F.U.C.K. vs OU812

[Van Squalen]

I feel that way about Big Balls, or whatever it's called by AC/DC.

Big Balls is an Acca Dacca treasure.

If you were a rounded musician you’d know that.

[Number 47]

Agreed, but the song is so fucking juvenile, I just can't get past it. I can understand why people like it, the riff is great, but the song is just dumb to me.

This is the standard opinion of most all gentle, caring and passionate lovers.

[nicholas_kudochop]

I love both... Poundcake is in my top 5 for favorite VH songs. Just love the groove, intro, solo. Overall great song. OU812 is my favorite VH album... I agree the production maybe wasn't the best, but the songs are killer. Mine all Mine, FWYS, B&B, CW. Love the drums and EVH's tone on F.U.C.K. I really like the direction the band was heading during the OU812/F.U.C.K. era's. To me they were really carving out their sound as a band with Sammy... really wish they would've kept on that path post-Balance.

[Ashe]

Carnal Knowledge all the way for me. OU812 is too poppy in my opinion. Black and Blue is my favorite song from OU812 though because its so sleazy and juvenile--this is rock and roll, not Journey.

[DFVH5150]

OU812 is far and away superior to FUCK. FUCK is a vastly overrated record as much as OU812 is a vastly underrated record.

I absolutely agree! Except the opposite.

[VH1988]

Most common fan rankings of the Hagar years are 5150/FUCK/OU812/Balance.

[DFVH5150]

Most common fan rankings of the Hagar years are 5150/FUCK/OU812/Balance.

I'd concur.

[Van Squalen]

I absolutely agree! Except the opposite.

Well, you’re a pretend redhead so I wouldn’t expect otherwise.

[Van Squalen]

Most common fan rankings of the Hagar years are 5150/FUCK/OU812/Balance.

There are Sam Halen fans.
There are Dave Halen fans.
There are Ed Halen fans.
There are Van Halen fans.

Most of the latter two see OU812 as better work than FUCK.

[JUNGLE DRUMMER]

OU812 is easily the best Sam era album for me, even though the production has obvious issues. The only throwaway tune is the horrid FSG, with the cheesiest vocals Mike ever did and perhaps the worst synth sound, except for WCTBL.

But, some of my all time favorite Sam era tunes on there: Sucker, AFU, Cabo Wabo, MAM, DDL's cousin Black And Blue. Even though Sam's contribution to SOI is subpar, the music blazes. Also love Ed's grittier tone on that album, compared to his more "poppy" cleaner tones throughout the other Sam era albums. And love the tone of Al's toms on OU812.

FUCK has some stuff that is really good: Poundcake, JD, Runaround, PD, Dream Is Over, TOTW. But some definite filler that I generally skip: Spanked, In And Out, MOAM, Right Now.

The production on FUCK, while much better than OU812, is supremely OVERRATED. Damn, they over mic'd Al's kit, to the point that on several tracks like Poundcake and JD, his toms are a muddy undistinguishable mess. And the sound of his toms are kind of dry and "blah" for me anyways, compared to most other VH albums. Definitely prefer the drum tones from both OU812 and Balance from the Sam era.

[nicholas_kudochop]

Most common fan rankings of the Hagar years are 5150/FUCK/OU812/Balance.

Yes.. I know I'll get flamed for saying this.... 5150 is actually my second least favorite VH album. The whole album just seems like they're trying too hard to be a fun party band, like saying, "Hey look we're still here having fun without Dave". Summer Nights to me is especially cheesy. BOBW and 5150 are really the only two songs I care for.

[DJ Work'in Hard]

My two favorite Sam albums.

[VH1986]

I love both these albums, but I feel a greater connection to OU812. I think the songwriting is better, overall. It's one of my favorite albums in the catalog. To me it was a cross between Ed's old sound and the new one he was forging with Sammy as the front man.

Nod to For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge for the following: Production, Poundcake, Runaround, The Dream is Over, Right Now, and Top of the World, and the greatest stretch of VH touring ever from '91-93.

[Dave's Dreidel]

I like Balance best...yeah, I know. Sue me.

[RRvh1]

Most common fan rankings of the Hagar years are 5150/FUCK/OU812/Balance.

That's probably pretty accurate.
I can get behind those rankings, even though I love OU812.

Also, upon hearing Humans Being, I really wanted a full album of material like that, after Balance and BOV1.