DAVID LEE ROTH: Skyscraper CD + Crazy from the Heat EP. Van Halen singer. Steve Vai guitars, Billy Sheehan bass. Check videos

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9:00 to   11:32 explains the story behind the album with exclusive commentary by Steve Vai



Listening to Skyscraper in 2018 might make you misty-eyed for the days when rock was irony-free and larger-than-life showmen like Dave Lee Roth were heroes. It also reminds you just how good an album this was and still is. DLR is backed by a supergroup that includes guitarist/co-producer Steve Vai, bassist Billy Sheehan and drummer Greg Bissonnette, and among some class tracks one of the highlights is the soaring, synth-drenched pop of Just Like Paradise.

Skyscraper is the second full-length album by David Lee Roth (of Van Halen), released in 1988. It was the last to feature guitarist Steve Vai, who left the group in 1989 to join Whitesnake and continue his solo career. Bassist Billy Sheehan would also leave the group before the tour to eventually form Mr. Big. This album contained the US hit single, “Just Like Paradise”, which reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Skyscraper was not a critical success at the time of release, but has since been labelled a ‘classic rock/hard rock’ album with a sunny ‘California’ feel, typical of Roth’s positive outlook.

Track listing
All songs written by Roth/Vai unless otherwise noted.
“California Girls” (Brian Wilson/Mike Love) 2:51
“Just a Gigolo/I Ain’t Got Nobody” (Casucci/Caesar/Williams/Graham) 4:41
“Knucklebones” (Bissonette/Roth) 3:18
“Just Like Paradise” (Roth/Tuggle) 4:03
“The Bottom Line” 3:37
“Skyscraper” 3:38
“Damn Good” 5:49
“Hot Dog and a Shake” 3:19
“Stand Up” (Roth/Tuggle) 4:39
“Hina” 4:40
“Perfect Timing” (Roth/Tuggle) 3:41
“Two Fools a Minute” 4:28
Tracks 1 & 2 are from the Crazy from the Heat EP.

“California Girls” is a cover of the Beach Boys song.
“Hina” is notable in that it features only one guitar track; it is panned to one ear, while a delay effect then sends the guitar sound to the other ear, allowing Vai to, in essence, play off/harmonize with himself.
Roths management received a phone call asking for permission for “Just Like Paradise” to be used as the theme song of a new television show, Beverly Hills 90210. They rejected the idea without asking Roth first, so an original piece of instrumental music was used instead.

Personnel
The Band:
David Lee Roth – vocals
Steve Vai – guitar, horn (alto)
Billy Sheehan – bass guitar, backing vocals
Gregg Bissonette – drums, percussion, backing vocals
Guest Musicians:
John Batdorf – backing vocals
Gary Falcone – backing vocals
Tommy Funderburk – backing vocals
Tom Kelly – backing vocals
Joe Pizzulo – backing vocals
Dr. Funk PhD – bass guitar
Brett Tuggle – keyboards, programming, backing vocals
Todd Grace – programming, keyboard programming
Richie Raposa – programming, keyboard programming
Production:
David Lee Roth – producer, concept, cover design
Steve Vai – producer, engineer
Gary Wagner – engineer
Doug Parry – engineer
Magic Moreno – engineer, mixing
Steve Holroyd – engineer
Bernie Grundman – mastering
Marnie Riley – engineer
Stephen Shelton – engineer
Pete Angelus – concept, cover design
Galen Rowell – photography
Paul Levy – engineer
Bob Cats – mixing
Vigon Seireeni – artwork
Gina Vivona – artwork

Charts Album:
Year Chart Position
1988 The Billboard 200 6
Singles:
Year Single Chart Position
1988 “Damn Good” Mainstream Rock Tracks 2
1988 “Just Like Paradise” Mainstream Rock Tracks 1
1988 “Just Like Paradise” The Billboard Hot 100 6
1988 “Stand Up” Mainstream Rock Tracks 5
1988 “Stand Up” The Billboard Hot 100 64

5.0 out of 5 stars The most underrated masterpiece of its decade!!!!!!!,
Simply put, this wonderful little bundle is mindlessly cheerful, lifes-so-groovy-to-me optimism, done with that cartoonish sense of humour we’ve all grown to love so much… and it STILL manages to successfully slam the works of other so-called artists of the eighties like Bon Jovi with a ferociously fierce talent and creativity few had during that decade. No wonder Eddie Van Halen loathed it so much when it was released… because it and all of Daves other albums, as Eddie HIMSELF admitted, show who was the REAL heart and creative genius behind Van Halen! Every song is a winner from start to finish, there are gorgeous melodies everywhere that jaded headbangers will probably never understand or appreciate, and Steve Vais playing is stupendous. Roth reminds me so much of Led Zeppelin… back during the seventies, Led Zep (another fave rave of mine) were slammed ruthlessly by critics with each and every release, all whining about how “pretentious” and “unlistenable” the album was and how the last one was better, even though the same critics had slammed IT too! Same with Dave… each album he has done solo-wise is a masterpiece, and each one has been critically slammed, only to be praised when the next one came out in the precise same way. The only thing that kept Diamond Dave from being fully appreciated for being the multitalented musical genius that he was and is was the presss and the publics bias against him after Eddie did everything he could to ruin him (and now we all know WHO the real jerk was after 1996, now, don’t we?). The “Led Zeppelin 3” of its time, SKYSCRAPER was a massive experiment for Dave as he challenged his audience with NEW strong points they never knew he had, one that was pulled off beautifully, and will hopefully one day get the critical applause and favour it so richly deserves. More, Dave! MORE!

5.0 out of 5 stars 1988 A Damn Good Time !!!,
1988 Fondly remembered for The Diamonds best release of his less than lack-luster solo career. Steve Vai starts the disc out with a chicken pickin guitar opening that is least expected but he remains intune to where Roth is headed and explains why Vai was easily meant to support Roth instead of you know who. Vai and Roth sink deep into Pop territory for Just like Paradise while flexing their metal muscle on Knucklebones.Vais fifth grade composition Damn Good comes off with some Damn good results and the title track —- contrary to other reviewers finds Vais backward masking and recording quite adventurous for its time and if listened to with the proper surround sound equiptment will leave the listener in Awe.Perfect Timing is an excellent song that stands well on its own and should have been a single.Its competition OU812 flounders in comparrision to this Pop Metal Masterpiece.

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