This has probably been disucussed in 56 other threads....but.......

[jimmy]

Every night when I go to bed, I put headphones on and drift off into a deep sleep.............that is until my 14-month old wakes up with another ear infection............anyways.

I don't listen to a lot of VH, but last night I did. I threw on ou812........an album that I don't listen to much.........and now I know why.

That's gotta be the thinist sounding piece of shit I've ever heard. I know it's gotta a real lack of low end, but what's up with Ed's tone......I love the live version of Mine all Mine, but that studio version has like no guitar. I wonder what the hell those guys were thinking on that thing. I often wonder if the album would have sounded differenly if they would have been there during the mixing.

Anybody else feel this way?

I hate to be negative, but when you put the CD up against Van Halen II or Balance and it's no comparison.

[Glenn]

You know, sometimes I wonder if Van Halen are even aware of Michael Anthony and how to record the bass guitar. If you've ever heard the bootleg of the December 20, 1977 show, you know that Mikey is just THUMPING in that show. His bass is LOUD and the songs sound twice as good because of it.

Van Halen have always made great records, but if they'd just given Mikey a fair shake in the mix those songs would all have sounded even better. OU812 is a perfect example (and maybe the most extreme example in the VH catalogue) of a total lack of bottom end.

It's sad, I don't think Ed's brilliance would have been crowded at all by giving Mikey a louder sound in the mix.

[jimmy]

I know what your saying Glenn. I must admit that on the Remasters, Mike's bass is a little more defined. It pops out a bit more, but then most of the time I'm wearing headphones..........so that helps.

I just can't beleive home "sparse" sounding ou812 is compared to Balance.

[Down In Flames]

OU812 sounds as if it were recorded underwater. It's probably my least favorite VH album (after III, of course [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] ), due in large part to this...

And the fact that the majority of the songs are weak.

Everything sounded off for some reason, from Mike's bass, to Ed's tone, to Al's drums.

(And I don't think I'll ever get past the butchering of "Source Of Infection," lyrically, by Sam. [img]smilies/redface.gif[/img] Jesus... LOL.)

[Glenn]

I wonder how much of the poor sound quality of OU812 can be blamed on the fact that it was the first album made after the death of Jan Van Halen. Speculation of course, but I can't help but wonder if perhaps that was a really low emotional point for Eddie (and of course Alex too) and his concentration suffered for the album. It's no secret that Eddie was unhappy with the sound of OU812 after it was released and quit working with Donn Landee at that point. I wonder if Eddie dropped too much responsibility in Donn's lap, and then was disappointed with the results.

Again, just speculating. And, DISCUSS. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

[redfire]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Glenn:
OU812 is a perfect example (and maybe the most extreme example in the VH catalogue) of a total lack of bottom end.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I don't know Glenn. VH3 is pretty bad. I mean it sounds like a fucking duet between Gary and Ed and that's it. I can hear the drums a little but where is Mikey, both vocally and bass wise?

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Down In Flames
(And I don't think I'll ever get past the butchering of "Source Of Infection," lyrically, by Sam. Jesus... LOL.)<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Good Lord, tell me about it Downy. Have you seen Billy007's Lost Sammy Tapes thread in the Romper Room at Army?? OMG! If you haven't, you definitely need to go see it.

[AbeVanHalen]

OU812 IS thin, but ya know what? I kinda like it. To me, it has a cool (temperature-wise) sound, more relaxed, less forceful. I personally LOVE most of the songs on it (I could do without AFU or Sucker).

As an experiment, a buddy of mine with an INSANE amount of gear (this was in the pre-cd burner age though) did his own remastering of it. He was splitting bandwidths with crossovers like I have never seen (like they do to turn oldies from mono into 'stereo'). He had the whole record split open onto 16 tracks, each with its own frequency cuts and boosts. To hear any one or two by themselves was a phasing nightmare, but when he finally put them all back together, it was MASSIVE! Artificial, yes, but the sound WAS improved. A lot! You would be amazed at how much 'kick' OU812 has when it's been tampered with.

The bad news is that he did this in '94 or so, and my copy was on a cassette, which has since worn down to a piece of semi-magnetic toilet paper. He did not make a master of his 'master' because he was just trying to get used to his gear. If the son of a bitch had been smart enough to dump it to DAT or something it would be a GREAT 'bootleg'. I have looked him up through phone books, the internet, and common friends, but I haven't been able to get a hold of him to see if he could try it again. [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img]

Anyway, those of you with elaborate computer programs might be able to do something similar if you are so inclined. If not, maybe when it's time for Glenn's box set to come out, the band will remix it for him. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

[AbeVanHalen]

As for how the end result slipped by the band...

It is possible that they only listened to it through one sound system during mixing, and maybe those speakers were pumping bass like mad. As a result, they may have backed off on the low end quite a bit, only to find out they over-compensated.


ALSO, if I recall, they were under the gun to get the thing released in time for the Monsters of Rock tour, which started in May '88 (?-unsure of the dates). So I know they were rushed because of THAT, but to what degree I don't know.

I have read that Michael Anthony has some of the rough mixes of the record that had a LOT more bass on them....maybe he would be so kind as to let them leak out for us to hear? Maybe it was Mike and Donn who were having a spat and Donn got even by burying Mike's bass into the ground?

[ March 29, 2001 at 10:56 PM: Message edited by: AbeVanHalen ]

[Stuff No More]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by YankeeRose:
Words cannot describe my love for OU812 LOL! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

But you had to give it a try anyway, right? [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

I'd love to hear OU812 remastered, and I hope WB doesn't put off the rest of the VH catalog too long.

As for Source of Infection, I'm beginning to think I'm the only one that "gets" this song and why the lyrics are so nonexistant...

[Glenn]

Here comes the bomb;
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I think VH III is a better album than OU812. Of course, I like them both, so feel free to factor in my mental health when deliberating here. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

[Stuff No More]

I guess how insane you are all depends on where 3 is in the rankings [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img]

[YankeeRose]

OU812 is my favorite album!!! [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] I love it!!!!


Although, I agree that the bass is way to low, and I don't like the lyrics to Source Of Infection that much.(please forgive me Sammy. [img]smilies/redface.gif[/img]) LOL!

But I think Mine All Mine is incredible, it's probably the deepest song that Sammy ever wrote, When It's Love is my favorite ballad, Feels So Good cheers me up when i'm feelin' depressed [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] Finish What Ya Started is just a wicked song, Eddie's guitar sounds so nice and clean on it. I can go on and on about the greatness of this album. [img]smilies/cool.gif[/img]

Words cannot describe my love for OU812 LOL! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

[redfire]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Stuff No More:
As for Source of Infection, I'm beginning to think I'm the only one that "gets" this song and why the lyrics are so nonexistant...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Stuff, I get the lyrics to it. It's all about sex. My point is it just stupid. "Hey!" Dammit, it pisses me off just thinkin about it! [img]smilies/mad.gif[/img]

Glenn, I agree with you. I like 3 more than OU812. There is a reason I bought it last to complete my VH collection. And that is because I really don't need it. The only song I like off of it is on BOV1. I don't ever put it in the cd player. Honestly. I listen to everything more than I listen to it. But that's just me. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

[jimmy]

From a sound standpoint, OU812 lacks the warmth that Van Halen usually puts to tape when they're recording. It sounds nothing like the first couple of albums.....and I know........it some ways it shouldn't.....the band is evolving.

Same thing for "3". A much different "production" sound on "3". It just tends to me more natural, warmer and more of an earthy sound to it. While some people criticize Ed for the amp "buzz" in the break on "Without You", I applaud it. That's what it sounds like when he plays it.

How can you not like Josephina, Without You, From Afar, Neworld, and One I want? I really don't think these tunes sound all that bad?

[Rokgtar]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by jimmy:
Every night when I go to bed, I put headphones on and drift off into a deep sleep.............that is until my 14-month old wakes up with another ear infection............anyways.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Jimmy,

I know how you feel... I have a 14 month old, too - with an ear infection! You are not alone, my friend... [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]