Skyscraper (album)

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 25, 1988, on Warner Bros. Records.

This article is about the David Lee Roth album. For the 2018 film soundtrack, see Skyscraper (soundtrack).
Skyscraper
Studio album by
David Lee Roth
ReleasedJanuary 25, 1988[1]
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[4]
Robert ChristgauC+[5]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal8/10[6]
The Daily VaultC−[7]
Kerrang![8]
Los Angeles Times[9]
Rolling Stone[10]

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,[11] 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.[12] 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.[7] 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.

Cash Box called the singles "Stand Up" an "engaging, catchy rock song, with a funky danceable groove"[13] and "Damn Good" a "satisfying and artistic effort," respectively. [14]

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, Tuggle) – 4:39
  8. "Hina" – 4:41
  9. "Perfect Timing" (Roth, Tuggle) – 3:41
  10. "Two Fools a Minute" – 4:29

Covers of "California Girls" and "Just a Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody", 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. 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.[15]
  • "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

Guest musicians
  • Gary Falcone – backing vocals on tracks 1 and 9
  • Joe Pizzulo – backing vocals on track 1
  • Tommy Funderburk, 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)[16] 14
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[17] 6
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[18] 39
European Albums (IFPI)[19] 31
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[20] 1
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[21] 28
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[22] 7
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[23] 12
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[24] 9
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[25] 13
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[26] 13
UK Albums (OCC)[27] 11
US Billboard 200[28] 6

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[29] Silver 60,000^
United States (RIAA)[30] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. "BPI".
  2. "Top 50 Glam Metal Albums". Metal Rules. Archived from the original on 26 November 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  3. Diamond Dave - David Lee Roth | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2021-04-06, the synth pop-ish Skyscraper
  4. Rivadavia, Eduardo. "David Lee Roth - Skyscraper review". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  5. Christgau, Robert. "David Lee Roth - Consumer Guide Reviews: Skyscraperkyscraper review". Robert Christgau.com. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  6. 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.
  7. McVicker, Ben (29 November 2011). "Skyscraper - David Lee Roth". Daily Vault.com. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  8. Zell, Ray (30 January 1988). "David Lee Roth - 'Skyscraper'". Kerrang!. No. 172.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. "David Lee Roth Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
  12. "David Lee Roth Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
  13. "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. April 16, 1988. p. 8. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
  14. "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. July 30, 1988. p. 15. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
  15. "Steve Vai eonmusic Interview January 2022".
  16. 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.
  17. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0946". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  18. "Dutchcharts.nl – David Lee Roth – Skyscraper" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  19. "European Hot 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. 13 February 1988. p. 20. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  20. 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.
  21. "Offiziellecharts.de – David Lee Roth – Skyscraper" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  22. Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  23. "Charts.nz – David Lee Roth – Skyscraper". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  24. "Norwegiancharts.com – David Lee Roth – Skyscraper". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  25. "Swedishcharts.com – David Lee Roth – Skyscraper". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  26. "Swisscharts.com – David Lee Roth – Skyscraper". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  27. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  28. "David Lee Roth Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  29. "British album certifications – David Lee Roth – Skyscraper". British Phonographic Industry.
  30. "American album certifications – David Lee Roth – Skyscraper". Recording Industry Association of America.
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