Diver Down - Why I Feel It Is A Great Album

[Rocket]

Over the last few years here I've noticed that many feel that Diver Down was VH's weakest release. These are usually people who prefer the Sammy years, but not always.

I want to say that I feel Diver Down is as interesting and creative as any of their 1st 6 and I feel that it is far from their weakest.

Here's why:

1. DD has a sound that for me really seperates VH from any of the spin-off hair bands that spawned about the same time of this CD release. Read Big Bad Bill here. Hey Eddie's dad was even in on this one. This is a band performing a songwriter's album.

2. They explored a sensitive side with "Secrets", without utilizing the word love in the chorus. High quality imagination shown here.

3. They rocked really hard on Hang Em High. Eddie's riff was amazing.

4. Little Guitars is probably one of their top 4 or 5 songs of all time. The instrumental intro is simple to the ear, but incredibly difficult to play. The definition of High Art.

5. Happy Trails was the epitome of commaraderie. Maybe they were not best friends, but they were plastered and happy on this one.

6. Cathedrals is one of the most innovative pieces ever written and performed by Eddie.

7. Where Have All The Good Times Gone....Classic

8. The Covers...The reason why I think most don't like this record. I feel that their rendition of Dancing In The Streets is performed so brilliantly by EVH using sounds I never heard him use before or since. Forget Jagger and Bowie this version is perfect. Pretty Woman is again EVH using techniques and sounds like never before and where his style is portrayed uniquely because the riff isn't so special, but when EVH plays it, the riff trancends to new levels. He makes this work so well.

Dave was at US Festival levels: drunk, but the absolut best and the band had a tremendous rep then. They were at this point a true Super Group in the league of the Stones and The Who.

This record, like any of the first 6 (in my opinion, of course) is classic and not anywhere near their weakest.

Looking forward to other's feelings...all opinions are welcome. Pro or Con.

[BigBadBill]

Weren't Secrets and Where Have All the Good Times Gone covers too? Anyways, glad you like Big Bad Bill(Is Sweet William Now) [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]

[Glenn]

Originally posted by BigBadBill:
Weren't Secrets and Where Have All the Good Times Gone covers too?

Secrets is not a cover song.

[Me Wise Magic]

I always liked Diver Down, and for the reasons you listed.

Little Guitars [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]

[ May 16, 2002, 09:56 PM: Message edited by: Me Wise Magic ]

[edwardocatflappo]

diver downs biggest problem is that it comes between 2 of vh's best

fw & 1984..compared to these 2 masterworks its garbage.

no wonder its overlooked...

[edwardocatflappo]

maybe if they'd split it in 2 equal parts

side 1 - originals

side 2 - tributes ~ note non use of covers -

it would ve gone down better..?

sound quality is naff too - 84 always sounds so clean & full on in comparison..

dd is STILL 100% better than vh3..!

[Wolfie3]

And let's not forget about The Full Bug here! One of my all-time favorite VH tunes. My take on Diver Down goes like this: The only two covers I don't like on the album are Dancing In The Street and Pretty Woman. However, the four original songs on the album (that's right, there's only four if you don't count the intros!) more than make up for these. Now I might be one of those who ranks DD last among the original six, but it is definitely not because I don't like the album. I just love the other five that much more. If you're talking about the big picture though, even with the covers, I'd still put DD ahead of every other album VH did without Dave.

[edwardocatflappo]

oddest thing is -

fw sold badly on its original release..

and

DD sold well..

'no accounting for taste..'

personally i think this album started the rot in vh , im just amazed that they managed to follow it up with 1984 - arguably the last great vh album ( apart from FUCK ).. !

[billy007]

If I have a complaint about this album, it's that it's too damn short! When I only had it on vinyl, it seemed like I was always turning it over. In reality, it's not much different in length from the other six, and I believe without looking it up, it's at least longer than Fair Warning. I think it was the diversity of songs, especially on side 2 that made it seem short. There was another thread where someone said that "Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now)" (FORD?) was pure Van Halen, and someone else disagreed, but whoever made the initial statement was right. This is what made "Classic" Van Halen special, that they could whip out a song like this in the midst of all the mayhem. And you gotta give that credit to David Lee Roth. As much as Edward and/or Alex may have against Dave, they do need to thank their stars that they were hooked up with Dave because I doubt Sammy or anyone else would've brought them a song that would give them an opportunity to play with their dad on a record - I dunno, I think that's gotta be meaningful to them. The original songs on this album kick a** - hasn't been mentioned yet, but I love "Intruder"! And I love the cover songs too. Doesn't hurt that this album was the soundtrack to my high school graduation time. I agree that it may be the worst of the first six, but only because if you've got a first, you've gotta have a last. But I'd still take it over a lot of other albums out there.

[Raldo]

Picking the worst album of the Dave years is tough because they are all good. Unfortunately, one has to be last. Diver Down gets the nod because of the covers in my opinion. They also decided to try different styles of music. 'Big Bad Bill' and 'Happy Trails' are not your typical rockin' Van Halen songs. The instrumentals, although great, ususally doesn't grab the attention of the non diehards. Maybe this album should have been called 'Balance' due to the many directions they went in.
My favorite songs have to be 'Hangem High' and 'The Full Bug' because they absolutely rock.

[dj88]

For me the weakest VH album with Dave is Woman And Children First, although I love them all.

I like DD. I just wish there were more than 9 songs on it.

[FORD]

I've given my full review of Diver Down elsewhere on this board, so I won't repeat myself.

Let's just say that I find it extremely laughable when the Van Hagarites claim that cheesy crap was "musical expansion" or "diversity" while they slam the truly most diverse album Van HALEN ever made.

[edwardocatflappo]

since when has diversity = quality?

fw- tried n true

1984- tried n true..

tried n true = all time greatest rock band ...

soon as ed tried 'experimenting' we got the cheese era - synths etc..

if it aint broke - dont fix it...

[BrokenCombs]

Diver Down is a strange enigma for me. While it would be at the bottom of my list when ranking all 6 original VH records, it contains 3 of my all time favorite Van Halen songs (after my favorite "Dirty Movies" of FW)

They are:

1. Secrets (I love this song, someone earlier mentioned the fact that this is a Love Song, without the word LOVE mentioned in the lyrics.) Well stated! This is truly a masterpiece of music, containing some of Dave's greatest lyrics and a kick-ass hum along melody!)

2. Little Guitars (This is another one of my all time favorite Van Halen songs, perhaps my second favorite of ALL TIME (after "DM" off FW) Such a sweet sounding song, with some great lyrics and guitar work.

3. The Full Bug (A Ballsy somewhat blues influenced, all out ROCKER! This song kicks ASS!)

Sidenote: My favorite cover on this record is "Big Bad Bill" I LOVE it. I played that song years ago for my mother and asked her to guess who was singing. She had NO idea and was amazed when I told her it was VAN HALEN)

[edwardocatflappo]

as for W&CF being weak

romeo delight,loss of control , whiskey , simple rhyme , fools....? etc

great album with great 'live' feel...

opening track is masterpiece...