DIVER DOWN Revisited

[Hecubus]

Hmmm...Diver Down....

A great album, but it doesn't have the strength the others do due to 1 thing....Dancin' in the Streets and to a lesser extent, Pretty Woman.
Don't get me wrong, the Van Halenized version of PW is good, but I think they could have gone one better & really paid tribute to their influences...a la Cream.

The rest of the album kicks, and the Full Bug is Top Five in =VH= songs in my book. It grabs you by the throat & wipes the bar & mops the floor with you at closing time.

Anyone who says that the band can't do a power ballad-ish song, needs to listen to Secrets & then can shut the fuck up as well.

Merry Xmas & Happy hanukkhah(sp), kids!

[Bill Lumbergh]

Originally posted by Balue
It's bad....

VH albums were always short but before DD they were packed with quality. A half hour with this much filler?

Just programme the original numbers and it's still by far the weakest set of songs this line up recorded. Totally lost touch with why they were so great in the first place. Too many drugs?, too much booze?, under pressure to make a hit record?, I don't know. I've always been impressed that the band managed to turn it around and come back so strong with 1984. Eddie really works hard on that album, totally inspired, commercial without compromise. Gives a clue as to why Dave walked at that point - 1984 is the sound of Eddie taking back full musical control of the band.

Anyway, just admit it, one of the DLR VH albums isn't very good. Go on, it won't kill you :D .

So you dont dig Hang em High, Secrets, Little Guitars, and The Full Bug?! FAG ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!

[secrets]

You don't like Diver Down then you missed the whole point of what Dave era Van Halen was all about.

So it's got a load of covers so what. It's not what you play but how you play it. Van Halen made those songs even better than the originals anyway.

In short, an underrated masterpiece.

[Blacklisted]

Originally posted by secrets
You don't like Diver Down then you missed the whole point of what Dave era Van Halen was all about.

So it's got a load of covers so what. It's not what you play but how you play it. Van Halen made those songs even better than the originals anyway.

In short, an underrated masterpiece.

Lets not forget VH's first single was a cover. Dancing in the Streets is awesome if you like California Girls by the DLR I can't see why you dont like Dancing in The Streets.


DLR kicks so much ass.

[Rikk]

Been listening to the six-pack a LOT this week. I want to bump these and maybe get some good discussion. I'm proud of these write-ups I did.

[fryingdutchman]

Another great review Rikk!

"Disjointed" is definitely a good word to use for this one, but that fact is part of DD's charm.

Again, the boys had the approach of "fuck it, we're gonna try this, and we're gonna try that" and by that time, they had earned the right to do so.

I agree with you about "Cathedral"....but I gotta say I still love watching EVH do it live. Just seeing him tapping his foot and working that progression up and down the neck while just rotating that single volume knob is very cool.

[4moreyears]

Re: DIVER DOWN Revisited

Originally posted by Rikk


LITTLE GUITARS
Another masterpiece. The band was a truly creative goliath during these years. Numbers like this and GIRL GONE BAD still astound me. The guitar sound (from Ed's tiny guitar) is marvellous. Dave is really on fire here (although I wasn't sure the first time I heard it). I love Al's simple opening drum intro. My favorite part of the song is actually Ed's little elephant noise guitar part in the song's softer breakdown. Listen for it...it's magnificent. At least the band had the guts to pull this one out live on the 1984 tour. I don't remember them doing it on any of the DIVER DOWN boots I have. Anyway, another reason I consider this album possibly the band's most overlooked gem. (And my favorite lyric ever..."Can't crow before I'm out of the woods, but there's exceptions to the rule."

They played Pretty Women in the Madison boot.

[NATEDOG001976]

Good VH album, my least favorite classic VH Album though.

[Redballjets88]

i love diver down its dave's album it is riddled with daves influence just as fw is riddled with eddies influence

[Thorman]

Worst VH album ever...WITHOUT A DOUBT


BAM

[4moreyears]

Originally posted by Thorman
Worst VH album ever...WITHOUT A DOUBT


BAM

Which one 5150, OU812, F.U.C.K., Balance? YOu did not say.

[Thorman]

Originally posted by 4moreyears
Which one 5150, OU812, F.U.C.K., Balance? YOu did not say.

How about in this order.....Diver Down, 1984, VhII, Women and Children First, Vh1 and Fair Warning being the only one of the bunch which is half decent

BAM

[4moreyears]

Nice Try Fuck Face

[Vinnie Velvet]

I love Diver Down!

I can see why it gets knocked around as the least fave of the six pack.

Its a short album, but lots of gems too:

Secrets (one of my fave CVH songs ever! Just shows you how great the combo of Dave and Ed and how shitty Sam with Ed were).

Hang Em High (classic Halen---awesome)

Little Guitars (another favorite --- love the intro)

The Full Bug (another classic)

Where have all the good times gone? (my fave cover tune from DD -- great hook).