Here's an a question I've been thinking about, what is my least favorite VH song? The only song I don't like on the first six albums is One Foot Out the Door. The music is interesting, cool solo, though the mix seems kinda muddy. I don't like the vocals. They are too rough and forced, not very musical. I always skip it.
For Van Hagar I can't listen to So Good. For so long now, I don't even remember what it sounds like, thank God. Summer Nights, I don't like the verses, too lewd. Roth talks to your girl, gets her head all turned around and the next thing you know he's twirling her panties on a finger. Hagar walks up and grabs her by the pussy. Which is weird cuz Hagar can write sweet love songs and Roth cant. I skip that one. There's a few more Hagar songs I skip but thats all for now.
There are definitely songs I prefer over others myself but I always try to listen for the spark of the idea and where it might have come from. I'm always curious about the origins of music even if it's not my favorite music. I think most VH fans have favorite songs and records and probably most of them have some difficulties with the VH-III album.
Yeah, probably opening a can of worms with that question. I was just wondering cuz I love some oddball VH like Could This Be Magic, Big Bad Bill, Push Comes to Shove, Pleasure Dome, Not Enough. And most non VH fanatics don't even know they exist, not played on radio, and when people hear them they are like what the hell was that? Thats VH taking chances and enjoying themselves, not caring what others may think. Are these songs not popular cuz they are unexpected, don't fit with the rest of the repertoire? Just thinking. Not every song is a winner, but like you said there is something interesting even in the songs I'm not into.
I found this a couple of years ago on VHND. It is DLR handwritten lyrics to EBWS. It seems like it has potential of being the verse. I was listening to that episode today. I love the “forward” on Tora Tora Tora. Thanks DZ for giving fans a real chance to hear real stories by real friends of EVH. It’s awesome!
So Dave just forgot the lyric, made something up and they left it in? Sounds about right. They were not perfectionists, that's what we love about them.
Hi Dweezil , really enjoying re listening to all of the podcasts - love the Fair Warning episodes - I still wonder if Ed had explored the slap/tapping on meanstreet further - where did he come up with the idea - love your thoughts on the frequency creating patterns too. I've re discovered thin picks too - thanks - having used something the thickness of a tomb stone for the past 10 years !!! . Have you considered approaching Donn Landee to take part in the podcasts ? Did Ed ever tell you where he conceived the idea to hook up a variac to his amp ? That alone is a standout moment of genius.
Glad you're enjoying the series! I've been trying to get Donn Landee to agree to come on the podcast. That would be fantastic. I will probably get into the variac stuff in the episode on reverse-engineering the brown sound.
Is there any discussion about geeky stuff like Ed's string tunings/intonation? I wanted to know what the fine adjustments Ed made to various strings. Dweezil alluded to Ed's B string being tuned differently but didn't say how much (assuming flat a few cents?) Are there others? G string?
I've read this:
"I think what they are trying to say is basically this....
He tuned his b string to be a perfect major 3rd harmony (which is what its supposed to be anyway but will alway be a few 'beats' out of tune) for tunes that he was using a lot of 'A' shaped barre chords,....but would then tune, for instance, the B string 1st fret to be a perfect 4th to the G string [again, the way its normally tuned except made the 4th interval beat less.
In other words- you can never have these two notes ......
[CORGAN] you know, now that you speak of Ed's influences (and thanks for the Mammoth tracks def hear Tony in Ed's soloing, something I feel he took much later into his career when you hear him play those fast b3-2-1 trill-type of licks that Iommi > codified in Sabbath), at 1:22:00 in the Corgan podcast, that solo beginning of 'Push Comes to Shove' really reminds of a Holdsworth/UK-era kind of thing. Aside from the tone, Ed never really stacked fourths/fifths (harmonics tapped) like that before but if that doesn't sound like 'In the Dead of Night', then I'm down the rabbit hole already!
I think Ed was a fan, at least, helped him out in those days get noticed, etc.
edited: ah cool at 1:33:45 you talk about that very thing.
re: the Billy Corgan podcast, at 1:10:00, on that intro during the Van Halen - Unchained - 6/12/1981 - Oakland Coliseum Stadium, it's actually EDDIE that goofed (not Roth). Eddie comes in the verse too soon and then recovers back to the main riff for Roth to enter.
It's funny because after that discussion, just to be sure, I checked it out again and realized that it was EVH who came in early. Dave was on point! That's the most unique version of Unchained for that reason.
Wow. Nailed it Dweezil. Music now is a background to most people’s lives and at least prior and up to the 90s, it was CENTRAL to a social gathering. Didn’t matter the band. If you and your friends were on the same page in regards to an artist or band, the music was what we flocked around.
For those interested this is another great conversation, lots of tech details, with Ed's guitar tech of the last couple of Van Halen tours, Tom Weber and his keyboard tech, Greg Rule. Get's into very minute gear details, how Ed's guitars were tune and set up, etc. Guitar geek stuff... but we like that. Here's the link:
Runnin' With The Dweezil has helped reignite my love for not only Van Halen, but the electric guitar itself. I have been taking my own playing more seriously since I started tuning in. I have been practicing music theory more and learning how to improve my guitar tones. I really appreciate how observant of a listener you are with Edward's playing, Dweezil. The discourse and insight that you share with each guest really makes this podcast so special.
Good episode, Dweezil - thanks. "Girl Gone Bad" is my favorite VH song, and to me it is the reference standard for the truth that Ed plays to Al, and vice-versa. I'm reading Greg Renoff's "Van Halen Rising," and it made a lot of sense to learn that Al played piano and guitar as well as drums. The bottom line is on "Girl Gone Bad" in particular Al knows EXACTLY what Ed was playing, note for note. I love the custom-fit between the guitar and drums.
On a completely randon note, what do you think of your Dad's album "Jazz from Hell"? It's my favorite FZ album, believe it or not. Thanks, Tim
While I can't really rank VH songs as there are just so many great tunes, "Girl Gone Bad" is always up there in my world and I feel like it is a buried treasure in the VH catalog. Ed used to describe some of VH's music as "Falling down the stairs and landing on your feet". "Girl Gone Bad" epitomizes that feeling for me. Actually, a better analogy I think is that I'd say that song feels more like a locomotive train that is going to go off the tracks, but never does.
It's a very complex song. Many skills are required to be able to play it. tricky chord inversions and picking techniques plus odd syncopations and accents. It's pretty amazing that Dave was able to write lyrics to the song and make it work. It could have easily been an instrumental song.
Just subscribed to this series today and listened to the first episode. Also inspired me to sit and really listen to VH1 again. Such a great album, guitar tones that we all dream of (bring on the Reverse Engineering episode). I'm unusual as I think that EVH was at his peak as a guitar player during the Roth years but I actually prefer the Hagar era albums. Can't wait to listen to all the episodes.
Hi Jim, Yes, you can still post. All you have to do is post a video from your profile page on my site. It will be loaded into the community video section.
For anyone interested and because I know an episode is on the way in the future, if you haven't heard all the tracks Ed scored for the film, The Wild Life", here is a YouTube playlist going thru them all. Great stuff in there and a unique insight into Ed doing a project like this at home with a drum machine... Here's the link:
I had totally forgotten that Little Guitars was played on a mini Les Paul! I had a "centerfold" of it hanging on my wall back in the day...this series has really jogged my memory. Thanks for that!
Hey dweezil I would still love to send you my third concert photo book...just need a place to send it...it “may “ give you ten minutes of entertainment on a day off...I should have my e-mail address at the end of my two photo books you have on the back page...dd
Thought I'd share this.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZY6-kJlxwZc I knew Sammy Hagar was a deadhead, but I never knew he played with Jerry Garcia!
Here's an a question I've been thinking about, what is my least favorite VH song? The only song I don't like on the first six albums is One Foot Out the Door. The music is interesting, cool solo, though the mix seems kinda muddy. I don't like the vocals. They are too rough and forced, not very musical. I always skip it.
For Van Hagar I can't listen to So Good. For so long now, I don't even remember what it sounds like, thank God. Summer Nights, I don't like the verses, too lewd. Roth talks to your girl, gets her head all turned around and the next thing you know he's twirling her panties on a finger. Hagar walks up and grabs her by the pussy. Which is weird cuz Hagar can write sweet love songs and Roth cant. I skip that one. There's a few more Hagar songs I skip but thats all for now.
There are definitely songs I prefer over others myself but I always try to listen for the spark of the idea and where it might have come from. I'm always curious about the origins of music even if it's not my favorite music. I think most VH fans have favorite songs and records and probably most of them have some difficulties with the VH-III album.
Yeah, probably opening a can of worms with that question. I was just wondering cuz I love some oddball VH like Could This Be Magic, Big Bad Bill, Push Comes to Shove, Pleasure Dome, Not Enough. And most non VH fanatics don't even know they exist, not played on radio, and when people hear them they are like what the hell was that? Thats VH taking chances and enjoying themselves, not caring what others may think. Are these songs not popular cuz they are unexpected, don't fit with the rest of the repertoire? Just thinking. Not every song is a winner, but like you said there is something interesting even in the songs I'm not into.
I found this a couple of years ago on VHND. It is DLR handwritten lyrics to EBWS. It seems like it has potential of being the verse. I was listening to that episode today. I love the “forward” on Tora Tora Tora. Thanks DZ for giving fans a real chance to hear real stories by real friends of EVH. It’s awesome!
So Dave just forgot the lyric, made something up and they left it in? Sounds about right. They were not perfectionists, that's what we love about them.
Excellent - thanks.
Wow im happy be here ☺️
I took a mobile light, lookin' for a moonbeam, whoa
Yeah, ya stand in line, ya got lost in a jet stream
No mookmeat or moople was injured in that lyric.
Hi Dweezil , really enjoying re listening to all of the podcasts - love the Fair Warning episodes - I still wonder if Ed had explored the slap/tapping on meanstreet further - where did he come up with the idea - love your thoughts on the frequency creating patterns too. I've re discovered thin picks too - thanks - having used something the thickness of a tomb stone for the past 10 years !!! . Have you considered approaching Donn Landee to take part in the podcasts ? Did Ed ever tell you where he conceived the idea to hook up a variac to his amp ? That alone is a standout moment of genius.
Hi Rich,
Glad you're enjoying the series! I've been trying to get Donn Landee to agree to come on the podcast. That would be fantastic. I will probably get into the variac stuff in the episode on reverse-engineering the brown sound.
[GILBERT] yep, 'Spanish Fly' is in standard tuning, but dropped down a whole step on a nylon string
Is there any discussion about geeky stuff like Ed's string tunings/intonation? I wanted to know what the fine adjustments Ed made to various strings. Dweezil alluded to Ed's B string being tuned differently but didn't say how much (assuming flat a few cents?) Are there others? G string?
I've read this:
For more information on how Eddie actually tuned, please check out my forum post on the subject:https://www.vhlinks.com/vbforums/threads/62695-Van-Halen-tunings-with-Peterson-strobe-tuner-reference
[CORGAN] you know, now that you speak of Ed's influences (and thanks for the Mammoth tracks def hear Tony in Ed's soloing, something I feel he took much later into his career when you hear him play those fast b3-2-1 trill-type of licks that Iommi > codified in Sabbath), at 1:22:00 in the Corgan podcast, that solo beginning of 'Push Comes to Shove' really reminds of a Holdsworth/UK-era kind of thing. Aside from the tone, Ed never really stacked fourths/fifths (harmonics tapped) like that before but if that doesn't sound like 'In the Dead of Night', then I'm down the rabbit hole already!
I think Ed was a fan, at least, helped him out in those days get noticed, etc.
edited: ah cool at 1:33:45 you talk about that very thing.
re: the Billy Corgan podcast, at 1:10:00, on that intro during the Van Halen - Unchained - 6/12/1981 - Oakland Coliseum Stadium, it's actually EDDIE that goofed (not Roth). Eddie comes in the verse too soon and then recovers back to the main riff for Roth to enter.
Hi JT,
It's funny because after that discussion, just to be sure, I checked it out again and realized that it was EVH who came in early. Dave was on point! That's the most unique version of Unchained for that reason.
Wow. Nailed it Dweezil. Music now is a background to most people’s lives and at least prior and up to the 90s, it was CENTRAL to a social gathering. Didn’t matter the band. If you and your friends were on the same page in regards to an artist or band, the music was what we flocked around.
For those interested this is another great conversation, lots of tech details, with Ed's guitar tech of the last couple of Van Halen tours, Tom Weber and his keyboard tech, Greg Rule. Get's into very minute gear details, how Ed's guitars were tune and set up, etc. Guitar geek stuff... but we like that. Here's the link:
It's Tom Weber
Runnin' With The Dweezil has helped reignite my love for not only Van Halen, but the electric guitar itself. I have been taking my own playing more seriously since I started tuning in. I have been practicing music theory more and learning how to improve my guitar tones. I really appreciate how observant of a listener you are with Edward's playing, Dweezil. The discourse and insight that you share with each guest really makes this podcast so special.
I totally agree, it's inspiring. I've been digging into my new EVH and messing with tone as well. These podcasts are awesome!
Good episode, Dweezil - thanks. "Girl Gone Bad" is my favorite VH song, and to me it is the reference standard for the truth that Ed plays to Al, and vice-versa. I'm reading Greg Renoff's "Van Halen Rising," and it made a lot of sense to learn that Al played piano and guitar as well as drums. The bottom line is on "Girl Gone Bad" in particular Al knows EXACTLY what Ed was playing, note for note. I love the custom-fit between the guitar and drums.
On a completely randon note, what do you think of your Dad's album "Jazz from Hell"? It's my favorite FZ album, believe it or not. Thanks, Tim
While I can't really rank VH songs as there are just so many great tunes, "Girl Gone Bad" is always up there in my world and I feel like it is a buried treasure in the VH catalog. Ed used to describe some of VH's music as "Falling down the stairs and landing on your feet". "Girl Gone Bad" epitomizes that feeling for me. Actually, a better analogy I think is that I'd say that song feels more like a locomotive train that is going to go off the tracks, but never does.
It's a very complex song. Many skills are required to be able to play it. tricky chord inversions and picking techniques plus odd syncopations and accents. It's pretty amazing that Dave was able to write lyrics to the song and make it work. It could have easily been an instrumental song.
Just subscribed to this series today and listened to the first episode. Also inspired me to sit and really listen to VH1 again. Such a great album, guitar tones that we all dream of (bring on the Reverse Engineering episode). I'm unusual as I think that EVH was at his peak as a guitar player during the Roth years but I actually prefer the Hagar era albums. Can't wait to listen to all the episodes.
Thank you Dweezil
Hi Chris,
Thanks! Welcome to the community. There's a lot more stuff coming!
Hi. Can we still submit vids taking about the series ? If so where do we post it??
thanks. Love what your doing and the general love and admiration for the MAN
Hi Jim,
Yes, you can still post. All you have to do is post a video from your profile page on my site. It will be loaded into the community video section.
Thanks for your help!
For anyone interested and because I know an episode is on the way in the future, if you haven't heard all the tracks Ed scored for the film, The Wild Life", here is a YouTube playlist going thru them all. Great stuff in there and a unique insight into Ed doing a project like this at home with a drum machine... Here's the link:
The UFC uses Intruder to open all their main card broadcasts for years. Dana White demanded it of the DJ cuz he's a huge Van Halen fan.
I had totally forgotten that Little Guitars was played on a mini Les Paul! I had a "centerfold" of it hanging on my wall back in the day...this series has really jogged my memory. Thanks for that!
Hey dweezil I would still love to send you my third concert photo book...just need a place to send it...it “may “ give you ten minutes of entertainment on a day off...I should have my e-mail address at the end of my two photo books you have on the back page...dd