Skyscraper (album)
Encyclopedia
Skyscraper is the second full-length album
by David Lee Roth
(of Van Halen
), released in 1988. It was the last to feature guitarist Steve Vai
, who left the group in 1989 to join Whitesnake
and continue his solo career. Bassist Billy Sheehan
would also leave the group before the tour to eventually form Mr. Big
. This album contained the US hit single, "Just Like Paradise
", which reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100
chart.
Skyscraper was not a critical success at the time of release, but has since been labeled a 'classic rock/hard rock' album with a sunny 'California' feel, typical of Roth's positive outlook.
Guest Musicians:
Production:
Singles
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by David Lee Roth
David Lee Roth
David Lee Roth is an American rock vocalist, songwriter, actor, author, and former radio personality. Roth was ranked nineteenth by Hit Parader on their list of the 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Singers of All Time....
(of Van Halen
Van Halen
Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
), released in 1988. It was the last to feature guitarist Steve Vai
Steve Vai
Steven Siro "Steve" Vai is a three time Grammy Award-winning American guitarist, songwriter and producer who has sold over 15 million albums. Steve Vai is widely known as a flamboyant guitar virtuoso....
, who left the group in 1989 to join Whitesnake
Whitesnake
Whitesnake are an English rock band, founded in 1978 by David Coverdale after his departure from his previous band, Deep Purple. The band's early material has been compared by critics to Deep Purple, but by the mid 1980s they had moved to a more commercial hard rock style...
and continue his solo career. Bassist Billy Sheehan
Billy Sheehan
William "Billy" Sheehan is an American bassist known for his work with Talas, Steve Vai, David Lee Roth, Mr. Big, and Niacin. Sheehan has won the "Best Rock Bass Player" readers' poll from Guitar Player Magazine five times for his "lead bass" playing style...
would also leave the group before the tour to eventually form Mr. Big
Mr. Big (band)
Mr. Big is an American rock supergroup, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1988. The band is a quartet composed of Eric Martin , Paul Gilbert , Billy Sheehan , and Pat Torpey ; Mr. Big also included Richie Kotzen, a reputable blues-based guitarist who replaced Gilbert in 1999...
. This album contained the US hit single, "Just Like Paradise
Just Like Paradise
"Just Like Paradise" is a 1988 song by American rock singer David Lee Roth. Produced by Roth and guitarist Steve Vai, the song was released as the lead single from Roth's second solo album, 1988's Skyscraper...
", which reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart.
Skyscraper was not a critical success at the time of release, but has since been labeled a 'classic rock/hard rock' album with a sunny 'California' feel, typical of Roth's positive outlook.
Track listing
All songs written by Roth/Vai unless otherwise noted.- "Knucklebones" (Bissonette/Roth) – 3:18
- "Just Like ParadiseJust Like Paradise"Just Like Paradise" is a 1988 song by American rock singer David Lee Roth. Produced by Roth and guitarist Steve Vai, the song was released as the lead single from Roth's second solo album, 1988's Skyscraper...
" (Roth/Tuggle) – 4:03 - "The Bottom Line" – 3:37
- "Skyscraper" – 3:38
- "Damn Good" – 5:49
- "Hot Dog and a Shake" – 3:19
- "Stand Up" (Roth/Tuggle) – 4:39
- "Hina" – 4:40
- "Perfect Timing" (Roth/Tuggle) – 3:41
- "Two Fools a Minute" – 4:28
CD reissue
All songs written by Roth/Vai unless otherwise noted.- "California GirlsCalifornia Girls"California Girls" is a song by American rock band The Beach Boys, featured on their ninth studio album Summer Days . Written by band-members Brian Wilson and Mike Love, the song features contrasting verse-chorus form...
" (Brian WilsonBrian WilsonBrian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
/Mike LoveMike LoveMichael Edward "Mike" Love is an American singer/songwriter and musician with The Beach Boys. He was a founding member of the band along with his cousins Brian, Carl, and Dennis Wilson, and their friend Al Jardine, and continues to perform with the band to the present day...
) – 2:51 - "Knucklebones" (Bissonette/Roth) – 3:18
- "Just Like ParadiseJust Like Paradise"Just Like Paradise" is a 1988 song by American rock singer David Lee Roth. Produced by Roth and guitarist Steve Vai, the song was released as the lead single from Roth's second solo album, 1988's Skyscraper...
" (Roth/Tuggle) – 4:03 - "The Bottom Line" – 3:37
- "Skyscraper" – 3:38
- "Damn Good" – 5:49
- "Just a Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody" (Casucci/Caesar/Williams/Graham) – 4:41
- "Hot Dog and a Shake" – 3:19
- "Stand Up" (Roth/Tuggle) – 4:39
- "Hina" – 4:40
- "Perfect Timing" (Roth/Tuggle) – 3:41
- "Two Fools a Minute" – 4:28
- Tracks 1 & 7 are from the Crazy from the HeatCrazy from the Heat (EP)Crazy from the Heat is a 1985 EP by David Lee Roth, his debut solo release. It was released while he was still a member of Van Halen. All four songs on the EP are cover versions, with Roth's version of the Beach Boys hit "California Girls" peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, which was the same...
EP.
Personnel
The Band:- David Lee RothDavid Lee RothDavid Lee Roth is an American rock vocalist, songwriter, actor, author, and former radio personality. Roth was ranked nineteenth by Hit Parader on their list of the 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Singers of All Time....
- vocals - Steve VaiSteve VaiSteven Siro "Steve" Vai is a three time Grammy Award-winning American guitarist, songwriter and producer who has sold over 15 million albums. Steve Vai is widely known as a flamboyant guitar virtuoso....
- guitar, horn (alto) - Billy SheehanBilly SheehanWilliam "Billy" Sheehan is an American bassist known for his work with Talas, Steve Vai, David Lee Roth, Mr. Big, and Niacin. Sheehan has won the "Best Rock Bass Player" readers' poll from Guitar Player Magazine five times for his "lead bass" playing style...
- bass guitar, backing vocals - Gregg BissonetteGregg BissonetteGregg Bissonette, is an American drummer. Gregg was born in a family of musicians. His father Bud Bissonette plays drums, his mother Phyllis plays piano and vibraphone, and brother Matt Bissonette plays bass guitar. Gregg started learning to play the drums at age 5 from his father...
- drums, percussion, backing vocals
Guest Musicians:
- John Batdorf - backing vocals
- Gary Falcone - backing vocals
- Tommy FunderburkTommy FunderburkTommy Funderburk is an American rock and roll singer. He has recorded with artists such as Jon Anderson, Laura Branigan, Coverdale-Page, Melissa Manchester, Magnum, Mötley Crüe, Steve Lukather, Richard Marx, Rick Springfield, Starship, REO Speedwagon, Whitesnake, Yes and many others.Funderburk was...
- backing vocals - Tom Kelly - backing vocals
- Joe PizzuloJoe PizzuloJoe Pizzulo is best known as one of the lead singers for Sérgio Mendes in the 1980s. He had hit singles with "Never Gonna Let You Go" and "Alibis"...
- backing vocals - Dr. Funk PhD - bass guitar
- Brett Tuggle - keyboards, programming, backing vocals
- Todd Grace - programming, keyboard programming
- Richie Raposa - programming, keyboard programming
Production:
- David Lee RothDavid Lee RothDavid Lee Roth is an American rock vocalist, songwriter, actor, author, and former radio personality. Roth was ranked nineteenth by Hit Parader on their list of the 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Singers of All Time....
- producer, concept, cover design - Steve VaiSteve VaiSteven Siro "Steve" Vai is a three time Grammy Award-winning American guitarist, songwriter and producer who has sold over 15 million albums. Steve Vai is widely known as a flamboyant guitar virtuoso....
- producer, engineer - Gary Wagner - engineer
- Doug Parry - engineer
- Magic Moreno - engineer, mixing
- Steve Holroyd - engineer
- Bernie Grundman - mastering
- Marnie Riley - engineer
- Stephen Shelton - engineer
- Pete Angelus - concept, cover design
- Galen Rowell - photography
- Paul Levy - engineer
- Bob Cats - mixing
- Vigon Seireeni - artwork
- Gina Vivona - artwork
Charts
Album| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | The Billboard 200 | 6 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | "Damn Good" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 2 |
| 1988 | "Just Like Paradise" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 1 |
| 1988 | "Just Like Paradise" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 6 |
| 1988 | "Stand Up" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 5 |
| 1988 | "Stand Up" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 64 |