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Poll 1986: Van Halen vs. David Lee Roth

Which album is your pick?

  • Van Halen - 5150

    Votes: 2 40.0%
  • David Lee Roth - Eat 'Em and Smile

    Votes: 3 60.0%
  • cant stand either album

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    5

Magic

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Staff member
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Mar 27, 2018
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USA
#1
Both of these albums came out in 1986. Van Halen - 5150 and David Lee Roth - Eat 'Em and Smile. Who ya pick?

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VS

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Lynch

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Mar 28, 2018
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426
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Outland
#2
Diamond Dave's first full-length solo album. I like both. When 5150 came out, I hated it. Not because it was Sammy, but because I found the album just kind of sappy. Over the years, I softened my views on the album and do like many of the songs on it, but of the entire 1978 to 1996 era of Van Halen, it is still my least favorite album of theirs. The two studio albums that came after that era I don't really even acknowledge. Neither one is worth listening to more than once.

Dave didn't miss a beat with EEAS, signing up Steve Vai and Billy Sheehan as his backing band, he could have done amazing things. Both EEAS and Skyscraper are outstanding albums, IMHO.
 

Magic

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#3
I have to agree with Lynch on EEAS. Roth has assembled himself a supergroup of musicians for that album. IMO, it is to this day some of Vai's best guitar work and it stands neck to neck with Eddie. The re-recording of Sheehan's "Shy Boy" was a testament to how strong that song was and the speed between Vai & Sheehan is insane ....and Yankee Rose is the highlight of the album. Love that song!

I like 5150, but that is based mainly on one song, "Best of Both Worlds".

When I think of these two albums 30 plus years later, I would much rather listen to EEAS. Roth proved that leaving Van Halen was not professional suicide and Sammy helped VH reach #1 on the charts. But I feel the material on EEAS has stood the test of time much better.
 

DrMaddVibe

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Joined
Mar 29, 2018
Messages
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60
Location
The West Coast of the East Coast
#4
DAVID LEE ROTH ALL THE WAY!

Radio ignored David Lee Roth and only played songs released. They never went overboard like they did with Van Hagar trying to play every song on the albums.

I highly encourage any fan of music to give David Lee Roth's solo discography a couple of spins. He was robbed of a really good thing.

If Van Halen isn't going to record new music then officially call it and let David Lee Roth fly. He already has an album cut with John 5 playing guitar for him.
 

Riff_Raff

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 23, 2019
Messages
305
Age
37
Location
Australia
#8
Diamond Dave's first full-length solo album. I like both. When 5150 came out, I hated it. Not because it was Sammy, but because I found the album just kind of sappy. Over the years, I softened my views on the album and do like many of the songs on it, but of the entire 1978 to 1996 era of Van Halen, it is still my least favorite album of theirs. The two studio albums that came after that era I don't really even acknowledge. Neither one is worth listening to more than once.

Dave didn't miss a beat with EEAS, signing up Steve Vai and Billy Sheehan as his backing band, he could have done amazing things. Both EEAS and Skyscraper are outstanding albums, IMHO.
Your initial view on 5150 is why I'm not the biggest fan of albums like OU812. Lol