''Skyscraper'' is the second full-length studio album by
David Lee Roth
David Lee Roth (born October 10, 1954) is an American rock singer. Best known for his wild, energetic stage persona, he was the original lead vocalist of the hard rock band Van Halen across three stints, from 1974 to 1985, in 1996 and again fro ...
, released during his solo career after his departure as the original lead vocalist from
Van Halen
Van Halen ( ) was an American rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. Credited with "restoring hard rock to the forefront of the music scene", Van Halen was known for its energetic live shows and for the virtuosity of its lead gu ...
. It was released on January 26, 1988, on
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Records Inc. (formerly Warner Bros. Records Inc.) is an American record label. A subsidiary of the Warner Music Group, it is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. It was founded on March 19, 1958, as the recorded music division of the ...
.
Overview
''Skyscraper'' was issued shortly after the commercially and critically successful
Eat 'Em and Smile Tour of 1986–1987. ''Skyscraper'' hit No. 6 on the
Billboard Top 200
The ''Billboard'' 200 is a record chart ranking the 200 most popular music albums and EPs in the United States. It is published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine and is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artis ...
U.S. album chart during February 1988,
en route to selling two million copies in the United States. The album features one of Roth's most popular singles, "
Just Like Paradise
"Just Like Paradise" is a song by American rock singer David Lee Roth. Released after he left Van Halen, it was produced by Roth and guitarist Steve Vai. The lead single from Roth's second solo album, 1988's ''Skyscraper'', it reached the top 10 i ...
", which reached No. 6 on the U.S.
''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart.
Additionally, it features the acoustic ballad "Damn Good", which reached No. 2 on the U.S. ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
'' Rock chart.
At the time of its release, the eclectic, quasi-
psychedelic
Psychedelics are a subclass of hallucinogenic drugs whose primary effect is to trigger non-ordinary states of consciousness (known as psychedelic experiences or "trips").Pollan, Michael (2018). ''How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of ...
''Skyscraper'' divided public and critical opinion.
[ Although Roth's 1988 ]Skyscraper Tour
The Skyscraper Tour was a North American, European, Japanese, and Australian concert tour by hard rock singer David Lee Roth. It was his second ever solo concert tour, and is the only tour to have featured the line-up of Roth, Steve Vai, Mat ...
was successful, many fans and critics disappointed by Van Halen's post-Roth, keyboard-heavy sound expressed similar dissatisfaction with ''Skyscraper''. Guitarist Steve Vai
Steven Siro Vai (; born June 6, 1960) is an American guitarist, composer, songwriter, and producer. A three-time Grammy Award winner and fifteen-time nominee, Vai started his music career in 1978 at the age of eighteen as a transcriptionist for ...
(who co-produced ''Skyscraper'', and co-wrote many of its songs) and bassist Billy Sheehan
William Sheehan (born March 19, 1953) is an American musician. He is best known for playing the bass guitar with acts such as Talas, Steve Vai, David Lee Roth, Mr. Big, Niacin, and The Winery Dogs. He is also known for his "lead bass" playing ...
, who formed the core of David Lee Roth's solo band, left the group over various controversies regarding ''Skyscraper''.
''Cash Box
''Cashbox'', also known as ''Cash Box'', was an American music industry trade magazine, originally published weekly from July 1942 to November 1996. Ten years after its dissolution, it was revived and continues as ''Cashbox Magazine'', an online ...
'' called the single "Stand Up" an "engaging, catchy rock song, with a funky danceable groove." ''Cash Box
''Cashbox'', also known as ''Cash Box'', was an American music industry trade magazine, originally published weekly from July 1942 to November 1996. Ten years after its dissolution, it was revived and continues as ''Cashbox Magazine'', an online ...
'' called "Damn Good" a "satisfying and artistic effort."
Track listing
All songs written by David Lee Roth and Steve Vai unless otherwise noted.
#"Knucklebones" (Gregg Bissonette, Matt Bissonette, Roth) – 3:18
#"Just Like Paradise
"Just Like Paradise" is a song by American rock singer David Lee Roth. Released after he left Van Halen, it was produced by Roth and guitarist Steve Vai. The lead single from Roth's second solo album, 1988's ''Skyscraper'', it reached the top 10 i ...
" (Roth, Brett Tuggle) – 4:03
#"The Bottom Line" – 3:38
#"Skyscraper" – 3:40
#"Damn Good" – 5:49
#"Hot Dog and a Shake" – 3:19
#"Stand Up" (Roth, Tuggle) – 4:39
#"Hina" – 4:41
#"Perfect Timing" (Roth, Tuggle) – 3:41
#"Two Fools a Minute" – 4:29
Covers of "California Girls
"California Girls" is a song by the American rock band the Beach Boys from their 1965 album, ''Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)''. Written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, the lyrics detail an appreciation for women across the world and a wish th ...
" and " Just a Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody
"I Ain't Got Nobody" (sometimes referred to as "I'm So Sad and Lonely" or "I Ain't Got Nobody Much") is a popular song copyrighted in 1915. Roger A. Graham (1885–1938) wrote the lyrics, Spencer Williams composed it, and Roger Graham Music Publi ...
", from Roth's 1985 '' Crazy from the Heat'' EP, open some editions released in Europe.
Notes
*Roth's management received a phone call asking for permission for "Just Like Paradise" to be used as the theme song of a new television show, ''Beverly Hills 90210
''Beverly Hills, 90210'' (often referred to by its short title, ''90210'') is an American teen drama television series created by Darren Star and produced by Aaron Spelling under his production company Spelling Television. The series ran fo ...
''. They rejected the idea without asking Roth first, so an original piece of instrumental music was used instead.
*A brief sample from the title track intro was used several times as incidental music in the ''Miami Vice'' episode "Missing Hours", broadcast in November 1987.
*In a 2022 interview with eonmusic, Vai said that "Damn Good" was developed from a piece called "Scandinavian Air Solo", which was originally slated to appear on his ''Passion and Warfare'' album.
*"Hina" features only one guitar track; it is panned hard to one side, while a delay effect then sends the guitar effects to the other ear, sounding as if Vai is playing along with himself.
Personnel
* David Lee Roth – vocals
The band
*Steve Vai
Steven Siro Vai (; born June 6, 1960) is an American guitarist, composer, songwriter, and producer. A three-time Grammy Award winner and fifteen-time nominee, Vai started his music career in 1978 at the age of eighteen as a transcriptionist for ...
– guitar, horn (alto)
*Billy Sheehan
William Sheehan (born March 19, 1953) is an American musician. He is best known for playing the bass guitar with acts such as Talas, Steve Vai, David Lee Roth, Mr. Big, Niacin, and The Winery Dogs. He is also known for his "lead bass" playing ...
– bass guitar, backing vocals
*Gregg Bissonette
Gregg Bissonette (born June 9, 1959) is an American jazz and rock drummer and vocalist. He is the brother of bassist Matt Bissonette, with whom he frequently collaborates. He has played on albums by dozens of recording artists, including David ...
– drums, percussion, backing vocals
*Brett Tuggle
Brett Tuggle (September 23, 1951 – June 19, 2022) was an American musician who is best known for his keyboard playing with Fleetwood Mac and the David Lee Roth band.
Career Early years
As a child, he studied classical piano and learned guitar ...
– keyboards, programming, backing vocals
;Guest musicians
*Gary Falcone – backing vocals on tracks 1 and 9
*Joe Pizzulo
Joe Pizzulo is an American vocalist best known as one of the lead singers on 1980s hit singles credited to Sérgio Mendes, including " Never Gonna Let You Go" (from Mendes' self-titled 1983 album) and "Alibis" (from the 1984 album ''Confetti''). ...
– backing vocals on track 1
*Tommy Funderburk, Tom Kelly – backing vocals on track 2
*John Batdorf
John Batdorf (born March 26, 1952) is an American singer and songwriter from Yellow Springs, Ohio. He is the son of Jack and Nancy Batdorf, and nephew of Earl Batdorf, aka Earl Scott, a Country singer who charted several hits during the mid-1960s ...
– backing vocals on track 9
*Magic Moreno – backing vocals on track 10
*Dr. Funk, PhD – bass synthesizer
*Todd Grace, Richie Raposa – programming, keyboard programming
;Production
*David Lee Roth – producer, concept, cover design
*Steve Vai – co-producer, engineer
*Magic Moreno – engineer, mixing
*Gary Wagner – engineer
*Doug Parry – engineer
*Paul Levy – engineer
*Steve Holroyd – engineer
*Marnie Riley – engineer
*Stephen Shelton – engineer
*Bob Cats – mixing
*Bernie Grundman
Bernie Grundman is an American audio engineer.
He is most known for his mastering work and his studio, Bernie Grundman Mastering, which he opened in 1984 in Hollywood. The studio, which includes engineers Chris Bellman, Patricia Sullivan, and Mi ...
– mastering
*Pete Angelus – concept, cover design
*Galen Rowell – photography
*Vigon Seireeni – artwork
*Gina Vivona – artwork
*Eddie Anderson – personal assistant
Charts
Weekly charts
Certifications
References
{{Authority control
1988 albums
David Lee Roth albums
Warner Records albums
Albums recorded at Capitol Studios
Glam metal albums