"Summertime Blues" on the "Diver Down" Album

**The J Man** · 07.15.06, 09:57 PM

There was a brief comment on this at DDLR.com the other day and I thought this would be an interesting thread here: what if Van Halen took out one of the covers on the "Diver Down" album and replaced it with "Summertime Blues"? I have always thought that would have been a real killer tune in the studio or perhaps even drop something else for a studio version of their cover of "I'm So Glad." Dave and Mike's vocals on that song take it through the roof--just imagine what it would sound like in studio. If I had the chance, I would take out "Dancin' in the Street," and "Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now," and replace them with "Summertime Blues," and "I'm So Glad."

Discuss.

**Infinite Cactus** · 07.15.06, 10:09 PM

I would leave in DITS but as an orginal with new lyrics, the only covers I would leave are Pretty Woman and Happy Trails. I would take out Big Bad Bill and WHATGTG replacing them with Big Trouble and Let's Get Rockin' respectively.
Diver Down:
Let's Get Rockin'
Hang 'Em High
Cathedral
Secrets
Intruder
Pretty Woman
New Song featuring music from DITS
Little Guitars Intro
Little Guitars
Big Trouble
The Full Bug
Happy Trails

**Van Squalen** · 07.15.06, 10:13 PM

Plenty of better covers come to mind, when considering choices for a quick patchwork album like Diver Down. Covering Roy Orbison, the Vandellas, Roy Rogers, and the Kinks is fine and all, but they'd already covered the Kinks once on VH 1, plus there are plenty of better Kinks songs to cover, IMO - Sunny Afternoon or A Well Respected Man ala Dave and Ed would've been GREAT, I think. An offbeat Zep cover might've been cool. ZZ Top's Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers comes to mind...heck, they played it enough on that tour outing anyway.

But no, I don't think they should've replaced Big Bad Bill, 'cause it was cool Jan got to play the clarinet with the boys. I like BBB. Always a great little diddy.

Including early polished outtakes like Babe Don't Leave Me Alone, We Die Bold, or Big Troubles would've been even better.

**79th and Sunset** · 07.16.06, 06:49 AM

No need to take anything out, just add it.

That album is 1/2 hour long. (31:14)

Luv that release' !

Imagine if they would have gotten Jan Van Halen to play live on stage with them ? They tried according to Ed, but he wouldnt do it. (for the shows in CA. they had on that tour)

**I'm_your_IceCreamMan** · 07.16.06, 03:47 PM

Originally Posted by 79th and Sunset

No need to take anything out, just add it.

That album is 1/2 hour long. (31:14)

Luv that release' !

Imagine if they would have gotten Jan Van Halen to play live on stage with them ? They tried according to Ed, but he wouldnt do it. (for the shows in CA. they had on that tour)

Yes, too short of an album indeed. Add the songs mentioned (preferably the originals, no more covers, this album is fuckin loaded w/them already, and we know Ed hated that), no need to shorten it. Always thought w/the VH-written songs on DD, they could have done so much more by leaving out the covers.

**EddiePie** · 07.16.06, 04:22 PM

Yeah, but the story goes they cut "Pretty Woman" as a summertime single, had a hit on their hands and Warner Bros. wanted them to rush in and do a whole album. Didn't really have the time to do it any other way.

But yeah, it could use a few more songs.

**Double Down** · 07.16.06, 04:58 PM

I would trash Big Bad Bill in a second...waste of space. Otherwise, I love Diver Down, ESPECIALLY WHATGTG....Ed sound fantastic on that one. I have never had a problem with Diver Down...I've got it ahead of WACF and VH2 in my pecking order.

**steve mcqueen** · 07.16.06, 05:52 PM

Originally Posted by JumpTheHotTeacher

I would trash Big Bad Bill in a second...waste of space. Otherwise, I love Diver Down, ESPECIALLY WHATGTG....Ed sound fantastic on that one. I have never had a problem with Diver Down...I've got it ahead of WACF and VH2 in my pecking order.

I agree...I have always liked Diver Down....the original songs are some of best that the band has written (Little Guitars, Full Bug, Secrets)....and I like the covers.....
Disagree with you on one point though...Big Bad Bill is a FUN tune!....Ed's Dad on clarinet....nice swing to it, and shows off's their diversity.....if anything Dancing In The Street would be the one I would drop.

**KarenCarpenter** · 07.16.06, 10:14 PM

I love "Diver Down" as it is..., ' never had a problem with that album.

**The J Man** · 07.16.06, 10:31 PM

Originally Posted by The J Man

There was a brief comment on this at DDLR.com the other day and I thought this would be an interesting thread here: what if Van Halen took out one of the covers on the "Diver Down" album and replaced it with "Summertime Blues"? I have always thought that would have been a real killer tune in the studio or perhaps even drop something else for a studio version of their cover of "I'm So Glad." Dave and Mike's vocals on that song take it through the roof--just imagine what it would sound like in studio. If I had the chance, I would take out "Dancin' in the Street," and "Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now," and replace them with "Summertime Blues," and "I'm So Glad."

Discuss.

How about just adding those two songs? Any maybe one or two more originals like Big Trouble or Babe, Don't Leave Me Alone? Right there, I think that might be the BEST VH album...something like this...

1. Where Have All the Good Times Gone!
2. Hang 'Em High
3. Babe, Don't Leave Me Alone
4. The Full Bug
5. Cathedral
6. Secrets
7. I'm So Glad
8. Big Trouble
9. Little Guitars (Intro)
10. Little Guitars
11. Summertime Blues
12. Intruder
13. (Oh) Pretty Woman
14. Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now)

**ZachenFoot** · 07.16.06, 11:12 PM

Here's my attempt at this'n:

1. Where Have All the Good Times Gone!
2. The Full Bug
3. Hang 'Em High
4. Intruder / Pretty Woman (should be one tune, JMO)
5. Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers
6. Cathedral
7. Secrets
8. Big Trouble
9. Summertime Blues
10. Little Guitars (forget the intro, I always skip it)
11. I'm So Glad
12. Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now) / Happy Trails

**Raldo** · 07.17.06, 05:44 AM

"Summertime Blues" would have been an outstanding addition to that album!!!
VH rocked that song big time live.

**Bigdaddy_14** · 07.17.06, 10:28 AM

I dont think Ed or Al would ever have taken Big Bad Bill off the album for the simple fact that their father was a part of that song. I know I wouldnt...

**spw5150** · 07.17.06, 10:32 AM

Speaking of Summertime Blues, I posted a live clip from '83 in the YouTube forum. Check it out. They did an awesome job.

**Menlow** · 07.17.06, 10:55 AM

Summertime Blues already had a popular cover done by The Who, so I don't know if VH would've recorded another one. BBB is a nice change of pace. WHATGTG is the best cover on the album. Had they dumped DITS and added two more originals, you'd have had a damn near perfect album.