Share the post "Album review: DAVID LEE ROTH – The Warner Recordings 1985-1994"
Rhino [Release date 21.02.25]
Vocalist Diamond Dave came to fame in the late 70s and early 80s as the lead singer and frontman of the legendary Van Halen. And not only was he a fantastic vocalist in his day, he was also a great showman.
David Lee Roth’s first run with VH culminated in 1984’s successful 1984. But friction in the band would ultimately cause a split. Technically still in the band, Roth recorded the Crazy From The Heat EP in 1985, four cover versions from a different time. And as the first box in the set (it does what is says on the tin), nicely reproduced here. A blend of easy listening rock ’n’ roll, middle of the road chintz and Roth’s extrovert take, it’s a lot of fun, and a really enjoyable listen. The cover of The Beach Boys’ California Girls (and the accompanying video) is well known and gave Roth his first taste of solo success. That cover features Carl Wilson (Beach Boys guitarist) and Christopher Cross, and Edgar Winter appears on three tracks too.
The following year’s Eat ’Em And Smile saw Dave Lee Roth put together a proper band, with guitarist Steve Vai, bassist Billy Sheehan and drummer Gregg Bissonette. And to call this explosive would be an understatement. A serious kick up the arse that mid 80s rock didn’t know it wanted or needed, it got it anyway. Listen to opening track Yankee Rose – this is on a different level. A touch of blues, a touch of metal, some sleaze, wonderful.
When I interviewed Billy Sheehan about joining Roth, he said: “It was a dream. If I couldn’t join Van Halen joining Dave Lee Roth was as good as. Dave called me just as Talas were about to go on tour, invited me up. Told me his plan and off we went. I consider it a classic too, and I’m proud to consider it that way. It was great for all of us. And all the PR stories, we actually did. Most bands make them up, or copy ours, but we actually did them”.
With the same band (adding keyboard player Brett Tuggle), Skyscraper was released in 1988. Sheehan told me that Roth had asked him to tone down his playing, the writing was not undertaken as a band, a unit. That said it’s still a great album. It divided fans at the time, but Just Like Paradise was one of Roth’s most successful tracks.
The Bottom Line has a great groove, but the title track, for all it’s excellent segments, jumps around a little, has a jazzy edge and a little programmed too. Damn Good is more acoustic, and there’s a funky edge to Two Fools A Minute. An excellent album but looking back now, just nowhere the edge or impact as Eat ’em & Smile. Nice brass touches, but it doesn’t have the flow.
The fourth disc here is Roth’s 3rd full length album, A Little Ain’t Enough, and saw the start of his commercial decline. Issued during the grunge period wouldn’t have helped, but then the piecemeal recording (line-ups, writing) wouldn’t other.
The album featured young upcoming guitarist Jason Becker who does a great job, a virtuoso performance, but had to leave the band after recording due to ill health.
It’s an album I hadn’t heard before and I wasn’t sure what to expect, but opener A Lil Ain’t Enough is surprisingly good. Solid, heavy-ish. Some tracks have a chunky feel, a few brass blasts do help add an extra dimension. Hammerhead has a fine uptempo groove, one to put on repeat as long as you don’t take it too seriously.
Tell The Truth is a slower track with a blues hint, a touch of Ladies Night In Buffalo, a touch of Alannah Myles’ Black Velvet without the edge.
An enjoyable listen, very much so; I’m not going to say it’s Roth’s best by a long way but in retrospect it got an unnecessarily bad press, probably because it didn’t hit the zeitgeist at the time.
1994’s Your Filthy Little Mouth was apparently a critical nadir, probably due to the grunge movement and ongoing Van Halen comparisons. It would be unfair to expect the ass kicking Van Halen removing Eat ’em & Smile almost 10 years on, but that’s probably the press wanted at the time. With producer Nile Rogers on board you get a good well rounded album, with nods to funk, r’n’b, some good solid if commercial and VH tinged hard rock. Standout performance comes from bassist John Regan, best known for long tenures with Ace Frehley and Peter Frampton.
A very listenable album. But here’s the cliché; the oft heard “a great album, but not classic Roth”. A cliché that may be, but it’s true.
The music here is 10/10, but will have to give it an 8 because of what isn’t. There are no extras, at all; the fourth disc originally came with a bonus track in Japan – surely an easy inclusion here?
I’ve not had a physical set yet so can’t comment on the packaging; they’re normally pretty good though, if you just want the albums, and aren’t bothered by the lack of sleevenotes for further information.
Still great though, I’d buy it just to have 4 fantastic albums together. An essential part of any collection. ****
Review by Joe Geesin
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
Next session: Sunday 6 April (Fifth Anniversary!)
Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio
David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 2 February 2025.
UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast on 11 February 2025
How to Listen Live?
Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)
Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.
More information and links at our radio website where you can listen live or listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com
Power Plays w/c 24 February 2025
SMASH INTO PIECES Man Or Machine (indie)
MISSION JUPITER Human Nature (Label 51 Recordings)
FALLING BELOW Answers (indie)
ILIANNA A Year From Now (Highway Music)
IZZY REIGN Photos (FiXT)
Featured Albums w/c 24 February 2025
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Singer Songwriter)
Popular (last 10 days)
Share the post "Album review: DAVID LEE ROTH – The Warner Recordings 1985-1994"
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
