Demos that should've made the cut

[Big Troubles]

I'd have to go with Big Trouble first.

[Big Troubles]

well I thought it was a good poll.

[EbDawson]

It is. I voted for "Other". (We Die Bold)

[Big Troubles]

we die bold is a good tune. I just started to like it. The one I cant seem to enjoy much from the demos is Lets get Rockin'.

[ThrillsNSpills]

Show no Mercy
One More Time

I really like these two tunes and thought they were good enough to open an album with.

[Big Troubles]

I wonder what was the thought process in cutting the songs? Like VH's early career, their albums were short on material, so its not like they couldn't have used a few more on each?

[EbDawson]

Originally posted by Big Troubles
Like VH's early career, their albums were short on material, so its not like they couldn't have used a few more on each?

There was a thread around one of these forums here a couple of weeks ago. Someone brought up the point that there could be only so much music, time-wise, put on each side of the record. (Back when they made records) Squeeze on more music, the sound quality fades quickly. Hence, the short number of tunes on the classic 6. With CDs nowadays bands can put on as much crap as they want to (and they do).

[bueno bob]

I voted for "Big Trouble".

For "Other", I'd go with:

Let's Get Rockin'
We Die Bold
One More Time
Loss of Control (original lyrics)
Show No Mercy


I'd also go with "Babe Don't Leave Me Alone"

All well worth seeing the light of day.

[Vanstonica]

Is "Voodoo Queen" considered a demo?

I know they butchered up the song and later used parts of it all over the Fair Warning album....but that song is fucking bad-ass.

[interceptor]

"Young and Wild" is a pretty sweet demo, classic early VH with the Mikey background vocals....some of Eddies riffs in this can be recognized on "Where have all the Good Times Gone" from Diver Down.

[Big Troubles]

Young and Wild bothered me and I dont know why. Its kind of like the bothering that "Aint no Stopping or Lets get Rockin", too forced maybe? But Voodoo Queen is a cool tune. The After Zero demo is sweet.

[HippieLettuce]

"I Wanna Be Your Lover" by far.

[FORD]

The original House of Pain absolutely KILLS the 1984 version. And since it was originally recorded on the demo being joined with RWTD by the horn sound, I don't understand why it was cut from the first album. You know they cut that in the studio with Templeman and it's sitting in a vault somewhere.

[Big Troubles]

I love the HOP demo far better. I find Daves voice is drowned in the 1984 version

[Rikk]

Originally posted by Big Troubles
we die bold is a good tune. I just started to like it. The one I cant seem to enjoy much from the demos is Lets get Rockin'.

It's not good songwriting...I'll give you that, BT. But listen to the version on the ZERO demos...it fucking smokes!!!

[Rikk]

Great poll!

I'd have to say BIG TROUBLE. That's possibly their best unreleased tune. I absolutely love the verse, the chorus, the heavy middle-eight, the guitar work, the back-up vocals. It's perfect. Funny enough, this was also recorded during the DIVER DOWN sessions (and possibly the 1984 sessions) but was left off of both albums.

As for second-choice, I'd have to say SHE'S THE WOMAN. I can think of a few songs off of both the debut and the second album that weren't as good as this one. And it would have been more than welcome. Another gem!

[Lou]

"Let's Get Rockin'" and "Light In The Sky" would be the two I want.

[Big Troubles]

Originally posted by Lou
"Let's Get Rockin'" and "Light In The Sky" would be the two I want.

God Damn Lou... Really? Light in the Sky seems so weak to me.

[Rikk]

Originally posted by Big Troubles
God Damn Lou... Really? Light in the Sky seems so weak to me.

I actually really enjoy LIGHT IN THE SKY. Great tune!

[Big Troubles]

Yeah but you told me you liked Sha Na na too..

[Big Troubles]

Oh no that was The Beach Boys. lol my bad...

[Rikk]

SHA NA NA was the greatest rock band in history. LOL.

Okay, but seriously, the Beach Boys were amazing.

LIGHT IN THE SKY is a good tune. Still, BIG TROUBLE is their best outtake (that we've heard).

[secrets]

I voted for Big Trouble. But pretty much every track on After Zero, apart from the ones that made it, should've been on a Van Halen album.

[Rikk]

Yup. I 100% agree. Nothing I actually dislike on the outtakes even.

[Rikk]

Another great one? PUT OUT THE LIGHTS. Man, I love that fucking riff and the "fast Eddie" lyrics.

[Lou]

Originally posted by Big Troubles
God Damn Lou... Really? Light in the Sky seems so weak to me.

I bet you don't like Little Dreamer then either.

[TwoFoolsAMinute]

That Gene Simmons produced House of Pain is a bad ass song. Far superior in my opinion to the one on 1984.

"There's a full moon out tonight, better watch your soooooooul!"

It's f'n dark. I love it!

[Big Troubles]

Originally posted by Lou
I bet you don't like Little Dreamer then either.

Little Dreamer is great! Light in the Sky is weak, forced and the closest song that sounds anything other than a cool Van Halen tune. Lets get Rockin' sucks dick too.
Where as We Die Bold is fucking smokin'!

[DeadOrAlive]

No More Waiting is an awesome one... I have listened to that one so many times... i know almost all the lyrics!

[Vivian Campbell]

We Die Bold is damn good song. It should've been on Fair Warning. It fits right in.

[DrMaddVibe]

I would've liked to hear "Angel Eyes" make it.

[Snow Ho]

big trouble. it had one of my fav solos on it too. never heard we die bold.

[house0paincakes]

Originally posted by Big Troubles
I'd have to go with Big Trouble first.

Abso-fucking-lutley!

[Atomic_Rob]

I'd have to go for Babe Don't Leave Me Alone, I love the whole thing. The intro riff is KILLER, the lyrics and Dave's voice is fuckin quality, as well as the chorus bein great.

There were a few other real good ones too.

[academic punk]

I've always wonderd why House of Pain didn't appear - not on the first album - but on FAIR WARNING.

Think about it: that song would've fit perfectly alongside the material and the vibe that was on FW. And I thinkit's apparent that HOP is a far stronger piece than Sunday Afternoon in the Park, or even One Foot Out the Door.

[DLR7884]

Originally posted by academic punk
I've always wonderd why House of Pain didn't appear - not on the first album - but on FAIR WARNING.

It was on 1984, and compared to the demo from 1977 it isn't listenable.

The raw power and edge of that song is completely lost on 1984.

DLR7884
It would have been better with REAL drums, not those lame ass synth drums.

[DLR7884]

Whoops. I didn't read what you wrote correctly. I think it would have been a nice fit on Fair Warning as well.

Sorry about that.

I'm still waking up.

DLR7884
And going to get some coffee.....

[bigc]

where can I download/hear these demos?