If Diver Down was never recorded, what would 1984 look like?

[Binner]

We know Van Halen was rushed back into the studio after the success of the Oh Pretty Woman single and they recorded the Diver Down album that they weren't really ready to record and ended up recording a number of cover songs.
So here's a few questions:
1. What songs recorded for Diver Down might have ended up on 1984?
2. What songs might not have been recorded for 1984?
3. What songs might not have been recorded at all?
4. If 1984 remained a single album (9-10 tracks) what might the track listing look like?
My guess:
1984
Jump
Little Guitars
Panama
Drop Dead Legs
I'll Wait
Hang 'Em High
Hot For Teacher
House of Pain
The Full Bug

[JUNGLE DRUMMER]

Unfortunately your album is missing the best track, Girl Gone Bad, but since the genesis of that song was worked up during jams between Ed and Al on the DD tour it is certainly possible that may not have been on the album if they dont do the Hide Your Sheep tour in 82-83.

[Wruff_ajax]

His album is missing the best track Top Jimmy.

Don't diss Top Jimmy, punks. Don't do it.

[Destructo2]

[QUOTE=Binner;2379827]We know Van Halen was rushed back into the studio after the success of the Oh Pretty Woman single and they recorded the Diver Down album that they weren't really ready to record and ended up recording a number of cover songs.
So here's a few questions:
1. What songs recorded for Diver Down might have ended up on 1984?
2. What songs might not have been recorded for 1984?
3. What songs might not have been recorded at all?
4. If 1984 remained a single album (9-10 tracks) what might the track listing look like? [QUOTE]

Personally I wouldn’t have wanted Diver Down not made and released. But playing along:

My guess:
1984: stays
Jump: stays
Little Guitars: makes the cut.
Panama: of course
Drop Dead Legs: one of my favorite. stays
I'll Wait. Bye bye
Hang 'Em High. Replaced although only because some have to go to make it fit. I’m with JD, GGB must be on my list. (My favorite song on 1984.I say Keep them both. But now we’re getting into a double album.
Hot For Teacher. No brainer. Stays
House of Pain: stays. GGB and HOUSE of Pain became two of my favorite off of 1984.
The Full Bug[ [QUOTE ] stays

Frankly, as noted above, under this scenario, I’d vote for a double album and keep them all.

I suspect it would have outsold VHI considerably. 1984 as part of a double album with some great songs on DD (Even with the covers.) Have we all forgotten that decent Kinks song VH destroyed (in a good way.) VH has had some huge covers by Van Halenizing them. Dancing in the Street is a much cooler “pop” song with just the right guitar edge alone to make it a big hit had it been on 1984 with I’ll wait put in the vault.

Just my two cents.

[xfatalherox]

Wasn't it the "pretty woman" music video and MTV coverage that put Van Halen on the general population's radar? Without diver down idk if 1984 would have been nearly as successful as it was.

[I Coulda Hada VH]

If Diver Down had never been made, 5150 might have never been built and Dave might have never left Van Halen.

Then again, if Grandma had balls ...

[Binner]

[QUOTE=Destructo2;2379901][QUOTE=Binner;2379827]We know Van Halen was rushed back into the studio after the success of the Oh Pretty Woman single and they recorded the Diver Down album that they weren't really ready to record and ended up recording a number of cover songs.
So here's a few questions:
1. What songs recorded for Diver Down might have ended up on 1984?
2. What songs might not have been recorded for 1984?
3. What songs might not have been recorded at all?
4. If 1984 remained a single album (9-10 tracks) what might the track listing look like?

Personally I wouldn’t have wanted Diver Down not made and released. But playing along:

My guess:
1984: stays
Jump: stays
Little Guitars: makes the cut.
Panama: of course
Drop Dead Legs: one of my favorite. stays
I'll Wait. Bye bye
Hang 'Em High. Replaced although only because some have to go to make it fit. I’m with JD, GGB must be on my list. (My favorite song on 1984.I say Keep them both. But now we’re getting into a double album.
Hot For Teacher. No brainer. Stays
House of Pain: stays. GGB and HOUSE of Pain became two of my favorite off of 1984.
The Full Bug[ [QUOTE ] stays

Frankly, as noted above, under this scenario, I’d vote for a double album and keep them all.

I suspect it would have outsold VHI considerably. 1984 as part of a double album with some great songs on DD (Even with the covers.) Have we all forgotten that decent Kinks song VH destroyed (in a good way.) VH has had some huge covers by Van Halenizing them. Dancing in the Street is a much cooler “pop” song with just the right guitar edge alone to make it a big hit had it been on 1984 with I’ll wait put in the vault.

Just my two cents.

FYI: I wasn't trying to put together one great album mixed with songs from both albums, I was trying to guess what songs probably would have been recorded while making the 1984 album if Diver Down didn't happen. I think Top Jimmy, Girl Gone Bad, Secrets, Dancing in the Streets are great songs, but I think some of those would have never have happened.

[Destructo2]

Wasn't it the "pretty woman" music video and MTV coverage that put Van Halen on the general population's radar? Without diver down idk if 1984 would have been nearly as successful as it was.

It introduced them to the MTV crowd that was otherwise oblivious. (That’s aimed at mostly younger people.) But VH1 was so huge it in and of itself made them a special and well known rock act selling millions of units. It was just Pre-MTV. Can you imagine the videos that would have come from that record alone?!?! Mind boggling. (Yes there were some after the fact videos put on but nothing created for the MTV audience, like Jump, HFT and Panama...

[I Coulda Hada VH]

Diver Down should have been made up of the four originals plus 4 or 5 of the demos that ended up on ADKOT. You could even throw in (Oh) Pretty Woman, since it was such a big hit in early 1982.

[JUNGLE DRUMMER]

Diver Down should have been made up of the four originals plus 4 or 5 of the demos that ended up on ADKOT. You could even throw in (Oh) Pretty Woman, since it was such a big hit in early 1982.

I love both WHATGTG and Big Bad Bill. Recording BBB and having Jan play on it was especially inspired and is a tune that set VH apart from their peers. It would be a shame to not have that and Jan on a VH album.

[I Coulda Hada VH]

I love both WHATGTG and Big Bad Bill. Recording BBB and having Jan play on it was especially inspired and is a tune that set VH apart from their peers. It would be a shame to not have that and Jan on a VH album.

I can sort of take or leave WHATGTG, but I agree with you on BBB.

[JUNGLE DRUMMER]

I can sort of take or leave WHATGTG, but I agree with you on BBB.

I'll always like WHATGTG more than YRGM. I also liked their All Day And All Of The Night better than YRGM.

[I Coulda Hada VH]

I'll always like WHATGTG more than YRGM. I also liked their All Day And All Of The Night better than YRGM.

And, as you already know, I think YRGM crushes WHATGTG.

[Simon Ribeiro]

We know Van Halen was rushed back into the studio after the success of the Oh Pretty Woman single and they recorded the Diver Down album that they weren't really ready to record and ended up recording a number of cover songs.
So here's a few questions:
1. What songs recorded for Diver Down might have ended up on 1984?
2. What songs might not have been recorded for 1984?
3. What songs might not have been recorded at all?
4. If 1984 remained a single album (9-10 tracks) what might the track listing look like?
My guess:
1984
Jump
Little Guitars
Panama
Drop Dead Legs
I'll Wait
Hang 'Em High
Hot For Teacher
House of Pain
The Full Bug

1 - That's hard. 1984 isn't a summer record. On the other hand, Diver Down is like summer itself.
2 - Probably keyboard oriented tunes like Jump or 1984.
3 - Maybe Secrets, Cathedral (though EVH was playing it live on previous tours), Little Guitars. And that would be sad.
4 - Another hard question. This scenario scares me, man. And I thank God that WB told them to record DD.

[Simon Ribeiro]

And, as you already know, I think YRGM crushes WHATGTG.

Both are killer tunes. Van Halen made these tunes even better than the original ones, IMHO.