5150 is the best Van Halen album, imo.

In hindsight, it was a lot better album than I gave it credit for at
the time, but NONE of the Van Hagar albums can hold a candle to the
first four.

Actually, I always considered Eat Em and Smile to be the followup to 1984. Much better album than 5150, IMO.

Saw them both on their respective tours that year, and Dave slayed VH live at that point as well.

Tall Tyrion wrote:

Actually, I always considered Eat Em and Smile to be the followup to 1984. Much better album than 5150, IMO.

Saw them both on their respective tours that year, and Dave slayed VH live at that point as well.

Dave was awesome on that tour! Of course having Steve Via and Billy Sheehan didn't hurt. I still have the tour book from that show.

I forgot about that tour. That was a monster line-up.

ultmetal wrote:

Tall Tyrion wrote:

Actually, I always considered
Eat Em and Smile to be the followup to 1984. Much better album than
5150, IMO.

Saw them both on their respective tours that year, and Dave slayed VH live at that point as well.

Dave
was awesome on that tour! Of course having Steve Via and Billy Sheehan
didn't hurt. I still have the tour book from that show.

I wish I had gotten the tour book. My shirt was shreds long ago. That
tour was one of the best concert experiences I've ever had.

Tall Tyrion wrote:

Actually, I always considered Eat Em and Smile to be the followup to 1984. Much better album than 5150, IMO.

I agree with this 100%

emptytomb1 wrote:

I forgot about that tour. That was a monster line-up.

Van halen with any singer is a monster line-up.

Van Hagar to is only so so, the first 3 with Roth as many have said here, are classics.

Sammy as a solo is very cool too, I like him better by himself.

DenimAndLeather wrote:

emptytomb1 wrote:

I forgot about that tour. That was a monster line-up.

Van halen with any singer is a monster line-up.

Ever get tired of being wrong?

DeathCult wrote:

DenimAndLeather wrote:

emptytomb1 wrote:

I forgot about that tour. That was a monster line-up.

Van halen with any singer is a monster line-up.

Ever get tired of being wrong?

Eddie, Alex and Michael ain't a monster line-up?

Are you insane? Don't make me start another poll. That's one of the most talented bands ever.

True, but crappy vocals could ruin a Jimi Hendrix revival concert.

DeathCult wrote:

True, but crappy vocals could ruin a Jimi Hendrix revival concert.

So if it's true, how am I wrong?

Because the crappy vocals kill the monster line up.

Cherone = Death

I was talking about the rest of the band.
cherone is gayer than the flophouse.

Ah, I get ya now.

Yeah pretty much. Extreme was one of the words bands ever.

This is how I always viewed 1986:

Roth better vocalist and showman that Hagar = DLR 1 pt
Vai equal to Eddie = no points
Sheenan vs Anthony? DLR 1 pt
Alex better than Bissonette = VH 1 pt

VH - DLR = DLR +1

Simple equation, and just my own opinion. But I also saw both tours that year. Dave on a surfboard, in a boxing ring, etc. Crazy cool. Hagar hanging over the rafters in the ceiling during "I've been to the edge, there I stood and looked dooooowwwnnnnn". Pretty cool, but not even close.

DLR ruled 1986, at least.

DLR will always be better to me than Hagar.

I like both eras of Van Halen - Roth takes it for me overall, but the band did some fine music with Sammy in the band as well. OU812 actually is my favourite Van Hagar album but the first 4 with Roth are incredible (if forced to pick on, I'd say Fair Warning).

I actually don't own Eat 'Em And Smile (have Skyscraper), nor have I heard Sammy with Montrose - obviously I'm missing out on some great music.

HellRaiser wrote:

actually don't own Eat 'Em And Smile (have Skyscraper)

i always thought that Roth solo was complete garbage.

1984 I found one half great second half forgetable! 5150 great start to finish.

Never did get Skyscraper. The over the top keys on the singles turned me off, but Eat Em and Smile was brilliant.

Eat Em and Smile is the only Roth solo worth getting. I have Crazy From The Heat as well, but his lounge days aren't appreciated by all.

I like Skyscraper. Damn Good is my fav DLR solo tune. And Vai is still Vai. He did some GREAT stuff on Skyscraper.

SAXON1500 wrote:

I like Skyscraper. Damn Good is my fav DLR solo tune. And Vai is still Vai. He did some GREAT stuff on Skyscraper.

I wouldnt know, I never listened to it. I wasnt too crazy about the single that came off of that one, so I more or less ignored the album.

That period in time, I was alo pretty much submersed in thrash and nothing but completely as well.

DeathCult wrote:

SAXON1500 wrote:

I like Skyscraper. Damn Good is
my fav DLR solo tune. And Vai is still Vai. He did some GREAT stuff on
Skyscraper.

I wouldnt know, I never listened to it. I
wasnt too crazy about the single that came off of that one, so I more
or less ignored the album.

Yep.

I did hear some later stuff that was OK. Little Ain't Enough was a
pretty good album. I've heard that the DLR Band album was a return to
form but I never tracked it down. Too many other things and a lack of
fundage.

I prefer the Roth era of the band. Not that I despise Van Hagar or anything. I'm like several of the other folks that love the first four records. Fair Warning being my favorite.

On the show note, I did see the Hagar/Roth tour from a few years back and Sammy's show blew Dave's out of the water. Sammy's covered his entire career and was alot more fun (plus it didn't hurt that Michael Anthony joined Sammy on a few songs). And while it was great seeing Dave singing all the old VH classics his show seemed kind of like a tribute to himself.