 is the most top to bottom solid Hagar album.   Whereas most DLR albums have little or no skip tracks. 

[Stadler]

Really hard to compare Balance to ADKOT, but I think if you had to compare two such different albums I would probably choose ADKOT.  However, wasn't a large part of that album old music they had written?  Do they have it in them to write a new album?  If so I would welcome it for sure.

To that point (and this is just information, Cram, I'm not slamming you at all): "She's The Woman" was on the early demo tapes (I forget if it was the Gene Simmons demo or the Warner Bros. demo).  Interestingly, Dave sang it in the original key, so there.   There are a couple other songs/snippets that can be traced to those demos as well (there used to be an internet radio show, "The Used Bin", and one of the guys did a really nice A/B from the album and the demos, and it was illuminating.  The idea that they are just "recycling" is not in my view, accurate).  Having said that, EVERY Van Halen record - including Balance - to date has had some song/snippet from either Eddie's archive or from the demo tapes.   

If you believe Ed, he spends a lot of time in his studio, recording a lot of it, and supposedly there are boxes and boxes of "tapes" of riffs, snippets, songs, etc.    Not all of it is "Van Halen"; he's done some soundtrack work - Twister, Wild Life, a porno movie (there's a great video online of him in the studio playing this piece that was in that porno; it's both cool and creepy in a way) so it's all over the map.

I will say this:  Eddie is, along with Angus Young and James Hetfield, the artist I want to hear a solo album from most.  I'd love a CD of just Eddie following his muse.   

[KevShmev]

I didn't check out ADKOT at first because of how bad Tattoo was, but when I later heard it, I was pleasantly surprised at how good the rest of it was.  The following are some of the strongest songs they ever did with Roth:

The Trouble with Never
Outta Space
Big River

And yeah, most of the songs from that record were based on demos back in the day they had never finished.  Not sure I would have a lot of faith in them to write a new album that is good with all new songs since it has been over 20 years now since they've done that.

[Stadler]

Tattoo is by far the worst song on that record, so look for every other song. 

I especially like She's The Woman, As Is, Honeybabysweetiedoll (stupid stupid song title, but that song rocks), The Trouble With Never, Outta Space, Big River, Beats Workin'.

When I heard Tattoo - it was a pre-album release - I was almost disgusted.  I was so turned off and expecting the worst from the record.  It's a shitty single, but it works like a charm on the record itself.   Van Halen isn't really known as an "album band" - their songs lend themselves to radio play and "compilation" albums - but in that case, it's a matter of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts.   I do not skip Tattoo at all when I listen to the record.   (And I LOVE that line in there: "Mouse-wife to Mom-shell in the time it took to get that new tattoo".)   Which reminds me:  as a whole, that is one of the strongest lyrical albums I have.  I think Dave hit a grand slam lyrically on that record.  It's still Van Halen; it's not "Crime and Punishment", but it's certainly a level and a half better than what people think of when they think "Van Halen party rock!".

[cramx3]

Really hard to compare Balance to ADKOT, but I think if you had to compare two such different albums I would probably choose ADKOT.  However, wasn't a large part of that album old music they had written?  Do they have it in them to write a new album?  If so I would welcome it for sure.

To that point (and this is just information, Cram, I'm not slamming you at all): "She's The Woman" was on the early demo tapes (I forget if it was the Gene Simmons demo or the Warner Bros. demo).  Interestingly, Dave sang it in the original key, so there.   There are a couple other songs/snippets that can be traced to those demos as well (there used to be an internet radio show, "The Used Bin", and one of the guys did a really nice A/B from the album and the demos, and it was illuminating.  The idea that they are just "recycling" is not in my view, accurate).  Having said that, EVERY Van Halen record - including Balance - to date has had some song/snippet from either Eddie's archive or from the demo tapes.   

If you believe Ed, he spends a lot of time in his studio, recording a lot of it, and supposedly there are boxes and boxes of "tapes" of riffs, snippets, songs, etc.    Not all of it is "Van Halen"; he's done some soundtrack work - Twister, Wild Life, a porno movie (there's a great video online of him in the studio playing this piece that was in that porno; it's both cool and creepy in a way) so it's all over the map.

I will say this:  Eddie is, along with Angus Young and James Hetfield, the artist I want to hear a solo album from most.  I'd love a CD of just Eddie following his muse.   

I was unaware of Eddie's Archive.  But this work I'm guessing may or may not make sense to use with DLR I'd imagine then.

Also, I would rate ADKOT over Balance and OU812 but not over 5150 and F.U.C.K.

[Stadler]

I didn't check out ADKOT at first because of how bad Tattoo was, but when I later heard it, I was pleasantly surprised at how good the rest of it was.  The following are some of the strongest songs they ever did with Roth:

The Trouble with Never
Outta Space
Big River

And yeah, most of the songs from that record were based on demos back in the day they had never finished.  Not sure I would have a lot of faith in them to write a new album that is good with all new songs since it has been over 20 years now since they've done that.

I'm not willing to die on this hill, but it's my understanding that it's not "most"; it's less than half.    There WAS new material written for that record.   It's not all recycled.  I'll go back and see if I can find the radio show that has the A/B. 

[TAC]

Yeah, I didn’t think it was “most” either.

That album sure was a pleasant surprise.

[Adami]

Was Tattoo the only official video released from it?

Can someone suggest a specific song to check out first? "any of them" isn't helpful.

[TAC]

Honeybabysweetiedoll.


I saw that title and rolled my eyes. But that song kicks ass and would be right at home in the classic era.

[cramx3]

Was Tattoo the only official video released from it?

Nope, here is the official video for Shes the Woman

[Stadler]

TAC has a good suggestion, and for me, the best song is "Blood And Fire"; it's not exactly "vintage VH", but it shows a little of the progress from the Sammy era.

Plus, when Dave does his little breakdown and goes "Told ya I was comin' back... Say you missed me... Say it like ya mean it!" then Eddie rips off one of the better solos on the record, you know they're sort of firing on all cylinders and doing more than just phoning it in.   

[jjrock88]

I was disappointed to say the least when I first heard Tattoo on the radio.  But shortly after it was released, maybe a week or so, I watched a band play a cover of Tattoo on youtube.  After watching the cover, I thought the song was ok/decent and was willing to give it a chance.  But after I heard the other kick ass 12 songs on ADKOT, I wasn't too concerned with the quality of Tattoo anymore lol.

Fantastic album 

[Adami]

Honeybabysweetiedoll.


I saw that title and rolled my eyes. But that song kicks ass and would be right at home in the classic era.

It was cool. Sounded way more modern than I expected (for the time at least).

I guess I just don't like DLR beyond a few of their hit songs.

[Samsara]

The 25th marked the release day anniversary of OU812. I haven't listened to it in forever. Have it on now. Pretty solid, keyboards aside. 

[KevShmev]

I didn't check out ADKOT at first because of how bad Tattoo was, but when I later heard it, I was pleasantly surprised at how good the rest of it was.  The following are some of the strongest songs they ever did with Roth:

The Trouble with Never
Outta Space
Big River

And yeah, most of the songs from that record were based on demos back in the day they had never finished.  Not sure I would have a lot of faith in them to write a new album that is good with all new songs since it has been over 20 years now since they've done that.

I'm not willing to die on this hill, but it's my understanding that it's not "most"; it's less than half.    There WAS new material written for that record.   It's not all recycled. I'll go back and see if I can find the radio show that has the A/B.

Right, that is why I said most (not all) were based (meaning not totally the same as) on demos back in the day.

[Stadler]

I didn't check out ADKOT at first because of how bad Tattoo was, but when I later heard it, I was pleasantly surprised at how good the rest of it was.  The following are some of the strongest songs they ever did with Roth:

The Trouble with Never
Outta Space
Big River

And yeah, most of the songs from that record were based on demos back in the day they had never finished.  Not sure I would have a lot of faith in them to write a new album that is good with all new songs since it has been over 20 years now since they've done that.

I'm not willing to die on this hill, but it's my understanding that it's not "most"; it's less than half.    There WAS new material written for that record.   It's not all recycled. I'll go back and see if I can find the radio show that has the A/B.

Right, that is why I said most (not all) were based (meaning not totally the same as) on demos back in the day.

I'm still looking for the tape of that radio show, but I think they documented that parts of FOUR songs came from the original demos.