Ou812

[Yount]

For some reason I've been reading about the dark years, half dreaming what it may have been like had Dave stayed with the brothers. So I'm listening to OU812 as a result. Here's what I think...

Mine All Mine - 9/10
It's a great guitar and keyboard riff. Alex, rid of the octagonals from 5150 sounds amazing from the opening tom flurry to the double kick throughout the verses. I almost expect to hear Roth come chanrging in on the first verse! :clap: So Ed is layering guitar in 1988? Sammy... in some parts pulls it off on this song, the "mine all mine" in the kickdown is reminiscent of A Simple Rhyme.
Ooh Alex on that ride in the pre chorus ("Some only see what they wanna see") is very nice. Al and Ed own this song, although I swear I've heard it from the Dave days in a solo spot!

When it's love - 3.5
Urgh. It's a power ballad. In the number 2 spot. Robin Yount often batted #2. Not Gorman Thomas! You don't put "When it's Love" here, but it was 1988 and God bless cocaine etc.
This song - as a Hagar solo track - is good and right down his alley. But not for Van Halen. Funny thing is the song is so lovey, but only Mullet Anthony would remain with the wife that he was with in 1988. Ha ha. Ironic. The lyrics "It'll last for ever" followed by the "nah nah nah nah nah nah." Classic!

A.F.U (Naturally wired) - 7.5
Well it has some real promise until Sammy murders a cat for his first scream. His voice and lyrics, no good. The lead up to the solo... average, although the song has a cool crash ending. I don't really believe the lyrics.

Cabo Wabo - 5.5
Well it's an ad. Sammy is a salesman. And God it goes on and on... I remember on the Live: Right Here Right Now VHS they went from Cabo Wabo into You Really Got Me and back to finish the song. Ha ha, a song advertising Cabo, advertising the Roth era. Cool! Only redeeming quality is those classic Mikey backing vocs - "face down!" The irony, again!

Source Of Infection - 7

Bunch of gibberish. Goes nowhere lyrically. (Fair enough the band has quoted this as a joke song that was only put on the album at the request of suits.) Good jam by EVH and AVH though. Sammy is 5 songs in and is barely treading water, the clear weak link in the band. Although I have hardly heard Mike's bass yet, it's mixed low. Was bass uncool in the late 80's or what (ala Skyscraper?)
This is a fast-paced rocker that Dave could have worked magic with, instead of the high pitched shitty chorus.

Feels so good - 5

So Al and Mike didn't want this song on the album ("too pop") but Sammy does a nice job here, this stuff suits him. But stop calling it Van Halen! Nice guitar solo! A fade out! I just picture Ed baked to the teeth jamming this shmaltzy number out.

Finish what ya started - 7

Ok, you try and drum like this!!! That's what makes this song. I think Alex is an asshole from watching heaps of interviews, but he is a stellar drummer. Eh Sammy writes like he's 15.

Black and blue - 6.5

Those lyrics are so cheesy. This is one of those songs that sounds heavy, but is really just more filler for an album that doesn't eat much at all. OIH8IT2.

Sucker in a 3 piece - 7

Love the "Ed run the guitar dry" trick he does a few times throughout this song.
Sammy references Dave in this song, singing "I'm on fiiiiiire"
Funny Sam sings about a chick digging a guy only because of his money, yet that's how he pulled them all throughout the 80's, using the Van Halen name. You're all a bunch of suckers!


A Apolitical Blues - 7

It's in these forums somewhere... Van Halen playing this song live somewhere and it sucks. Search for it.


OVERALL RATING - 6.5

[sadaist]

Now that I see the list of songs again, wow that album stunk for a Van Halen album.

I remember the Monsters Of Rock tour with Scorpions, Metallica, Dokken and VH headlined and opened with Mina All Mine. WTF? From all the VH catalog they choose this as their opener? No wonder people stopped buying their stuff after this album. Had Dave been at the helm, they would PWND Metallica who was the standout band of the night.

Some decent power ballads, but who the hell buys a Van Halen named album for that?

[Nitro Express]

Ok, you try and drum like this!!! That's what makes this song. I think Alex is an asshole from watching heaps of interviews, but he is a stellar drummer. Eh Sammy writes like he's 15.

Alex is the only member of Van Halen I ever got to have a real conversation with. What blew me away is how down to earth and normal the guy was. I don't think he's really an asshole so much as he really isn't into the fame thing. I have heard he purposefully moves around fast backstage to avoid people. Apparently Neil Peart of Rush is the same way but even more so.

[Nitro Express]

Now that I see the list of songs again, wow that album stunk for a Van Halen album.

I remember the Monsters Of Rock tour with Scorpions, Metallica, Dokken and VH headlined and opened with Mina All Mine. WTF? From all the VH catalog they choose this as their opener? No wonder people stopped buying their stuff after this album. Had Dave been at the helm, they would PWND Metallica who was the standout band of the night.

Some decent power ballads, but who the hell buys a Van Halen named album for that?

I got escorted out of the venue by the police during the OU812 tour. I saw the show in Salt Lake City and got arrested for public drunkeness. LOL! The police were just there waiting to bust people and I was coming out of the bathroom after just puking and got snagged. Ironically I really didn't drink that much. Probably a half pint of Johnny Walker Red but we drove to the show in awful blizzard like weather and didn't have time to eat. I drank hard alcohol on an empty stomach and man it just messed with me. Also hearing Sammy's voice probably fucked with me. We were at the PA level and were just getting blasted. The cops dragged my ass out and you could hear Al doing his drum solo. LOL!

Two of my friends came out to see if I was ok and they said I looked like Roth in the Panama video with two cops dragging me down the hall.

[Yount]

Alex is the only member of Van Halen I ever got to have a real conversation with. What blew me away is how down to earth and normal the guy was. I don't think he's really an asshole so much as he really isn't into the fame thing. I have heard he purposefully moves around fast backstage to avoid people. Apparently Neil Peart of Rush is the same way but even more so.

Some of those bitter swipes at Roth in his public pseudo-psychiatrist guise makes me puke!!

Yeah sorry, he's probably a really nice guy but I reckon he held back the reunion with the Toastmaster as much as anyone.
Great drummer though, let nothing detract from that.

[WARF]

source of infection would sound good if Roth was singing over it.....

[Jérôme Frenchise]

Alex is the only member of Van Halen I ever got to have a real conversation with. What blew me away is how down to earth and normal the guy was. I don't think he's really an asshole so much as he really isn't into the fame thing. I have heard he purposefully moves around fast backstage to avoid people. Apparently Neil Peart of Rush is the same way but even more so.

His snare drum sound is my fave of all time. He's the only drummer (as far as I know) whose snare never sounds dry and unpleasant - like Charlie Watt's, among so many others...

PS: Mine All Mine, 9/10? I'm not sure I'd give it 1/10.

The whole album is a disgrace, though Ed and Al forcibly had some great moments.

[Zing!]

From the same year...

Those eyes burn holes into the starry night
And when her sleepy eyes are open wide
You can fairly dance beneath her light
And I'd love to get to know the natives
But I'm only flesh and blood
She'll share your joys but not your sorrows
Mistress of the coming flood
Hina, cool upon the silent sea
Hina, isn't she the moon queen?
Hina, whisperin', in my dreams
You must come back to me
And the tides rise, distant sigh falls on deaf ears
Vision makes you every inch a king
King for a million years
And she loves you when you're leavin'
And she'll leave you if you stay
She says,"Don't tell me that you love me
You'll hate me for hearing it once I drift away"
Hina, I can hear you softly cry
Hina, your storms and lullabies
Hina, I'll whisper in your dreams
Till you come back to me
Come back but she will never stay
Come back and you must never wait
Never wait, never wait, never wait...

Compared to this:

Hey!
Alright!
Woo!
How 'bout 'cha now, come on!
Oh yeah!
Dig it! That's right
Is everybody ready? Let's go!

(Movin' up and down) Up 'n down
(Round and round) Oh, round and round
(Movin' up and down) In 'n out
(Round and round) Yeow!

Crank it! Blow out!
Uh! Ouch!
Help me
Now flip on over
Oh baby, you know that I like it
(Woop! Woop! Woop!)

(Movin' up and down) She choked the chain
(Round and round) She got the hook
(Movin' up and down) Can't get away
(Round and round) Ohhhhh!

Fever starts to climb, reaching 105°
I need another shot o' your love

Love! Love is the source (of infection)
Love! Love is the source (of infection)

Hey, Eddie!
Say what?
Yeah, that's what I'm talkin' about
Wax it on down
Woo!
Ready, set, go!

Oh yeah

Woo!
That's right!

[twonabomber]

source of infection would sound good if Roth was singing over it.....

Dave did sound good singing over it...when it was Hot For Teacher, in 1984.

That's all Source Of Infection is, HFT rehashed.

OU812 was rushed. Get off tour, record. Listening now, it really shows.

I like the riff on Cabo Wabo. Later, I liked the riff on Amsterdam. What do those songs have in common? Sammy singing about his vices...booze and weed. Coulda done without that part of those songs. At least they aren't about driving.

[Matt White]

Rotten CD...start to finish

I kant imagine anybody listening to this drivel in this day and age................

[chefcraig]

I like the riff on Cabo Wabo.

I liked it a bit better the first time I heard it, performed by Montrose. The singing is a bit less shrill, for one thing.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRq_FcCWzdg

[Yount]

I haven't heard Numb To The Touch, the outtake from OU812.

[WARF]

May I ask why this is in the DLR/VH songs and albums forum? This album is neither David Lee Roth nor Van Halen....

[fraroc]

To be fair, the Van Hagar albums had some pretty good guitar work by Eddie, in fact the solo on "Dreams" is excellent. But the love songs are just so hard to listen to in comparison to all of the other good Van Halen songs. I mostly stopped listening to Van Hagar once I learned the truth about Sammy, and that he's not Mr. Cool but this huge egotistical asshole that hates Ed and Dave for no reason.


Growing up, I admired Dave more anyway.

[VAiN]

Source Of Infection - 7

Bunch of gibberish. Goes nowhere lyrically. (Fair enough the band has quoted this as a joke song that was only put on the album at the request of suits.) Good jam by EVH and AVH though. Sammy is 5 songs in and is barely treading water, the clear weak link in the band. Although I have hardly heard Mike's bass yet, it's mixed low. Was bass uncool in the late 80's or what (ala Skyscraper?)
This is a fast-paced rocker that Dave could have worked magic with, instead of the high pitched shitty chorus.


OVERALL RATING - 6.5

There are many, but if I had to pick one van hagar song that I absolutely cannot stomach - it's this one. So fucking bad, it makes me angry.

[sadaist]

I mostly stopped listening to Van Hagar once I learned the truth about Sammy, and that he's not Mr. Cool but this huge egotistical asshole that hates Ed and Dave for no reason.

.


Correction. He has plenty of reason to hate Eddie. ZERO reason for hating Dave. Well, maybe a little now after they actually were together in 2002. But in 1986 dude had no reason or place to be bashing the man that made the lead singer spot in Van Halen so lucrative.

[Va Beach VH Fan]

How many times is the fookin thread going to be moved?

[WARF]

Let's put it in the dump where it belongs you spammy lovers....

[ELVIS]

Awesome review, Yount...

How 'bout elaborating a bit more on AFU ??

[ELVIS]

Let's put it in the dump where it belongs you spammy lovers....

Fuck off...

You know you like this album...

[Satan]

Fuck off...

You know you like this album...

I do.... as an instrument of eternal torment. http://www.cosgan.de/images/smilie/teufel/d010.gif

[Nickdfresh]

OU8:hagar3:2 made my dog sick when I used it as a Frisbee... :(

[Coyote]

I do.... as an instrument of eternal torment. http://www.cosgan.de/images/smilie/teufel/d010.gif

So that explains why my mom got me a copy for my 15th birthday...

[Jérôme Frenchise]

So that explains why my mom got me a copy for my 15th birthday...

:D Mine offered me a copy of "5150" - she knew I was a Van Halen fan, but didn't know about DLR... I purchased EEAS myself later,
for relief and kind of exorcism. :)

I think I've read around here that OURgay2 is the Vanhagar album that sold most.
To me, it's the shittiest one... which shows how much vanhagar fans were craving for shit! :rolleyes:

[Coyote]

:D Mine offered me a copy of "5150" - she knew I was a Van Halen fan, but didn't know about DLR... I purchased EEAS myself later,
for relief and kind of exorcism. :)

Given my enthusiasm for VH back then, I wouldn't be suprised if my mom had looked into things and bought OU812 to exorcise me... :biggrin:

(but why would she want to turn me into a homo, that I'll have to figure out later...)

[Yount]

May I ask why this is in the DLR/VH songs and albums forum? This album is neither David Lee Roth nor Van Halen....

I thought this forum was for CVH/DLR....

Not much more to say about A.F.U., Elvis...
I like this song, you can't deny two very talented musicians are playing. I never enjoyed the vocals imitating the guitar at the start of the solo, even when done live. The speeding up for the chorus suit the lyric, and the lyrics are pretty straight forward.

[Diamondjimi]

I thought this forum was for CVH/DLR....



Exactly. Van Hagar is not "Classic Van Halen"


Straight to the dump...

[ELVIS]

I wonder if Wolfie will wear capris when they reunite with Hagar...

[Yount]

Exactly. Van Hagar is not "Classic Van Halen"


Straight to the dump...

I started this thread in the House Of Music, for people interested in music that is not to do with CVH/DLR.

[VAiN]

Has it really come to this? Rating limp-dick van hagis albums? Surely there's a better use of time, like jerking off with a cheese grater. The results are the same - it feels so good when it's over.

[Yount]

Has it really come to this? Rating limp-dick van hagis albums?

Has it really come to this? Reading Van Haggis album reviews? Surely...

[vandeleur]

Never heard it , guessing I never will .

[chuckjitsu]

For what it's worth, I think this is the best of the Van Hagar albums (I know- not saying much, but still...). Like Up for Breakfast, there are several songs on this album that I like musically, but they're brought down by Sam's crappy lyrics- Source of Infection, Black and Blue, Sucker in a 3 Piece.

[twonabomber]

The production and mix on OU812 stinks. Carnal Knowledge sounds better, minus the vocals of course.

[VHscraps]

The production and mix on OU812 stinks. Carnal Knowledge sounds better, minus the vocals of course.

Interestingly, no 'producer' is credited - if I remember, the sleeve just said something like 'Recorded by Donn Landee' - you think they knew something was missing (apart from the bass guitar)?

Haven't heard Carnal Knowledge for 20 years. But I know when I listen to some albums from the mid-80s and early 90s I think, 'boy, they sure did like those big drums'. That first Georgia Satellites album is one - big booming drums that really date it now. I always thought that Al had a fine drum sound on the six-pack, suitable to his refined swingy style. Was disappointed he went for that heavy artillery kinda sound - but then again, I shouldn't care, 'cos I'll probably never listen to it again!

[Terry]

I would agree that in terms of general sonics and production values, OU812 was certainly far more listenable than 5150 (which from a production standpoint was surpassed only by Van Halen III in terms of being the worst goddamned awful sounding Van Halen studio album ever).


On a strictly instrumental level, only Mine All Mine (recycled backing music to Dave's 1984 tour onstage sword routine) and Cabo Wabo display any sense of originality to my ears. AFU was energetic but rehashed from other better previous Van Halen songs...same goes for Source Of Infection...Finish What You Started had a limited amount of charm to it (hey, at least it wasn't a mediocre lumbering rocker or a synth pop ballad). Far as Black and Blue and Sucker In A Three Piece, if I had been in any bar/club in the late 80s and heard a local band playing either of those tunes...even if they were originals of said local band...it wouldn't have been anything that made me think they deserved a record contract...just very average stuff.

[Yount]

dupe post

[Yount]

Feels so good.
Thought Alex have a "Dave" shirt on for a min.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTaAuKjrOXE

[Matt White]

Man....no van haggis videos..........FUCK

who needs to watch that shit ever again???

[ELVIS]

That is stretching it a bit...:biggrin:

[ELVIS]

Aww what the fuck...

Let's check out this lyrical masterpiece...




:biggrin:

[Matt White]

exactly.................

"GHEY" doesn't do it justice...............

[Matt White]

Aww what the fuck...

Let's check out this lyrical masterpiece...




:biggrin:

That ain't right...............I hope some random stranger kicks you in the ballz for that KING!!!

[ELVIS]

Oh yeah...

Woo...

All right...


:biggrin:

[Matt White]

I'm gonna go stick a fork in my ears!!! :mad:

[Jérôme Frenchise]

I was having a blind test game online with my woman yesterday evening while having some cocktails.
We were doing pretty good. Suddenly they played a Montrose tune - I didn't recognize that band, but
Hagar's voice got me make a bad face coz I got to identify it and then name the band, which I didn't as
time was up.
Damn Hagar, never welcome in my book! Made me lose the game, at that! :mad:

[chefcraig]

I'm gonna go stick a fork in my ears!!! :mad:

So who did MTV get to play at Halftime? They got N*Sync. Because when I think football, I think N*Sync. Unlike most Americans I'd never heard N*Sync, because usually when they come on, I like to take a pencil and shove it in my ear...So then, they bring on who- Aerosmith. They now have N*Sync and Aerosmith. Now I'm really fucked up. How did they decide on N*Sync and Aerosmith? Where did that decision come from? One MTV executive turned to another and said, "Who should we get for Halftime for the Superbowl?" And then he took a shovel, and whacked the guy across the head.

And while I listened, a vision came into my head. I'm embarrassed to tell you this, but I felt at this point in time, I might rather be seeing donkeys fucking.

N*Sync and Aerosmith would have been enough, but no, they were joined by Britney Spears. Now I've got N*Sync, Aerosmith, and Britney Spears. I have a trifecta from hell. But I was lucky, I had a spoon in my hand. And I shoved it up my ass. Why, you might ask? To distract myself from the pain. Because if I'm going to hurt that much, I'm going to do it to myself. And you know what we call that? Empowerment. I learned that from Oprah.


- Lewis Black, Halftime at the Superbowl 2002

[DLR Bridge]

I vacillate between enjoying trashing all-things-Hagar and being angry about it. With this current thread, I feel angry. I hear bits and pieces of musical promise peppered throughout the OUhate12 cd that forever annoys me as an unfortunate waste. I know Ed was drunkenly mailing some of this shit in (from his house to the studio next to his house) but, dammit, if there aren't some tasty vintage riffs to be found. I almost wish I could strip away the vocals and just plug isolated tracks of Dave screaming over it.

[WARF]

Van Hagar did a children's concert!

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[Yount]

Don't interrupt Sammy, Alex is talking!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFi8UHYBYpY

[Yount]

Here's the live version I mentioned. Sammy does the blues.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awTDmfx0EN8

[Zing!]

I almost wish I could strip away the vocals and just plug isolated tracks of Dave screaming over it.

I've thought that very thing many times. Keep hoping for iso tracks for the Haggar years to show up like they have for the first couple VH albums. Would make for a fun project to properly Van Halenize them.

[Angel]

I've thought that very thing many times. Keep hoping for iso tracks for the Haggar years to show up like they have for the first couple VH albums. Would make for a fun project to properly Van Halenize them.

My ex could mimic Dave's screams really well. In 2004 he tried to win tickets to the Hagar show...he wanted to sit near the stage so he could let out some good screams so he could fuck with Hagar

[Satan]

I think I've just discovered a new tool for the Devil's infernal torment toolbox.....

Sammy Hagar attempting to screech the blues......

Unholy shit... as if the album version wasn't horrible enough, that live clip was 666 times worse! http://www.cosgan.de/images/smilie/teufel/g010.gif

[DavidLeeNatra]

Aww what the fuck...

Let's check out this lyrical masterpiece...




:biggrin:

:lmao:

first time I heard that song...this is funny...how could that shit ever end up on an album with the VH initials on it...

[chuckjitsu]

... but, dammit, if there aren't some tasty vintage riffs to be found.

This is where I'm at too, but unfortunately they're mostly wasted by Sam "singing" his crap lyrics over the top of them. The fact that they could go 28 years between albums with Dave and then have that album be better (by a wide margin) than anything done during the entirety of the Sam era pretty much says it all- Van Halen is better with Dave. Period. That's why we're all here, right? ;)

[ELVIS]

Van Halen is better with Dave. Period. That's why we're all here, right? ;)

Amen to dat !!


:killer:

[VAiN]

You know what this thread needs...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WLK3hKjk2Y
Musta lied, 'cause Dave ain't leavin...

[Terry]

I vacillate between enjoying trashing all-things-Hagar and being angry about it. With this current thread, I feel angry. I hear bits and pieces of musical promise peppered throughout the OUhate12 cd that forever annoys me as an unfortunate waste. I know Ed was drunkenly mailing some of this shit in (from his house to the studio next to his house) but, dammit, if there aren't some tasty vintage riffs to be found. I almost wish I could strip away the vocals and just plug isolated tracks of Dave screaming over it.

In some ways, the instrumental tracks during the Van Hagar years that weren't synth-pop cheese or 2nd rate hambone hack rock - the instrumental tracks that were actually half-decent (and I'll agree there were some to be found on every album) - were even tougher to listen to than the worthless fluff.

The worthless fluff wouldn't have been much better even if Roth HAD sung over it (you can't polish a turd, and I point to Jump as a prime example - the only worthwhile aspect of the song are the off-kilter lyrics and Roth's delivery). However, there were a few decent guitar-oriented ideas to be found among the Van Hagar drek, and the presence of Sammy made listening to them even more depressing than, say, When It's Love or something along those lines...where I wouldn't even WANT to hear Roth make an attempt to sing over that stuff.

[Nitro Express]

I listen to these songs and can't help but think a lot of butt fucking took place at 5150 in the late 80's and early 90's.

[Yount]

I don't know where to put this video but in it Sammy is wearing a classic "I eat 'em raw" shirt with bum-bag!

Who's going to own up to wearing a fanny pack in the early 90's? ha ha I did!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPOzNaqFSnU&NR=1&feature=endscreen

[Nickdfresh]

I think Sam's shirt was an homage to salad tossing!

[fraroc]

The fact that Dave and the boys are playing giant football stadiums and enema bag is playing in shitty dive bars and tiny theatres is just more and more proof that Spam's overall mean-spiritedness to Eddie is coming back to fuck him up.

[Angel]

The fact that Dave and the boys are playing giant football stadiums and enema bag is playing in shitty dive bars and tiny theatres is just more and more proof that Spam's overall mean-spiritedness to Eddie is coming back to fuck him up.

What giant football stadium???

[Yount]

...more proof that Spam's overall mean-spiritedness to Eddie is coming back to fuck him up.

Maybe there's some karmic retribution in play here but Sammy is just a plain Jane average vocalist, that explains the difference in venue size more accurately.

[Zing!]

Saw the Stones twice in a football stadium with 69,999 of my closest friends. Nothing quite like it....

[DLR Bridge]

...there were a few decent guitar-oriented ideas to be found among the Van Hagar drek, and the presence of Sammy made listening to them even more depressing than, say, When It's Love or something along those lines...where I wouldn't even WANT to hear Roth make an attempt to sing over that stuff.


I think AFU, Black and Blue, Source of Infection and Sucker in a 3 Piece each had sporadic moments of the classic sound and vibe. Enough to make me think that, for as much as Ed wanted to venture forth into the realm of Journey softness with his keyboard tunes, even he knew he could never fully strip himself away from his signature dirty, raw sound and style. Even the way the guitars were recorded on those songs were a pinch reminiscent of VH II. The same atmospheric sound from miking the back of the cabinets was there. On the follow up to that CD, I thought Runaround and parts of Pleasuredome had a vintage musical feel to it. More wasted ideas. Such a drag.

[78/84 guy]

0u8her2 isn't even a good solo Sammy album, let alone a VH album. And that's all I call the Van Hagar albums. Solo Sammy with a good band. Black and Blue was o.k. And Sucker. I mean Hot For Teacher was only 4 years earlier. Ed's worst guitar tone his whole career.

[envy_me]

I've never heard this album. But now I'm on Spotify listening it for the first time.

The first thing I notice is sound. With Dave they had some subtle melancholy and tounge in cheek, humorous, kinda charming and flirtatious sound. Hard to explain. Well, that's definitelly gone.

Edit: Damn, how long is this first song?? An hour? That's what it feels like...

[envy_me]

Second song... Is this Tina Turner??? With some Whitesnake.

Love the backing vocals: naa, naa, naaa, naaaaa, na, na.. So hardcore.

[FORD]

Second song... Is this Tina Turner??? With some Whitesnake.

Love the backing vocals: naa, naa, naaa, naaaaa, na, na.. So hardcore.

Sounds like a bunch of sheep..... which is appropriate, considering the sheep were the only ones who considered this piece of velveeta drenched crap to be "music"

[sadaist]

Saw the Stones twice in a football stadium with 69,999 of my closest friends. Nothing quite like it....


totally!

what you lose in sound and being close to the band, you gain in just the event & spectacle of it all. I will always prefer stadium shows to all others.

I've been with a dozen friends & it was a huge party. I've been alone & it was a huge party. Just nothing quite like 70,000 people singing along to a great song.


Mick..."pleased to meet you..."

70,000 fans ....."WHOOO HOOOO"

Mick...."hope you guess my name..."

70,000 fans...."WHOOO HOOOO"

[envy_me]

Sounds like a bunch of sheep..... which is appropriate, considering the sheep were the only ones who considered this piece of velveeta drenched crap to be "music"

Hey, wait now there. What did sheep ever do to you :D

[FORD]

Hey, wait now there. What did sheep ever do to you :D

Obviously you don't know the history of the Pasture Dump and VH Links. :biggrin:

[envy_me]

Naturally wired. Wow, you are Sammy, you are.
Now we know what it would sound like if sammy ever gave birth.

[envy_me]

Cabo Wabo. My stomach is revolting. I could blame on that chili con carne I made earlier. But we all know that's not the case.
You can tell this song is made in 1988. What's up with the choir of backing vocals?

[envy_me]

Source of Infection. Isn't that ironic?

[FORD]

Cabo Wabo. My stomach is revolting. I could blame on that chili con carne I made earlier. But we all know that's not the case.
You can tell this song is made in 1988. What's up with the choir of backing vocals?

It's a 7 minute tequila commercial. What would you expect?

[envy_me]

Feels so good. That's NOT what she said :D

[Zing!]

You are a glutton for punishment, Envy. OU812 and 5150 have not aged well at all. The 6-pack is timeless - it always sounds good. The Van Haggar years didn't get a decent sound until '91 or so (and even then I can't stand Ed's tone - much less Haggar's 'singing.') Ironically, as someone who admittedly listened to this garbage back in the day (hey, I was young and dumb... what can I say?) OU812 had Ed's best tone out of all of them in my opinion. It sounds like he used the old 5150 guitar from the '84 tour to record it. There's actually some really good music on the disc, but it's all ruined by Haggar's atrocious lyrics and average attempts to sing them. Basically it's a late-80's pop album that could have been released by any given band at the time. Nothing about it screams VAN HALEN! Even the album cover is bland.

[envy_me]

Finish what you started. I love the chorus!! What a melody. Come on baby finish what you started...

[envy_me]

You are a glutton for punishment, Envy. OU812 and 5150 have not aged well at all. The 6-pack is timeless - it always sounds good. The Van Haggar years didn't get a decent sound until '91 or so (and even then I can't stand Ed's tone - much less Haggar's 'singing.') Ironically, as someone who admittedly listened to this garbage back in the day (hey, I was young and dumb... what can I say?) OU812 had Ed's best tone out of all of them in my opinion. It sounds like he used the old 5150 guitar from the '84 tour to record it. There's actually some really good music on the disc, but it's all ruined by Haggar's atrocious lyrics and average attempts to sing them. Basically it's a late-80's pop album that could have been released by any given band at the time. Nothing about it screams VAN HALEN! Even the album cover is bland.

It's more pop then rock. HATE the backing vocals. The melodies suck. Very simple and banal. With Dave they had charm and playfullness.

P.S. What does it mean "You are a glutton for punishment"?

[Zing!]

It means you enjoy torturing yourself.

Pretty much sums up the Van Haggar years, doesn't it?

[envy_me]

It means you enjoy torturing yourself.

Pretty much sums up the Van Haggar years, doesn't it?

Hahahaha, for listening to it? I know. The worst thing is that my poor cats are in the room. They didn't choose this. I should play it in the spring, they'll probably wanna mate with my computer :D
I just thought that before opening my mouth, I should know what I'm talking about.

[envy_me]

"Give me everything I want, give me everything I need". How original and imaginative. What's next? Together, forever? I woke up this morning?

[78/84 guy]

Second song... Is this Tina Turner??? With some Whitesnake.

Love the backing vocals: naa, naa, naaa, naaaaa, na, na.. So hardcore.

With all due respect to Mike, that's why I don't miss him on the new album. It's just sounds 80's

[envy_me]

I have taken a shower and resetted my ears now. Come on, how could have it not turned out like this.
Dave was sleeping with their wives, Sammy provided them with tequila. It makes sense.

Sammy probably needed to keep them sedated with tequila and throw sand in their eyes so they wouldn't fire him from the band.

[Terry]

I think AFU, Black and Blue, Source of Infection and Sucker in a 3 Piece each had sporadic moments of the classic sound and vibe. Enough to make me think that, for as much as Ed wanted to venture forth into the realm of Journey softness with his keyboard tunes, even he knew he could never fully strip himself away from his signature dirty, raw sound and style. Even the way the guitars were recorded on those songs were a pinch reminiscent of VH II. The same atmospheric sound from miking the back of the cabinets was there. On the follow up to that CD, I thought Runaround and parts of Pleasuredome had a vintage musical feel to it. More wasted ideas. Such a drag.

Source Of Infection sounded like a reworked, lesser version of Hot For Teacher to my ears. AFU's main riff and pre-chorus guitar work was interesting. B&B and Suck3P are just mundane.

I will say I really liked the instrumentation on Pleasuredome. Unlike a lot of the Van Hagar music, THAT was a track I would have been interested to hear Roth do something with...it kinda reminds me of the title track to Scyscraper in a slightly removed way.

[envy_me]

The last song is actually the best on this album. It's only 3 minutes long :D

[Nitro Express]

I have taken a shower and resetted my ears now. Come on, how could have it not turned out like this.
Dave was sleeping with their wives, Sammy provided them with tequila. It makes sense.

Sammy probably needed to keep them sedated with tequila and throw sand in their eyes so they wouldn't fire him from the band.

Sammy brought in a good manager who found out Warner Brothers was ripping off Van Halen and called them out on it. He managed to get $10 million of "We're Sorry" money out of them and negotiated better deals for the band. Once Ray Daniels got in he started playing the brothers off of Sammy in the classic divide and conquer strategy because Ray wanted Sammy out of the band because Sam was too smart management and business wise but was expendable as far as an artist goes. The mistake Ray made was not getting Roth back in thinking his puppet Gary Cherone could make it work. Ray wanted Gary because he owned his ass. He probably thought he couldn't handle Roth and that was probably true.

[envy_me]

I always thought that Gary was the one that left this whole mess with some self respect and dignity intact.
He was wrong for VH, but I like him.

.

[Nitro Express]

Gary would have never been in VH if it wasn't for Ray Daniels. Yeah, Gary went out, did his best, the chemistry wasn't right and just ducked out. The thing is Ray Daniels should have known it wasn't going to work but hey this is the same guy that wanted Geddy Lee out of Rush.

[Nitro Express]

Sammy Hagar really is more of a businessman that a serious artist. What he brought into Van Halen was better business sense, a better management team, better record deals and more mainstream marketing. The guy isn't a flake. He knows what he's doing, he's just a hack when lyrics and music is concerned. He's created some god awful stuff.

[envy_me]

Yeah, he is a business man, a car dealer personality. That is what managers are for. A front man has to be charismatic.

[VHscraps]

I remember reading in the Hagar autobiography that was stopped with an injunction - Red Storm Rising, it was called - where he spoke about being in Montrose in the mid-70s and never making any money, but - and this is the interesting bit to me - he visited an old teacher when the band were playing in London, opening for The Who at Charlton ('74?), and she introduced him to vintage wines.

What did ole Sammy do? Develop a taste for the stuff, like Ed and his cheapo Smoking Loon years later? Nah, of course not - he said that from that moment onwards he started collecting bottles of vintage wine as investments !!

What he was introduced to wasn't the taste of fine wines, but the fact that this stuff changes hands for a lot of money, especially if you hold onto it for a while.

Damn right he was a businessman - most other rockers back then would have been glugging that stuff like there was no tomorrow.

[VHscraps]

I remember reading in the Hagar autobiography that was stopped with an injunction - Red Storm Rising, it was called - where he spoke about being in Montrose in the mid-70s and never making any money, but - and this is the interesting bit to me - he visited an old teacher when the band were playing in London, opening for The Who at Charlton ('74?), and she introduced him to vintage wines.

What did ole Sammy do? Develop a taste for the stuff, like Ed and his cheapo Smoking Loon years later? Nah, of course not - he said that from that moment onwards he started collecting bottles of vintage wine as investments !!

What he was introduced to wasn't the taste of fine wines, but the fact that this stuff changes hands for a lot of money, especially if you hold onto it for a while.

Damn right he was a businessman - most other rockers back then would have been glugging that stuff like there was no tomorrow.

[78/84 guy]

You must have read it twice. lol

[VHscraps]

Aha - I was getting an error message 'Are you sure you want to leave this page' when I tried to post quick reply. I cancelled it, but it posted twice anyway.

[78/84 guy]

I have gotten that same thing twice in the last few days.

[LoungeMachine]

I got escorted out of the venue by the police during the OU812 tour. I saw the show in Salt Lake City and got arrested for public drunkeness. LOL!

Didn't you also work security for VH?

:gulp:

It's getting hard to keep up....

[DLR Bridge]

The mistake Ray made was not getting Roth back in thinking his puppet Gary Cherone could make it work. Ray wanted Gary because he owned his ass. He probably thought he couldn't handle Roth and that was probably true.

One of my favorite exerpts from Dave's book was when he told Ray Danniels that classic Van Halen was the whole book and that he (Ray) was just part of a disposable chapter. Somethin' like that.

[ashstralia]

yessah.. you the spice? i'm the rice. :yo:

[Little Texan]

Didn't you also work security for VH?

:gulp:

It's getting hard to keep up....

I'm starting to think Nitro is actually this guy...

[Zing!]

From wiki:

"Mine All Mine" kicks off the album. During production in a ten day period, Sammy Hagar was having a hard time writing lyrics to the song, until one day, Donn Landee suggested that everybody leave so he and Hagar could work on the lyrics alone. After seven rewrites and a bottle of tequila, Hagar sang the vocals from beginning to end in one take."

So there you go. The only tune on the album with reasonably intelligent lyrics was written by Donn Landee.

[Matt White]

I'm starting to think Nitro is actually this guy...



I though he was this guy!!!!

[Va Beach VH Fan]

From wiki:

"Mine All Mine" kicks off the album. During production in a ten day period, Sammy Hagar was having a hard time writing lyrics to the song, until one day, Donn Landee suggested that everybody leave so he and Hagar could work on the lyrics alone. After seven rewrites and a bottle of tequila, Hagar sang the vocals from beginning to end in one take."

For fucks sake, were there ANY lyrics that Bette DIDN'T have a hard time writing ?

[Zing!]

For fucks sake, were there ANY lyrics that Bette DIDN'T have a hard time writing ?

I realize that's a rhetorical question, but I'm guessing Haggar doesn't have a hard time writing lyrics at all... as long as it's about pussy and booze and pot and fast cars and love (hence, more of the same on the BOBW bonus tracks, not to mention the Chickenshit albums). Ask him to get out of his box though, to write something a little deeper, and the light-bulb starts to flicker. The man has essentially sang about the same shit for 40 years. Whereas D-Ro has offered up thought-provoking, insightful, tongue-in-cheek poetry disguised as rock lyrics for the same amount of time.

[VAiN]

From wiki:

"Mine All Mine" kicks off the album. During production in a ten day period, Sammy Hagar was having a hard time writing lyrics to the song, until one day, Donn Landee suggested that everybody leave so he and Hagar could work on the lyrics alone. After seven rewrites and a bottle of tequila, Hagar sang the vocals from beginning to end in one take."

So there you go. The only tune on the album with reasonably intelligent lyrics was written by Donn Landee.

You make a very good point there.. That entire album is like a greatest hits of terrible lyrics.. It's embarrassingly bad.

[Little Texan]

I though he was this guy!!!!



That sounds like one of Nitro's stories, alright.

[Va Beach VH Fan]

"Owww.... Come on baby.... Wooo...... Dig it ya'll.......Owww"

- Exceprts from any Sammy Hagar-written song.......

[philouze]

For fucks sake, were there ANY lyrics that Bette DIDN'T have a hard time writing ?

Yep, any DLR written song...

[chefcraig]

http://img1.imagehousing.com/77/cae00c78575266325b31e15f859c72ba.jpg (http://www.imagehousing.com/image/1085853)

[philouze]

The question I asked the first time I've heard Justice by Metallica.

[chefcraig]

The question I asked the first time I've heard Justice by Metallica.

Funny you should say that, because when I was making this thing, I thought of making a second one at the time featuring And Justice For All for a different web site!
:lmao:

[philouze]

Great minds think alike, my man...

[FORD]

It is ironic that the two bands who headlined the Monsters of Rock tour in 1988 seemed to be in a competition as to who could put the least amount of bass on their records.

Probably just as ironic that both came back in 1991 with albums that had the bass cranked to 11. (Full credit to Ted Templeman and Andy Johns, in Van Hagar's case)

[philouze]

Funny that Templeman "boosted" their sound, after being booted. (He did get the boot, didn't he?)

[chefcraig]

It is ironic that the two bands who headlined the Monsters of Rock tour in 1988 seemed to be in a competition as to who could put the least amount of bass on their records.

The single greatest contribuition to music Guns & Roses ever made was when Steven Adler appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone wearing a shirt with the word "Monsters" scratched out and "Hamsters" written over it. (Summed up my feelings at the time, perfectly.) Supposedly, the ever fragile Edward Van Halen (http://artofrock.tumblr.com/) called up the drummer in order to voice his displeasure.


http://img1.imagehousing.com/20/aa5a1d1a3f41862ada8751cf120bcad5.jpg (http://www.imagehousing.com/image/1085872)

[philouze]

Hamsters Of Rock. Great shit !!! I love Adler. Always have.

[VAiN]

Supposedly, the ever fragile Edward Van Halen (http://artofrock.tumblr.com/) called up the drummer in order to voice his displeasure.


http://img1.imagehousing.com/20/aa5a1d1a3f41862ada8751cf120bcad5.jpg (http://www.imagehousing.com/image/1085872)


Eddie should have hung up the phone and yelled at himself in the mirror for letting his band become a fucking joke.

[ThrillsNSpills]

I'm surprised so many read Sam's book.

I just figured it would be all revisionist history

[Zing!]

Haven't 'red' a word of it.

Bud-dum-dum...

[DLR Bridge]

I'll admit, I read the chunk that was printed in Rolling Stone and became pissed off enough to want to see more. Like driving past a car wreck on the highway. Sometimes, ya just can't look away. The important thing was that I gave Mr. Round none of my money. Just a little bit of my time.

You can learn a lot about some one you loathe when you give them some of your attention. It's a form of keeping friends close, but enemies closer in a respect.

If the Van Halens ever gave him another shot after all he said, I'd be shocked and disgusted. All over again. The man just stinks in every way.

[philouze]

Haven't 'red' a word of it.

Bud-dum-dum...

Ka-Pssshhhhh
Great one.

[Terry]

I'm surprised so many read Sam's book.

I just figured it would be all revisionist history

Meh. It was dirt-cheap...less than 50% of the original cover price in a local Barnes and Noble...so I picked it up. Had already read the parts of the book regarding the 2004 tour printed in Rolling Stone when it was first released and found those interesting enough in a voyeuristic, "look how fucked up Eddie was" way, so I figured there'd be some other semi-decent stuff in there as well.

Really, it just expanded upon the usual stuff Hagar has been blathering about for years: "I had a massively successful solo career before joining Van Halen (I'd say he was, at best, moderately successful)", "David Lee Roth isn't nearly as talented as I am", "Van Halen sold more records when I was in the band than they did with Roth"...the usual, perpetual Hagar-propagated delusions.

The guy didn't come off QUITE as charmless as, say, Gene Simmons did in HIS book, but ran him a close second...particularly when writing about his ex-wife (his rationale was something along the lines that Hagar cheated on her only because she didn't satisfy him, so it was really his wife's fault that he slept with other women). This aspect also carried over toward his explanations for why every other rock band he was in didn't work out: "It was the other guys who were fucked up, not me."

Reading it was a quick, simple experience that left virtually nothing in the way of resonance whatsoever...much like listening to his music.

[DONNIEP]

It's 3 bucks in the iBook store. 272 pages?? I woulda thought he'd have way more than that to say about himself. I guess there's only so many ways to say "look at me"...

[DLR Bridge]

Use the 3 bucks towards your kids stocking stuffers. Not this book!

[Zing!]

Ka-Pssshhhhh
Great one.

Thankyaverymuch ladles and germs I'm here all week. Don't forget to tip the piano player on your way out!

:yo:

[chefcraig]

Meh. It was dirt-cheap...the usual, perpetual Hagar-propagated delusions.

The guy didn't come off QUITE as charmless as, say, Gene Simmons did in HIS book, but ran him a close second...particularly when writing about his ex-wife (his rationale was something along the lines that Hagar cheated on her only because she didn't satisfy him, so it was really his wife's fault that he slept with other women). This aspect also carried over toward his explanations for why every other rock band he was in didn't work out: "It was the other guys who were fucked up, not me."

Reading it was a quick, simple experience that left virtually nothing in the way of resonance whatsoever...much like listening to his music.

Even better, we got a copy the same day that the blithering idiot Steven Tyler's autobio of sheer gibberish arrived, so I had more than enough free reading material for bathroom breaks while at work. And trust me, you truly needed to be firmly seated over the shitter to read either one.

Put it this way: I've had to replace both Slash's and Keef Richard's books at least twice each due to outright theft, all the while never, ever getting a request or inquiry about the Red-Cock-Up's life story. Believe it or not, there is balance in the universe, and I firmly think that this proves it.

[vandeleur]

if your gonna steal a book Keef's is the one :D

[Terry]

Even better, we got a copy the same day that the blithering idiot Steven Tyler's autobio of sheer gibberish arrived, so I had more than enough free reading material for bathroom breaks while at work. And trust me, you truly needed to be firmly seated over the shitter to read either one.

Put it this way: I've had to replace both Slash's and Keef Richard's books at least twice each due to outright theft, all the while never, ever getting a request or inquiry about the Red-Cock-Up's life story. Believe it or not, there is balance in the universe, and I firmly think that this proves it.

Yeah...I saw Tyler had something that came out...honestly, I thought the Steven Davis Walk This Way Aerosmith bio covered just about everything I wanted to know about Tyler...and Tyler and Aerosmith from roughly 1990 onward haven't done much that would even make me wanna read anything to find out more about the last twenty years.

Slash kinda falls into that same category in the sense that I liked what he did with GnR but haven't really given too much of shit about what he's done since then (and I know the guy is successful, but to me he's less of a rock icon than a drunken, doped up buffoon with a cliched rock star image who got lucky - I mean, in terms of guitar players being overrated, Slash would easily make my top 10 list...not to belittle what he did in terms of GnR, but to me GnR was a great band, not just the 'Axl and Slash' show).

Keith Richards DID put out a really fucking good book. Not a shock though. He's always given great interviews. The thing that amazed me was that Richards managed to make the whole saga of the Rolling Stones compelling to someone like me who has read loads and loads about them already.