Sammy during BALANCE sessions

[Geoff]

I agree with Brett on this one. I liked Balance. I thought it had some killer songs on it. It would have been interesting to see how well it would have done if Mo Ostin had got his way and it had recieved a really big promo push from Warner. I thought "never enough" had huge radio potential.


I really dont listen too much to the lyrics so I'm not that qualified to comment but musically it was a very strong CD.

Also the song after "Balance" , "Humans Being" was excellent. The "shine on" chorus was huge.

[Down In Flames]

I loved Balance. But I got the feeling that it was a "sunset" album. You know?

Sammy just sounded tired. Not "bad", just tired.

My first indication that things weren't working out was I noticed that there were three instrumentals on the album.

Alex was on top of his game, you could hear Mike (which is always nice, when you get the oppurtunity ) and Eddie had a great fat "big-hug" tone to his guitar. Bruce Fairbairn was a great producer who is gone too soon.

But you could tell - just by his lyrics alone - Sammy was not a happy fellow.

There were problems in the band to begin with, Eddie was complaining about Sammy's lyrics (Baluchitherium was SUPPOSED to have lyrics, and Amsterdam obviously didn't sit well with Eddie). Sammy was also having problems with Ray Daniels (surprise, surprise ), and he had just gotten divorced.

All in all, (unless you already knew the backstories) just by listening to the album, you'd never have known that he only showed up 3 hours a day.

[ANGEL4U]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ed6150:
Now how can you honestly make a good album and only be there for 3 fucking hours a day? [This message has been edited by Ed6150 (edited July 31, 2000 at 11:34 PM).]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The album was made-it just probably took longer

Now, it's taking awhile for this next album, so lets not jump on the time issue of making a song

Now here's a good thread, and I bet Glenn would be right on top of this

"Hit songs-written in a short amount of time"

Haven't songs been written quickly and gone straight to the top? And I don't need to tell you where they were sitting when they wrote them

I think Sammy's time issues had more to do with his personal life at the time....who knows for sure

[Panama Jack]

Sammy also had a strong dislike for Ray Danniels which also may have played a part in his desire not to be around so much.

[Fur Elise]

You want to hear how "tired" Sam sounded? If you have, or can get your hands on, a bootleg titled "Balance Tour In Japan 1995 Complete" take a listen. Just listening to this show, recorded in Osaka, is pathetic. Sam, and the rest of the band, sound awful. They exude fatigue, and you can hear it clearly.

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"I was born without a silver spoon, but I'm gonna make a stir!" - David Lee Roth, "A Little Ain't Enough"

[Glenn]

Well, obviously my answer goes with my opinion that Balance is an awesome album.

Let's see, Eddie was at his wit's end with Sammy during the recording of Balance, and the album turned out great. Eddie was at his wit's end with Dave when they made Fair Warning and that album is awesome. Axl Rose (Mr. Wisdom) once said that he'd go through any emotional experience if he could get a good song out of it, and I agree. If the album turns out well, why turn around and bitch about the circumstances of recording it?

[hammered65]

As far as what an engineer had to say about Sammy during Balance, I wouldn't put much stock in it. He probably would like to continue working at 5150, do you think he's going to say anything bad about Eddie? Hell no he's not. I also doubt that the engineer was aware of all the other problems the boys were having too. Sammy has his side of the story, Eddie has his. Can you say for certain who's telling the truth? I doubt it.

[BigBubba]

who cares whats goin on! balance is great!

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*I'm Outta Luck, Outta Love... Got A Photograph, Picture Of...* - Joe Elliot '83
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[FORD]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by WesIsOnFire:
Were there ever any complaints of Sam's so-called lack of work on the albums before Balance? There had to be some reasoning though.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Of course there were reasons.
Sammy's manager and old friend had recently died.
He was going through a divorce.
Eddie was going through rehab and/or a mental breakdown.
One of the biggest fascist backstabbing cocksuckers to ever walk this earth was trying to take over the band.

Given all that, I might find it hard to sing too, and Sammy's voice on Balance shows that to be the case.

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F.O.R.D. Country

Van HALEN is: Dave, Eddie, Mikey, Alex. Any questions?

Eat Us And Smile!!

[This message has been edited by FORD (edited August 01, 2000 at 08:19 AM).]

[Lead Synth]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ed6150:
Now how can you honestly make a good album and only be there for 3 fucking hours a day? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I'm not so sure everyone else wanted Sammy around anymore. Tension = great music, IMO.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Now Sam may not have quit Van Halen but he sure did not help the situation by doing things half ass. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I think "half-assed" would be if Sammy had said, "Wellll...okay...if you guys want...I guess I'll stay and let Ray Danniels 'manage' this band for a few more years."

Sammy wanted out and he got out, and he's a lot happier now.

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[Brett]

Well I think "Balance" is awesome, so 3 hours a day must have worked. There is no middle ground it seems with this album, either you love it or hate it.

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