5150 was a decent album but not great, I didn't mind OU812 although the mix was bad...the bass was totally lost in the mix. My favorite Hagar era VH album is For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge which I thought was a great album. I wasn't nuts over Balance although it wasn't horrible.

I loved Eat 'Em and Smile and didn't like Skyscraper...although I saw both the EEAS and Skyscraper tours. I especially didn't like the tune Stand Up off Skyscraper. I thought Vai's guitar work was good as usual on Skyscraper but overall the tunes didn't do it for me. The only tunes I kind of like from Skyscraper are Hina, Damn Good, and the title track Skyscraper(I really liked Vai's rhythm work on that track and the mix). I recall back in the day people referring to that album as Skycrapper.

I thought ALAE was a much better album than Skyscraper, song wise. I saw Dave's band in some club back when ALAE first came out. If I had to choose the two solo Dave albums I like, they're EEAS and ALAE.

All in all I like any of VH's first six albums with Dave more than what either camp did seperately.

 

Having gotten into VH a little later (I was pretty young April 1 1985, 7 I think lol) I love every album before 1985 and every album after, I thought 5150 was awesome, I still wish they would have added "I Want Some Action" on it, I think Yankee Rose is a kickass tune, but that is about all I really heard of off EEAS, I never really got into solo Dave much, I also think OU812 would sound soooooooooo much better if it were remastered even saying that I still love it, some kickass rockers like A.F.U. (Naturally Wired), Cabo Wabo, Black and Blue, Sucka In A Three Piece, Source Of Infection and Finish What Ya Started is just badass, and say what you will about VH and ballads but when they do a balled it always sounds amazing i.e. When It's Love, and I love Feels Soo Good that song does exactly that, and I absolutly love Mine All Mine, I totally agree with you Carmine about One Way to Rock, it always kicks major ass hearing Eddie and Sammy trading licks on that tune!! :thumb: :thumb: :icon_head My absolute fav of the Sammy era is FUCK though, that album is sooooooooo damn awesome, and I love Balance as well, the tunes, the prouduction and Eddie's tone and playing on that album is sooo awesome, I would say IMO his tone on Balance and the Balance tour ranks right up there with his tone on VH I :thumb: :thumb:

 

There was a Van Halen after 1985? :wtf: :24:

It was a definite change in direction from the Kings of rock up until this point. A few good songs on 5150, but that album was somewhat written before Dave left, wasn't it? Just needed vocals?? Afterwards, I can think of a couple of songs from each album, but nothing ever felt like the the rock & roll up through 1984 except snippets here and there...

 

My favorite Hagar era VH album is For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge which I thought was a great album.

....That is my all time favorite album out of both VH era's....I like Dave and i like Sammy... Sammy brings passion and heart...Dave brought the party and fun..So they both had there own unique qualities....To me one is no better than the other...VH will live on as being one of the best rock n roll bands,with both Dave and Sammy....We had fun and we partied with the early VH..Then with later VH we madelove and we felt passion..So we had the Best Of Both Worlds...So lets just enjoy them both...Its all rock n roll...Long live right?

 

I can think of a couple of songs from each album, but nothing ever felt like the the rock & roll up through 1984 except snippets here and there...

That sums up my thoughts too...

 

April 1, 1985...the day that the news broke about David Lee Roth leaving Van Halen. What were your thoughts when you first heard the news that Dave was starting his own band and that Sammy Hagar would be the new singer for VH? How bout when you first heard "Why can't this be love"? and "Yankee Rose"?

I will not answer how I felt when I first heard the news about DLR being replaced. My parents weren't even married, and it would be six years before I was even born. I will however comment on when I first heard the tunes:

In 2001, I was all Dave. "Hot For Teacher" was my favorite Van Halen song at the time (and my alltime favorite song to this day). I liked Van Halen since VH3, but really started becoming a fan around this period. Around Mother's Day, my mom got Best of Vol. 1. I was quite familiar with the VH catalogue at that time, and wasnt really interested in Sammy. Tracks one through eight, then sixteen and seventeen for me. Now, late in that year I decided to pop in BOV1 in the car, because my dad wanted to listen to it picking up my sister and mom at the American Girl store in downtown Chicago. First Hagar song being "Why Can't This Be Love" comes on after "Panama". All of the sudden, something clicks. Very odd how that happened. I just started listening to the song, lyrically, and I fell in love with it. That very moment. Took me six months to become an equal fan of VH because I was all Dave until June 2002 (because at my Sam / Dave show, Sam was great and Dave sounded like shit). Now, I respect both eras equally, seeing them as simply the same band, just a different attitude.

In 2003 I bought "The Best" at Best Buy in Orland Park. The folks decided to pop it in the stereo, but only skipped to tracks they liked. "Don't Piss Me Off" was skipped instantly. Frankly, I still skip it to this day. Then "Yankee Rose" comes on, and the first thought running through my mind after hearing "Let me roll up to the sidewalk and take a look. WHOA! She's beautiful!" were, "Yep, that's Dave!" My parents remember the song, calling it "absolutely stupid" skipping straight to "Just Like Paradise" while not even listening to another great song, "A Lil' Ain't Enough". Now, to this day, and its been like this for the last three years listening to the song, everytime I hear Billy Sheehan's opening basslines, I just jam thinking "This could have been Michael Anthony doing this..." But DAMN, the song is constantly giving me goosebumps, and Billy Sheehan's basslines really seal the deal, at least for me.

So in a contest between WCTBL and Yankee Rose, my pick is Yankee Rose, however, still remembering Why Can't This Be Love being the song that got me hooked on Van Hagar.

My first thought was "cool"...now we'll have 2 versions of my favorite band! I knew who Hagar was, he had that "55" tune right? I figured VH will still sound the same....just a different singer with Eddies guitar. Daves new band will sound more like VH. This could be cool.

Its a shame how when I became a VH fan, I thought it was all Dave. I didnt think there was a Hagar in the picture until I asked why "Poundcake" sounded so different vocally. Didn't know he was the "55" guy, but always knew him for "Heavy Metal"

I remember VIVIDLY, the first time I heard WCTBL on the radio....me, my sister and my parents were coming home from our camp in the Adirondacks...I didn't even realize it was VH at first..until I picked up on the familiar drum sound of Alex. I was like WTF is this crap? This is VAN HALEN??? I still detest that song to this very day..I cannot even listen to it...it is just horrible.

As said in the song description post, I didnt like WCTBL, but it grew on me in the longrun.

But, the hope was still there, I bought 5150 and rushed home to listen...

"Get up"..decent tune, I liked the "helloooooooooo babay"..thing when I first heard it.It was like "Hi,I'm Sammy..whats up!?"... "Summer Nights" great song...still gets play on my stereo now and then...

What I found was 3 or 4 songs that somewhat resemble VH...and 4 songs that "what kind of crap is this? came to mind" If you listen to "Inside"...thats me asking "hey, what kind of crap is this"..lmao....

I agree the heavier tunes sound a lot like VH. And any Dave fan like yourself should enjoy "Summer Nights" because of the history behind it. The song was formerly "Eat Thy Neighbor" musically, but when Sammy came, the groove sorta changed and became "Summer Nights"

I also heard that "Get Up" and "Good Enough", the album's two other headbangers, were musically recycled from the 1984-1985 VH / DLR sessions.

Switch to Dave...I saw the world premier video for "Yankee Rose"....and knew that I would be following Dave for good...he had the VAN HALEN magic with him...this new guitar player seemed pretty good too..(lol) EEAS was full of the VH attitude that I thought 5150 lacked..there were glimmers of old Van Halen on 5150, but overall, I thought EEAS was far better and more like VH. I saw the EEAS tour 5 times...I passed on the 5150 tour...

Yet to see / hear anything from the EEAS tour (even though I'd love to). All I can say is, passing on 5150 may not have been the best idea, because thats the closest thing you'd get to CVH. Trust me, they sounded so classic on that tour. A Dave fan would've definitely enjoyed it. Live Without A Net was different from most shows, because they figured the WCTBL style was popular amongst a commercial audience, their performance is for fans who enjoyed that. Best show for classic sound off that tour would be Fort Wayne, May 2, 1986. (and if you're curious, I'm re-issuing that show on my label last week of this month)

Still, I was not done with VH just yet. I was still hopeful but...then OU812 was born....see it was THIS album that killed me....not 5150. 5150 had flashes of VH...OU812 was just horrendous. Even fans of the Hagar led VH regard this album as the worst of the bunch.

The majority of VH fans see this album as cheese, but its my favorite VH album to date. Over any CVH album to. And I think the reason you and I have different thoughts on this is because:

#1 - I'm a Van Hagar fan just as much as a CVH fan.

#2 - Since I am a Van Hagar fan, I gave this album multiple listens and realized how diverse the whole thing really is. "Mine All Mine" "Cabo Wabo" "Finish What Ya Started" and "A Apoltical Blues" really show diversity in many ways. "A.F.U. (Naturally Wired)" "When Its Love" and "Black and Blue" showcase where the band was at with THEIR sound. The other seven songs were an experiment, in my eyes. These three songs show where the band themselves were, basically starting where they left off on "5150" with these three songs. They also stay true to CVH SOUND and ENERGY in "Sucker In A 3 Piece" and "Source of Infection" however, the lyrics remain the worst in the bunch.

My $0.02

Daves releases Skyscraper....more "popsy" than EEAS but still a solid album....Lots of great tunes on this record. I saw the Skyscraper tour 4 times...I passed on the OU812 tour when they came to the Dome.

I really disliked "Skyscraper". Keyboards ruined it for me, because it just wasn't "Dave" enough. "Just Like Paradise" remains my alltime favorite solo DLR track, plus there is also "Stand Up" and "Damn Good". Sadly those are the only highs on the album I can think of.

I've heard from hundreds of Roth fans that they had gone to see the 1988 MOR tour and have said "I don't like Van Hagar, but will admit I had one of the best concert experiences of my life. The band was SMOKIN' that night!"

I'll let you guys chime in here now...This thread is just getting started...



(For the record: my favorite Sammy with VH tune is "One way to rock"...lmao....if that tells ya anything. Put on the version from Right Here, Right Now....friggin tune smokes!!!)

I dislike the OWTR on RHRN. The best version I've heard is probably from "Live Without A Net". Badass performance!

That's everything you need to know. Spent too long on this fuckin' thread. Great idea, though, man! I enjoyed posting in this one.:irock:

 

I was alittle kid back in the mid 80's... My brother who was a teenager brought home the albums and the last album he bought was 1984, so I didn't really learn about Hagar to much later.

Honestly, I've bashed both alot... I'm more of a EVH fan. I think classic VH is better, but I don't think it's all because of Dave. Let's face it, Ed changed what he wanted to play. Ed drifted more and more away from party rock... He just got older and changed. It happens that way with alot of people.

 

There's a throng of classic VH fans that didn't care what Dave did after Van Halen and didn't care what VH did with Sammy.

 

Well...one thing is for sure - I am damn old! I suspected it all along but it has been confirmed reading this thread. I was a freshman or sophomore in high school when Van Halen broke up. Conventional wisdom at the time was that it was all Dave's fault. He had done that silly EP and he wanted to do a movie and he was supposedly out of control.....so I was slanted towards the new version of VH before 5150 really hit it big. And it was big. They played Why Can't This Be Love and Best of Both Worlds to death on the radio. The former song really didn't do anything for me but at the time, I really liked BOBW. Not so much today. One song that stood out to me was the title track to 5150. I still think that is a pretty cool tune, truth be known.

But as time wore on and I, well as I said, got old(er), I started enjoying Van Hagar less and less. I was very disallusioned at the commercial slant the band took and I missed the classic sound realizing how unique it was with each new release. I saw a couple of Van Hagar shows and was bitterly disappointed with the selection of songs they played - all the "hits" and none of the songs that made VH so great.

Looking back on it now, it seems to me that Van Halen died when Dave left the band. Those first six albums have really stood the test of time and I still enjoy them like I did at the pool during summer vacation so many years ago. Listening to them really does take me back (no pun intended) to a time when life was a lot more simple and I had so many more of its pleasures to look forward to. The classic six really allows me to revisit my youth as it was the soundtrack to my most formative years - the best times of my life; when the most beautiful 15 year old on the planet, Courtney Fields, was my girl (why the hell didn't I marry her) and I shared my first beers with friends that I thought I would have forever Friday nights at some dead end road. That's what Van Halen means to me.

Van Hagar turned out to be little more than over produced corporate fluff - although there were always a few songs that were ok. And as time marched on it became more and more clear that the break up could not entirely be blamed on Dave. Man, I sure do miss classic Van Halen!

 

I thought there weren't supposed to be any Roth/Hagar argument threads here......

 

There's a throng of classic VH fans that didn't care what Dave did after Van Halen and didn't care what VH did with Sammy.

Like me, I was pissed at the lot of them....

 

Well...one thing is for sure - I am damn old! I suspected it all along but it has been confirmed reading this thread. I was a freshman or sophomore in high school when Van Halen broke up. Conventional wisdom at the time was that it was all Dave's fault. He had done that silly EP and he wanted to do a movie and he was supposedly out of control.....so I was slanted towards the new version of VH before 5150 really hit it big. And it was big. They played Why Can't This Be Love and Best of Both Worlds to death on the radio. The former song really didn't do anything for me but at the time, I really liked BOBW. Not so much today. One song that stood out to me was the title track to 5150. I still think that is a pretty cool tune, truth be known.

But as time wore on and I, well as I said, got old(er), I started enjoying Van Hagar less and less. I was very disallusioned at the commercial slant the band took and I missed the classic sound realizing how unique it was with each new release. I saw a couple of Van Hagar shows and was bitterly disappointed with the selection of songs they played - all the "hits" and none of the songs that made VH so great.

Looking back on it now, it seems to me that Van Halen died when Dave left the band. Those first six albums have really stood the test of time and I still enjoy them like I did at the pool during summer vacation so many years ago. Listening to them really does take me back (no pun intended) to a time when life was a lot more simple and I had so many more of its pleasures to look forward to. The classic six really allows me to revisit my youth as it was the soundtrack to my most formative years - the best times of my life; when the most beautiful 15 year old on the planet, Courtney Fields, was my girl (why the hell didn't I marry her) and I shared my first beers with friends that I thought I would have forever Friday nights at some dead end road. That's what Van Halen means to me.

Van Hagar turned out to be little more than over produced corporate fluff - although there were always a few songs that were ok. And as time marched on it became more and more clear that the break up could not entirely be blamed on Dave. Man, I sure do miss classic Van Halen!

You speak a lot of what I feel as well :thumb: Man, those were some times

 

You speak a lot of what I feel as well :thumb: Man, those were some times

Thanks! and God Bless Texas!

And Figs - I wasn't trying to argue - just share my feelings. Sorry if you didn't like my post but I wasn't trying to discrediting anything anyone else said before me or will say after me.

But to be sure, everything I said in my post is just my opinion - no more valid than any one else's. And if you like Van Halen with Sammy Hagar and it makes you feel as happy as I do when I hear the music I like then God Bless You and I wish you only continued happiness. There. Is that better?

 

I thought there weren't supposed to be any Roth/Hagar argument threads here......

ball buster.:toothless

 

For me, I got into VH right after hearing Jump. So I bought 84 and then bought the other 5 albums. Love the band and could not wait for the follow up. Then BAMMMM. Sammy Hagar. Just knew 55 but that was about it.

I had only been playing guitar for about a year and really loved Ed's playing. Took his side with the divorce. Weird thing happened with Why Can't This Be Love. Heard it on the radio and thought it sounded like VH but in a more pop sense. Then when I bought 5150 it was like "whoa that was VH" Anyway I really loved that album and still love it today. If I could change anything it would be for Alex to rerecord it with real drums and remove Inside and put that other track on there.

Dave came out with Yankee Rose and for me it was like rooting for the Steelers being a Clevelander. Did not want to listen to it. Liked it and all that but it was not Eddie, therefore was not VH.

Anyway I really never got on with Dave's solo career but bought every Sammy album.

One thing is that the Sammy albums is that they sound dated. The CVH albums still stand the test of time. Sammy era outside of 5150 (to me) sound like albums from that era. Actually I think the best analogy is that CVH is like early Aerosmith and early Metallica. Classic music at its best. Sammy era is like late Aerosmith and Black era Metallica. Still good but its commerical.

Well that is my 2 cents.

 

I love Balance as well, the tunes, the prouduction and Eddie's tone and playing on that album is sooo awesome, I would say IMO his tone on Balance and the Balance tour ranks right up there with his tone on VH I :thumb: :thumb:

I might have to go back and listen to this album. I consider this to perhaps be the worst, most bland, forgettable VH album of them all. I couldn't even tell you the names of the songs on it, as I only listened through it maybe twice total before retiring it to the CD rack for good. Which songs on that album are the best? I will recheck them out.

 

I might have to go back and listen to this album. I consider this to perhaps be the worst, most bland, forgettable VH album of them all. I couldn't even tell you the names of the songs on it, as I only listened through it maybe twice total before retiring it to the CD rack for good. Which songs on that album are the best? I will recheck them out.

Poundcake...Judgement Day...Man on a Mission...

 

:dunno:

Poundcake...Judgement Day...Man on a Mission...

I thought that was F.U.C.K.??? I was talking about Balance. See you don't remember any from that album. :lol:

Balcnace is the one with those sappy-assed songs "Don't Tell Me What Love Can Do" and "Can't Stop Loving You" which both sound a lot alike to me.

 

:dunno: I thought that was F.U.C.K.??? I was talking about Balance. See you don't remember any from that album. :lol:

Balcnace is the one with those sappy-assed songs "Don't Tell Me What Love Can Do" and "Can't Stop Loving You" which both sound a lot alike to me.

Oh yeah....lmao...see how much of a Hagar Era fan that I am?

:lol:

 

Oh yeah....lmao...see how much of a Hagar Era fan that I am?

:lol:

I was gonna say! What the hell is Dave's number one most rabid fan doing spouting off Hagar tune titles?!?!

 

I was gonna say! What the hell is Dave's number one most rabid fan doing spouting off Hagar tune titles?!?!

:smile:

 

Ok...now 1991.

A little Ain't Enough VS. F.U.C.K


ALAE is my favorite Roth solo album by far....heavy rock...awesome lyrics...super guitar work from Jason Becker. I saw a few people say that had never heard this album...GET IT!! You won't be sorry. In fact, contact me and I'll send it via email if anybody wants to check it out.


F.U.C.K....with an album title like this...I thought Hmmmm? Could be cool?

I will say this....if I had to choose a Hagar Era album as being the "best" I think it would be this one. I do like the song Man on a Mission...Eddie tears it up on this tune.

Thoughts? Compare the albums....

 

Ok...now 1991.

A little Ain't Enough VS. F.U.C.K


ALAE is my favorite Roth solo album by far....heavy rock...awesome lyrics...super guitar work from Jason Becker. I saw a few people say that had never heard this album...GET IT!! You won't be sorry. In fact, contact me and I'll send it via email if anybody wants to check it out.


F.U.C.K....with an album title like this...I thought Hmmmm? Could be cool?

I will say this....if I had to choose a Hagar Era album as being the "best" I think it would be this one. I do like the song Man on a Mission...Eddie tears it up on this tune.

Thoughts? Compare the albums....

A Little Ain't Enough is probably my #2 favorite Roth album. Everytime I listen to it I cant help but think "Where would Dave be now had Becker not gotten ALS?" I really believe he / they had potential to do great things in the future. I've only heard snippets of ALAE, but from what I heard, me likes. I could take that via email Carm!

For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, to me, was just another Van Halen album. My two favorite Van Hagar songs are on this album (Poundcake, Right Now), yet there's really nothing special about it. However, I LOVE Ed's guitar sound and I give Alex major props as this is probably his best album to date (Pleasure Dome says it all for me). I always view this as when Van Halen started to be known as America's Greatest Rock Band. I always saw 1984-1989 just bringing themselves to that level, and F.U.C.K. I think sealed the deal. People consider it the best Van Hagar tour and best selling one too. That says alot for me.

ALAE vs. FUCK: ALAE, however I do see FUCK almost as good. Sad how I own FUCK and only heard pieces of ALAE and can make that judgement.

 

I could take that via email Carm!

It is done young squire...it is done.

 

I might have to go back and listen to this album. I consider this to perhaps be the worst, most bland, forgettable VH album of them all. I couldn't even tell you the names of the songs on it, as I only listened through it maybe twice total before retiring it to the CD rack for good. Which songs on that album are the best? I will recheck them out.

Well I would recommend definetly Seventh Seal, Don't Tell Me (What Love Can Do), Amsterdam, Aftershock (man that opening riff sooooo kicks ass, when he switches that flanger damn it is awesome), Batchitherium, and Feelin, I know they are ballads but I love Can't Stop Loving You and Not Enough is one of my favorite songs period it is just beautiful :thumb: :thumb: