MusicTAP reports the release of the first-ever CD/DVD compilation by Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth, due in November from Friday Music.
Of course, anyone with even a middling interest in rock and roll probably knows Roth as the irascible frontman for Van Halen, who, with the Van Halen brothers (guitarist Eddie and drummer Alex) and bassist Michael Anthony, propelled themselves into the genre's stratosphere with six albums for Warner Bros. between 1978 and 1984. They were writing shred-worthy classics, covering rock classics and eventually set their crosshairs on the massive audiences on MTV.
But Roth was more theatrical than even VH might have let him be. In 1985, at the height of the band's popularity, the singer released an EP of peppy covers, Crazy from the Heat; backed by some very funny videos, half of the set became U.S. chart hits, with "Just a Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody" peaking at No. 12 and a faithful take on The Beach Boys' "California Girls" matching the original's chart placement of No. 3.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lN-4lX0QyZc]
Within months, tensions within Van Halen led Roth to strike out on his own for good. Recruiting an impressive power trio of guitarist Steve Vai (in what would be his career breakthrough), future Mr. Big bassist Billy Sheehan and jazz/rock drummer Greg Bissonette, Roth cut two popular albums, Eat 'Em and Smile (1986) and Skyscraper (1988), featuring hits like "Yankee Rose," "Tobacco Road," "Just Like Paradise" and more.
Roth's solo career cooled in the 1990s, after which the frontman pursued other intriguing muses from a short-lived reunion in the studio with Van Halen in 1996 to such wild pursuits as radio personality, author (his 1997 autobiography, named for his debut EP, was a critical smash) and - for a brief time in New York City - an Emergency Medical Technician. Against all odds, Roth rejoined Van Halen in 2006 (with Eddie Van Halen's 16-year-old son Wolfgang replacing Michael Anthony on bass) for a massively successful tour; 2012 saw the release of a new album, A Different Kind of Truth, constructed largely from vaulted song ideas from the Roth era.
Friday Music's Roth compilation (which follows remasters of much of his Warner/Reprise catalogue from the label), sequenced by the singer himself and remastered by label head Joe Reagoso, features 16 tracks from 1985 to 1994 (including the entire Crazy from the Heat EP) as well as a DVD featuring the digital debut of the Dave TV video program (consisting of promo videos for "Just a Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody," "California Girls," "Yankee Rose" and "Goin' Crazy") and five more videos released for the first time anywhere.
It's out November 19 and is yours to order after the jump.
David Lee Roth, Greatest Hits: The Deluxe Edition (Friday Music, 2013)
Disc 1: CD
- California Girls
- Just a Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody
- Easy Street
- Coconut Grove
- Just Like Paradise
- A Little Luck
- I'm Easy
- Tobacco Road
- Goin' Crazy
- Yankee Rose
- A Lil' Ain't Enough
- Sensible Shoes
- Hey, You Never Know
- Hot Dog and a Shake
- Land's Edge
- No Big 'Ting
Disc 2: DVD (previously unreleased except where noted)
- Dave TV (released as Warner-Reprise VHS 938126-3, 1986)
- Just a Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody
- California Girls
- Yankee Rose
- Goin' Crazy
- Sensible Shoes (promo video)
- A Lil Ain't Enough (promo video)
- The Nighlife (promo video)
- ¡Loco del Calor! (promo video)
- Tell the Truth (promo video)
Tracks 1-4 released as Crazy from the Heat (Warner Bros. 25222, 1985)
Tracks 5 and 14 from Skyscraper (Warner Bros. 25671, 1988)
Tracks 6, 13 and 15-16 from Your Filthy Little Mouth (Reprise 45391, 1994)
Tracks 7-10 from Eat 'Em and Smile (Warner Bros. 25470, 1986)
Tracks 11-12 from A Lil' Ain't Enough (Warner Bros. 26477, 1991)
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The "first-ever" compilation? Hardly: http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-best-mw0000176470
Once again, "Good Times" misses the cut! WTH?
Wow! Not even close being the first compilation by David Lee Roth! There was one released last century that was a single compact disc "best of" type of thing. It was the one that has the cover of him with his ass hanging out. Just right for the ass-clown that he is. Not one new studio or live track on here. I think if I recall this is RE-RELEASE as a deluxe edition or that the track listing might even be exactly the same (and in the same running order) as the first "Best Of". Van Halen and Led Zeppelin fans are the most delusional misinformed people concerning these groups I've ever seen.
AlexKx, do you not even bother to read previous comments before leaving your own?
In the interest of fairness, both of you commented about simultaneously on my omission. (Indeed, it's not the first greatest hits comp, though it is the first with a DVD, which I've amended.)
The repertoire on here is actually a bit different from 1996's "The Best," which had 20 tracks (including a new song). I love Diamond Dave, really I do - but 20 tracks is pushing it...
Holy Crap.. That's serious cash they want for that.. Hope it"ll pop up somewhere cheaper;;;
Sigh. This will probably end up with me getting BOTH versions mainly because I am a dumbass BUT the deal is I am interested in the one where his ass is hanging out...not for his ass...but for the historical perspective in the world of "Van Halen". (I'll probably just put it on a wish list in the meantime to be honest...or both of these compilations.) Of course I have no self control and am also interested in the d.v.d. so why the hell not get the audio compilation that it corresponds to for completest sakes?! Fuck all and shoot me! Lol! At least I did not say ass again. Aiiight!? And yes I agree there are probably only half a dozen worthwhile Roth solo songs though I have NOT studied the "David Lee Roth catalog". That's even FURTHER down my list of things to do than getting one or two of these compilations...
Hey I'm just trying to be interactive here! Everyone reading this should be thankful for me for contributing to the conversation! Aren't I elegant and articulate too?! What more could you want and ask for?! I am just helping to carry the conversation further than it might have gone otherwise! 🙂
Is this website ran by WITCHES?!
I'm perfectly fine with "The Best." Generous track selection, great sound quality, it's got all I need (or want) from the Diamond One.
Um...wow...I think I got carried away with my last post or posts! Lol! Sigh, alas. I guess I WAS trying to be funny and interesting, eh? With that said the cover of this new compilation sucks. He looks ugly on there. Dave seems to have an all around problem with long hair now at this point which I DO think is one reason why he chose this cover. That's not a bad thing but he is the one who said at the press conference for their reunion tour in 2007 that "No one wants to see how you looked twenty years ago.". Um...sometimes I do. Sometimes I think other people do too. It just all depends. Whatever.
Okay, it's great they included all the tracks from the E.P., as well as "Just Like Paradise," "Yankee Rose," etc. But why does the second of two compilations repeat the mistake of skipping the clever track "Damn Good?" The song received tons of rock radio airplay, at least up here in the Midwest! Hmmm...I scratch my head.
NYC played "Damn Good" often.
No Big T'ing (shite) and he leaves off the title track "Filthy Little Mouth"?!?
Then he drops Ladies night in Buffalo?
Whatta bought some alternate versions or outtakes or sumpin' Dave?!?!
DERP!