New VH: What Do YOU Want to Hear?

August 26, 2010 112 Comments

The guitar tone freak at WoodyTone wrote a list of the type of sounds he’d love to hear on a new Van Halen album. Check out his list below and chime in by posting a comment telling what types of sounds YOU would like to hear from Eddie and the boys!

From WoodyTone.com:

New VH: What Do You Want to Hear?

Here’s My List!

My 8-year-old son makes me listen to only Van Halen and Led Zep in the car (he’s a good kid!), so to keep it interesting I started to pick out some highlights of Dave-era VH albums – and wondered, wouldn’t it be cool to have some of these things on the new VH album. So here they are in album order. Chime in below with what you’d dig.

I’m the One speed
FAST boogie-type riff, almost unbelievably fast. Can Ed still fly at this speed with those 54-year-old muscles and fingers? Even though he kinda struggled with this tune on the last tour, I’m voting yes.

Runnin’- and Ain’t Talkin’-type simple solos
Solos that are simple, memorable, not real fast. Ed’s note choices are so out of the norm that these are real interesting. He’d kind of moved on from this after the first album, be nice to hear some of it again.

Dance the Night Away mass appeal
Everyone knows this song – everyone of a certain age, that is. How about another feel-good, California sunshine, fun, almost-poppy tune like this. Fun to play too.

Outta Love Again drums
SICK drumming. Go Al! Let’s see more of it! (Also one of my favorite guitar solos ever.)

Light Up the Sky tough-to-sing-over tune
Whenever someone tells me Sammy is a better singer than Dave, my response is, “Maybe so, but Dave can sing over anything.” How would you like to come up with melodies to sing over early VH riffs? This is a prime example. So how ’bout a kick-a** riff that most mortals could not sing over?

[Women and Children First note – This isn't a favorite album for a lot of folks, but it is for me. Just some crazy playing, great variety – sort-of-blues taken to the maximum level.]

Cradle Will Rock simplicity
A relatively simple tune with a great pounding groove.

Loss of Control speed
Wow! The whole band gets an F1 for this.

Take Your Whiskey Home
Can there be a sicker rock-blues tune? Getting chills just thinking about it….

In a Simple Rhyme drums
Another example of Al’s immense riffing musicality, just like his bro. More, Al!

Read the rest of WoodyTone’s list HERE.

Filed Under: Van Halen

Dan

Roth-aholic… I fully agree with you. The Marshall, Mike, and not over-producing. That’s all they need. But I just don’t think that’s what Ed is interested in. He’s moved on.

Ed is a true musician. Maybe true musicians only care about pleasing themselves? I can appreciate that. I just don’t like the direction he has taken since 1986. Everything from the Replacements to that haircut to the Steinberger to putting his son on the payroll.

If Ed’s music is mellower now as he has said, I just hope it’s as good as Secrets, In a Simple Rhyme, Women in Love. I just fear I won’t think that it is.
J.W. Jackson

There’s no real reason not to have Mike in the studio to lay down backing vocals. Chad has the Chili Peppers, Sammy’s out with the Wabos, and Satriani is cutting a solo album. Why should Eddie care that Mike is in a band with Sam? Eddie brought Sam into VH to begin with for %&$# sake!

I’d rather see Mike on the tour with Wolfgang on rhythm guitar or playing guest spots, but even if that doesn’t happen be that as it may there’s no reason not to have Mike sing on the new VH and set it in stone and make it the best album it can be.
SEAN

Keep it simple. Keep it fun. Keep it raw. Bring back the “Brown Sound.” I’ve always liked “Feel Your Love Tonight,” “D.O.A.,” and “Mean Street.”

Anyone see/hear Jeff Beck play this year? Unfrekenbelievable.

Dave! Ed! Alex! Wolfie! …the MIGHTY VAN HALEN!
WE NEED YOU TO “BRING IT!”
Tater Salad

The author was 100% right! I’m excited for whatever they release. I know it’ll knock my socks off! They should do like the Doobie brothers and bring back Ted Templeman is my only opinion!
Chicken Joe

I own every Van Halen album, and have listened to them all a billion times over. Every album is equally great for different reasons, even Van Halen III. I have already made up my mind that the new album will be phenomenal and that’s it. You will never get this talent from anyone else. There is only one Eddie Van Halen, and when he dies the party is over. I wish everyone would stop treating it like a sporting event, and just sit back and enjoy the fact that “NEW” is on the way! Oh it definitely “IS” on the way!!!!!!!!!!!! It may not be the album you are wishing for in your close minded head, but it definitely will rule, no doubt about that.
RothHagarFan

This is the dumbest thing I ever read , Eddie is a composer not a waiter, such stupidity should never ever be posted whats wrong with vhnd?
Chris

I would love to hear a cross between Black Sand (DLR Band) and Crossing Over (Balance Bonus Track)…something tonal, mystical, and epic. Like Kashmir only EVH doing his thing.
Z06 Pilot

Seriously, this article is stupid. When they record something, we will listen. Until then you all can mentally masturbate about what might be, but I don’t think the boys read your ideas though… Sorry to burst your bubbles.
johnny5150

I want an album from Van Halen that I can go to the store and purchase. Then I would like to listen to it. I don’t want to read rumors or hear about what might or might not be happening at 5150. In fact, at this point the main thing I would like to HEAR from Van Halen is some OFFICIAL news about what the hell is going on. Then I’d like to hear an announcement that Michael Anthony is back in the band. But I would like to say that I thought Wolfie was great on tour, but M.A. is irreplaceable, just like Dave, Ed or Al. Let’s all hope the band gives us a heads up A.S.A.P.

LONG LIVE THE MIGHTY =VH=
John R

First off, I would like to hear some of Dave’s solo stuff live with Ed. Such as Ladies Night in Buffalo, Damm Good and She’s my machine. I personally think Ed would put these songs into another level.
As for what I would like to hear on the new Album, I think first and formost, there needs to be great Riff intros, such as on Mean Street. Then, you have songs with a great Groove but are not hard like, Push comes to shove. That song has so much feeling and personaly I think it is one of his best solos. Then of course you have the harmonies. I am thinking Light up the sky type?? maybe. I also think they need to step into the Hagar era like the F.U.C.K album type of songs. There needs to be at least one cover for old times sake. I am thinking Man on the Silver Mountain in memory of Dio. lastly I believe there should be an acoustic original with just Dave and Ed and at the end, you hear silence but if you listen for like two minutes after the album is done a original new instrumental plays for like a minute then fades and leaves us hanging onto our seats!! Dam Them!!! LOL. Perfect Album!!!!
VHFANx3

I don’t agree with many of those, how about the often looked over sound and musical direction ed took during FAIR WARNING!. The best playing he ever did. The best writing, sound and heaviest with dave.
JWHII

I’d like to hear some more of the distorted organ I just heard in “Can’t Get This Stuff No More”! I was listening to it with iTunes, and there’s a thing in the iTunes preferences called the “sound enhancer”. It’s really neat because it really clears the songs up, and I’ve noticed many things with it turned on that I’d never heard before, and I swear I just heard some really awesome distorted phased organ in the verse right after the first chorus. Anyone else notice this before? I’ve never heard it until just now and now I wish it was louder in the mix. Go Eddie!
sammyvanroth

rat pack style
scott yatsko

to go down as one of the greatest,they still need their own stairway to heaven type song..they had ONE on van halen 3 but they will never be able to use it.
hornfixer

Wouldn’t even mind if Gary Cherone sang on it. But, Dave would be better. How about a VH Fest with Dave, Sammy, Gary, Mike, Montrose, Extreme, etc…. etc…. ALL VH Connected !!
mkeruption

For those of you who want to see what Mikey brought to VH’s vocals, take a look at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU4aHDJg0A8. Short, 1 minute snippet of the immigrant song by Chickenfoot. He packs a lot of power in those pipes of his. With DLR’s voice “maturing”, they could use that!
Mikey Mo

OKAY, ALL VH FANS READ! sorry I use wikipedia here and there but wiki has =VH=’s next album as MAMMOTH…1st more than likely its a rumor…2nd if it is a rumor i don’t care because that’s a really really really great idea for the new album to be called that. I actually would perfer that over anything…unless it was dedicated to my name, but HA, I’ll keep dreaming. 3rd I just really want some new VH, I don’t care about the line-up anymore, keep it as is and Rock Out Dammit! YOU’RE FUCKING VAN FUCKING HALEN!!!!!!fuck man
dirtyfacedkidinagarbagecan

Tuba
Powerhouse

The biggest person behind a successful record is the producer, and yes that can be your lead guitar player in the case of an album like “5150″. But consider for a moment that Bob Rock made “Dr. Feelgood” one of Motley Crue’s best albums or Metallica’s “Black Album” was Bob Rock too. Dr. Luke is helping to make records for Katy Perry (who can’t sing to save her life LIVE). My point is, for Van Halen to be successful this time around, they absolutely have to bring in a producer like Andy Johns (who helped make FOR UNLAWFUL… what it is … which is a terrific record). They don’t need to change their style or vibe, but they need an objective “3rd ear” to assist them in making decisions about tone, song vibe, arrangement, etc. The concept of producing yourself on an album is a fairy-tale; it doesn’t work most of the time and something usually suffers. The question is: would Donn Landee and Ted Templeman be willing to come out of retirement to make a ‘reunion’ album?
Lecutus

Since we are on the subject of what would be cool to hear.

Alex VH. once said maybe using the last blurp at the end of Women and Children First as a start to an album, kinda ties things together.

Maybe a sci fi theme, like that second to the last song from Fair Warning- Sunday in the Park – heavy keys and drumz.

A “sing along” type of song would be nice, but arn’t they all, never mind.

Maybe a double album, some studio, some live. Something along the lines of Santana’s MoonFlower, great sounding album, very clean.

I always thought that Edgar Winter’s “Frankenstein” would be a logical choice for VH to cover; those opening chords and the drum solo, wow!!!!!

Maybe do some of Dave’s tunes, the ones he did on his working vacation. Plenty to choose from.

And finally maybe something orchestral in the VH style of course, heavy horns,timpani and fellows doing the multiple backgrounds ala Bohemia Rhapsody.

I’m sure there are other choices and configurations. What ever happens it will be good.
Roth-A-Holic

John R — you make a good point. I would love to hear some of Dave’s solo stuff played on the next VH tour. “Just Like Paradise” still has timeless appeal like “Jump” or “Dance the Night Away”.

“A Little Aint Enough” has a cool vibe, and I’d love to see Eddie play that song because it has a cool solo.

Besides, VH played some of Sammy’s solo stuff back in the day so it’s only fair that Dave’s stuff get played again too.

I also agree that “Man on Silver Mountain” would be a cool tribute to Dio.
wooten

I’d love to hear Eddie go back to some of the crazy solo’s he did from 1984 and back ( One Foot out the Door, Sinner’s Swing etc.. ) And those Allan Holdsworth influenced leads like on Drop Dead Legs,Girl Gone Bad etc…I’ll take any, though!
dude

I just want Dave to wear jeans and a t-shirt for the album pics and next tour. The Liberace thang has to go!
Mammoth

There is someone leaking info or rumors onto wikipedia as I and Mikey Mo have mentioned. On the AVH page:

“Alex has commented that the first single from the new Van Halen album is likely to be a track currently titled “Please”. There is another unnamed track in consideration for a single release, but that a video will be filmed for one of the tracks in mid-September, with a radio/single release for October/November, 2010. A second single is planned for release in February, 2011. The new album is expected to be available in April, 2011. A tour is currently in the planning stages for June, 2011 with dates through November, 2011.”

Does anyone have independent verification of any of this?

Bottom line: I think all of this is engineered by someone in the VH camp to get everyone completely stoked…
Steve

Bottom line is the new songs will sound like the 1996 reunion versus the classic sound, which I am just fine with. I love those two songs
dude

That Wikipedia blurb just kind of comes out of nowhere – that is, there is no mention of a new project at all until that paragraph. Just seems kind of odd.

Coincidentally, Dave’s Wikipedia page was edited the same day as Al’s – August 26, 2010. Here is the quote from his page:

On 7 August 2010 Van Halen announced that they were recording a 1984 follow up album with David Lee Roth. The rumoured working title is ‘Mammoth’, named so after the band’s name when still a cover band. The name was supposidly thought of by Wolfgang Van Halen. Steve Vai has noted that in a conversation with Roth that the working title of the new record might also be “Krakatoa Sunrise”, as Roth has stated when the new music is heard that it will be like “Waking up to the loudest noise you’ve ever heard”.
In response to the Draft John Mellencamp for Indiana Senate movement, a Draft David Lee Roth (who is also an Indiana native) for Indiana Senate movement has started on Facebook.
D Alexander Toluca Lake

For those that don’t know Donn Landee has since past away.
Pete

I LOVE the sound/production of of For Unlawful Carnal Knowlege (I know that’s a Sammy-Era record)..but it sounds nice (like the 1984 album) and crisp and you can hear the bass.
Me Wise Magic sounding..as some have said…nice!

I’d love some fun stuff…but also, bring on the bass and bass drums and rip it Ed!! Those two songs off of Gr.Vol.1, I think that’s only the tip of the ice burg as far as what these guys can do (minus MA unfortunately)…
I did read that Ed has said they have many different types of music recorded…some “un-Van Halen like”…but, we’ll see what they put out. Either way, I’m excited to hear what they do!
Sure will beat that screaming and growling sh*t it seems that everyone plays now a days.
SCAR

Anything from the mighty VH will do just fine!!!! Time to start my weekend buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz………..
Pete

Hey Mammouth (or anyone else for that matter)..about a month ago i searched “New Van Halen Song 2010″ on YouTube and I got a 30 second or so music clip of a song that I’ve never heard before…and it is Dave “singing” on it..(more of a talk..like the talking on Me Wise Magic).
Has anyone else “seen” or heard this? I’ll try and find it again tonight..i did post it on my FB page, i’ll see if it’s still on there.
Guitar sounds awesome on it!
Roth-A-Holic

LOL…..I agree about the Liberace jackets that Dave wore on the last tour…..those things were so cheesy it made me cringe. Dave looks best in black leather pants and a short-sleeve shirt that he can unbotton so all the cougars can get a nice look at his now hairless chest!

As far as the Wikipedia leaks about new singles and release dates……I’ve seen a lot of false information find it’s way onto Wikipedia so I’m not trusting that info. at this point. I wish the band would take a break from recording and put out some official news about album and singles and tour dates for 2011.
Chris B.

I thought it would be fun to hear VH take a run at “She’s My Machine”, and have Dave re-write lyrics to “Runaround” (cause you know he won’t sing Sammy’s words).
dmoney

I really would have liked to have heard what David would have sounded like singing over, Best of Both Worlds, Good Enough and 5150. Now that would have been epic… Just don’t lose the groove Ed.
Mark V.

Pete,

Regarding that “new Van Halen” 30 second clip on youtube – it’s not VH. It’s DLR’s “Baby’s On Fire” from 1991.
dude

@dmoney: no doubt he could have added a better lyric to Summer Nights as well. That song always had Dave written all over it … at least to me!

@Pete: I did stumble upon that track a while ago. Didn’t know what to make of it but it sure did sound like Dave! Of course I can’t find it on YT now …
Roth-A-Holic

I believe that “Summer Nights” and “Humans Being” has a lot of Dave’s mojo stamped all over it. “Summer Nights” was most likely a song being worked up by the band right before Dave split in 1985 so that’s not surprising it sounds like classic VH. It would be very interesting to hear Dave try to sing those tunes, but we know it will never happen.

I could care less if I never hear another Van Hagar song played live again. Does anyone actually hear “Poundcake” on classic rock radio? I certainly dont. We dont need to hear that dreck again.
Pete

@ Mark V. and dude…(duderr or el dude-arino..haha, that movie rocks..cound’t resist)…

DAMN IT!!! I knew i’d probably be wrong and it would be a Dave solo song..oh well…i’ll have to go download it now since i now know what it is. Thanks Mark V. Sorry dude, i got our hopes up!
Adam

Roth-A-Holic,

Poundcake is an incredible song. I’ve noticed that you constantly put down anything the band did with Hagar. Why do you feel the need to do that, and do it so often? It’s like you are obsessed with slamming Sammy.

Don’t get me wrong… I like DLR. In fact, I prefer his era to Hagar’s. But enough, please.
mjc

without ma’s big voice&stage presence,the mighty vh that i grew up with no longer exists.Wolf comes up short in both areas.
ME!!

Any new Van Halen is good for me. I almost don’t care what it sounds like.

I’d like to hear Dave sing Finish What Ya Started live though. He has the potential to slam Sammy’s version. And this is coming from a major fan of the Sammy era.

Roth-A-Holic, like Adam says, Poundcake is awesome…and yes, I’ve heard it on the radio recently.
Van Foot

Can we all agree to quit writing “tasty riffs”? I played in a band with a member that used to say, “…that sounds so tasty.” Really not rock-n-roll at all.

The banter of Sammy vs. Dave is old and tired. How about some music (new) that we can talk about? The last bit of new VH I enjoyed was in the spirit of the Twister soundtrack…there is tons of emotion in “Respect the Wind” and Eddie wails. I believe Alex did the synth work on Respect as well. Human’s Being had such a great build up and melodic chorus.

Best of VH with Dave: Me Wise Magic (quit yelping Dave…those days are done)…music was cool. Can’t get this stuff no more? Almost as dumb as saying “tasty” to reference riffs.

Studio during VH 1 recording:

Ted Templeman: Hey Ed, play that solo thing, it sounds really tasty. I think we’ll record it.

Ed: Ted, don’t ever refer to my shit as tasty again or I’ll cut your pecker off and cram it up Dave’s ass.

Ted: Ok

Cheers ; )
Van Foot

No way that Dave could sing Summer Nights…that would be laughable live. Dave is an entertainer, and while he can hit some notes and stay in key, there is no way he could pull of Summer Nights.

Ed had to tune 1/2 step down so Dave could sing to most of his playing. Much of the Hagar era stuff is played in standard tuning. Even Ed has admitted to Roth’s range and that Sammy could sing the much higher stuff.

Dave and Sammy are great and fronted one of the best band’s in r-n-r history (even though the Van Halen’s didn’t bother to show up to their own induction). Get over the comparisons…Cherone pulled off both dynasties quite well may I add.
Tater Salad

@ Powerhouse-Ted Templeman came out of retirement to produce an album with the Doobie brothers(saw this while I was looking at their site couple days ago). Maybe, just maybe, he’s producing an album with VH…it would really rock if that was the case! A girl can dream…

About Wikipedia rumors….can’t anyone post information on Wikipedia? I don’t know the details of it, but that’s what I always heard. So if that’s true, it could be anyone just starrting rumors. If anyone knows the details about who can and can’t post on wikipedia, please comment. I’m curious as to whether the VH stuff is true or not.
Time to go and start off my weekend now! Rock on people!!
OzzyVanHalen

i just went over to Alex Van Halens wikipedia page and saw that the supposed new single titled “Please” was changed To “Please Buy This Album”
This Is Definitely Just A Rumor.
meats

how about an EP with roth singing Dreams, Love walks in, When it’s love, feels so good, and Can’t stop lovin’ you? Think about that type of musical magic.
michael

who cares, all i want is a new cd from the boys of southern cal.
Steve

Just don’t go retro on us.
Despite how easy it might be to go back and take up and copy the sound of 30 years ago – those times are past. I hope they do something new – a fresh sound for VH to build on for the future. You’ll definitely hear that it’s VH in whatever they do, but just no retro stuff. We have enough of that already.
Tim

I just hope they don’t try to be too arty and experimental with this one- they tried that on ‘III’ and look what happened. What most fans want is a classic sounding, feel good VH album, full of catchy rockers that sound great coming out of the stereo as your speeding down the highway. If they give us that again, everyone will win.
swingin’ sinner

wikipedia stuff is false anybody can definately add stuff to it!
Jerry

I think Ed always made his heroes non threatening. Ie so that he couldn’t be accused of copying them. So I don’t believe this, but if you believe the transcripts Ed was fascinated with Thomas Dolby. So I’d like to hear an album that is strictly Thomas Dolby covers.