Skyscraper (album)

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This article is about the David Lee Roth album. For the 2018 film soundtrack, see Skyscraper (soundtrack).
Skyscraper
Skyscraper album cover.jpg
Studio album by
David Lee Roth
ReleasedJanuary 26, 1988
RecordedSpring – Autumn 1987
Studio
  • Capitol (Hollywood)
  • Stucco Blue (Los Angeles)
  • Smoketree (Los Angeles)
Genre
Length41:23
LabelWarner Bros.
ProducerDavid Lee Roth, Steve Vai
David Lee Roth chronology
Eat 'Em and Smile
(1986) 		Skyscraper
(1988) 		A Little Ain't Enough
(1991)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
Robert ChristgauC+[4]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal8/10[5]
The Daily VaultC−[6]
Kerrang![7]
Los Angeles Times[8]
Rolling Stone[9]

Skyscraper is the second full-length studio album by David Lee Roth, released during his solo career after his departure as the original lead vocalist from Van Halen. It was released on January 26, 1988, on Warner Bros. Records.

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 U.S. album chart during February 1988,[10] en route to selling two million copies in the United States. The album features one of Roth's most popular singles, "Just Like Paradise," which reached No. 6 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.[11] Additionally, it features the acoustic ballad "Damn Good," which reached No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard Rock chart.

At the time of its release, the eclectic, quasi-psychedelic Skyscraper divided public and critical opinion.[6] Although Roth's 1988 Skyscraper Tour was successful, many fans and critics disappointed by Van Halen's post-Roth, keyboard-heavy sound expressed similar dissatisfaction with Skyscraper. Guitarist Steve Vai (who co-produced Skyscraper, and co-wrote many of its songs) and bassist Billy Sheehan, who formed the core of David Lee Roth's solo band, left the group over various controversies regarding Skyscraper.

Track listing[]

All songs written by David Lee Roth and Steve Vai unless otherwise noted.

  1. "Knucklebones" (Gregg Bissonette, Matt Bissonette, Roth) – 3:18
  2. "Just Like Paradise" (Roth, Brett Tuggle) – 4:03
  3. "The Bottom Line" – 3:38
  4. "Skyscraper" – 3:40
  5. "Damn Good" – 5:49
  6. "Hot Dog and a Shake" – 3:19
  7. "Stand Up" (Roth, Brett Tuggle) – 4:39
  8. "Hina" – 4:41
  9. "Perfect Timing" (Roth, Brett Tuggle) – 3:41
  10. "Two Fools a Minute" – 4:29

CD reissue[]

All songs written by Roth/Vai unless otherwise noted.

  1. "California Girls" (Brian Wilson, Mike Love) – 2:50
  2. "Just a Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody" (Leonello Casucci, Irving Caesar/Spencer Williams, Roger A. Graham) – 4:41
  3. "Knucklebones" (Bissonette, Bissonette, Roth) – 3:18
  4. "Just Like Paradise" (Roth, Tuggle) – 4:03
  5. "The Bottom Line" – 3:38
  6. "Skyscraper" – 3:40
  7. "Damn Good" – 5:49
  8. "Hot Dog and a Shake" – 3:19
  9. "Stand Up" (Roth, Tuggle) – 4:39
  10. "Hina" – 4:41
  11. "Perfect Timing" (Roth, Tuggle) – 3:41
  12. "Two Fools a Minute" – 4:29


  • "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.
  • 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. They rejected the idea without asking Roth first, so an original piece of instrumental music was used instead.
  • A brief sample from the introduction of the title track was used several times as incidental music in the Miami Vice episode "Missing Hours", (Series 4, ep.7) broadcast in November 1987.
  • In a 2022 interview with eonmusic, Steve 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.[12]

Personnel[]

The Band
Guest musicians
  • Gary Falcone – backing vocals on tracks 1 and 9
  • Joe Pizzulo – backing vocals on track 1
  • , Tom Kelly – backing vocals on track 2
  • John Batdorf – 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 – mastering
  • Pete Angelus – concept, cover design
  • Galen Rowell – photography
  • Vigon Seireeni – artwork
  • Gina Vivona – artwork
  • Eddie Anderson – personal assistant

Charts[]

Weekly charts[]

Chart performance for Skyscraper
Chart (1988–1990) Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[13] 14
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[14] 39
European Albums (IFPI)[15] 31
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[16] 1
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[17] 28
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[18] 12
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[19] 9
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[20] 13
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[21] 13
UK Albums (OCC)[22] 11
US Billboard 200[23] 6

Certifications[]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[24] Platinum 1,000,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[25] Silver 60,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References[]

  1. ^ "Top 50 Glam Metal Albums". Metal Rules. Archived from the original on 26 November 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  2. ^ Diamond Dave - David Lee Roth | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2021-04-06, the synth pop-ish Skyscraper
  3. ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "David Lee Roth - Skyscraper review". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  4. ^ Christgau, Robert. "David Lee Roth - Consumer Guide Reviews: Skyscraperkyscraper review". Robert Christgau.com. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  5. ^ Popoff, Martin (November 1, 2005). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 2: The Eighties. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. p. 295. ISBN 978-1-894959-31-5.
  6. ^ a b McVicker, Ben (29 November 2011). "Skyscraper - David Lee Roth". Daily Vault.com. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  7. ^ Zell, Ray (30 January 1988). "David Lee Roth - 'Skyscraper'". Kerrang!. No. 172.
  8. ^ Willman, Chris (24 January 1988). "Havin' a Ball With David Lee, Megadeth and Metallica : Check List **** Great Balls of Fire *** Good Vibrations ** Maybe Baby * Running on Empty- Skyscraper review". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  9. ^ Frost, Deborah (24 March 1988). "David Lee Roth - Skyscraper". Rolling Stone. No. 522. Archived from the original on 4 December 2008. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  10. ^ "David Lee Roth Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
  11. ^ "David Lee Roth Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
  12. ^ https://www.eonmusic.co.uk/steve-vai-eonmusic-interview-january-2022.html
  13. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 259. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  14. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – David Lee Roth – Skyscraper" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  15. ^ "European Hot 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. 13 February 1988. p. 20. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  16. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  17. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – David Lee Roth – Skyscraper" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  18. ^ "Charts.nz – David Lee Roth – Skyscraper". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  19. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – David Lee Roth – Skyscraper". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  20. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – David Lee Roth – Skyscraper". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  21. ^ "Swisscharts.com – David Lee Roth – Skyscraper". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  22. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  23. ^ "David Lee Roth Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  24. ^ "American album certifications – David Lee Roth – Skyscraper". Recording Industry Association of America.
  25. ^ "British album certifications – David Lee Roth – Skyscraper". British Phonographic Industry.Select albums in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Skyscraper in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
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