Diamond Dave

David Lee Roth | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 8, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Magna Carta
• ASIN: B00009LVY2
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #40,301 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Considering the oeuvre, to call this the best pop album of David Lee Roth's star-crossed solo career might risk damning it with faint praise. In its best moments it picks up where his fluke-hit 1985 solo EP, Crazy From the Heat, left off, undercutting his obnoxious Van Halen strut with self-deprecating humor while framing him as R&B-savvy popmeister/entertainer. But that was then; this is now, and even if Roth's cover-heavy shtick here (Steve Miller's "Shoo Bop," the Doors' "Soul Kitchen," "If 6 Was 9" by Hendrix, "Made Up My Mind" Savoy Brown, the Beatles' "Tomorrow Never Knows") contains a couple surprising gems (Rodger Collins' "She's Looking Good" and the Hombres' "Let It All Hang Out") and a savvy, lugubrious contemporary production sense, it all seems--like the enigmatic frontman himself--marooned outside boundaries of time and space. If it's an album that scrupulously avoids the blatant VH-invoking hard rock of his previous DLR Band in favor of the hook-and-groove concerns of "Stay While the Night is Young" and "You Got the Blues, Not Me," and snarling sass of "Thug Pop," the lounge-ready redux of his previous band's "Ice Cream Man" can't help but recall the Vegas crash-and-burn phase of Roth's career--and his frustrating inability to capitalize on even the trends he admittedly inspired. --Jerry McCulley

Product Description

Let's face it; David Lee Roth was the most exciting and entertaining singer to ever front Van Halen. And although his solo albums have not all been winners, at least he's been known to take chances and try new approaches with rock music (such as the entirely sung-in-Spanish Sonrisa Salvaje, the synth pop-ish Skyscraper, the Nile Rodgers-produced Your Filthy Little Mouth, etc.). For his 2003 release Diamond Dave, Roth uses the same approach he and his then-comrades in Van Halen followed on 1982's Diver Down -- an album consisting primarily of cover songs, with a few originals sprinkled in. As expected, the covers that work the best are the ones that aren't that well known, including the lead-off single "Shoo Bop" (a cover of Steve Miller's "Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma") and a big band reading of a tune Van Halen covered way back when, "Ice Cream Man," while a few of the better-known songs (especially Jimi Hendrix's "If 6 Was 9") don't fare as well. Of course, Diamond Dave is no Fair Warning. But it's a hell of a whole lot more listenable than anything Van Halen has issued in ages (especially when compared to the 1998 atrocity Van Halen III). ~ Greg Prato, Rovi --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another gem from Diamond Dave, July 13, 2003

By 

Daniel Maltzman (Arlington, MA, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Diamond Dave (Audio CD)

I really enjoyed Dave's new album, his first since 1998s DLR Band. This album expands on the concept of 1985s Crazy From the Heat, which was an EP of cover songs. This is a full album of covers, with only a few original tunes. Overall, this is not an in-your-face, hard-rock kind of album; it's actually rather mellow. While I would consider this to be a rock album, many of the songs sound like Vegas lounge tunes. It just goes to show how talented and versatile Dave is as an artist. He can go from hard rock (as in 1998s DLR Band) to a more laid-back vegas sound and do both successfully. The album has a nice flow and there are no fillers. Dave puts his own signature persona on each tune and makes them sound like his own. I liked this CD more with each listen.
Track by Track-
1. You Got the Blues, Not me...This is a mid-tempo rocker by Savoy Brown about being yourself. It has a good hook and groove.
2. Made up my Mind-Also by Savoy Brown, this is also a mid-tempo lounge song.
3. Stay While the Night is Young-Yet another Savoy Brown Cover. This is a slow seditious lounge song.
4. Shoo Bop- A Steve Miller cover. It's pretty funky and has a catchy groove and guitar solo. This could be played at any night club.
5. She's Looking Good-Another lounge type song that could be played at a club.
6. Soul Kitchen-This may be one of the best songs on the album. This is a cover of the classic Doors song. Dave pulls it off beautifully.
7. If 6 was 9- Dave does a great job at this cover of the classic Hendrix tune. I really like Dave's rap in the middle.
8. That Beatles Tune (Tomorrow Never Knows)- This cover of the Beatles classic is made to sound more like a dance song that could be played at a club. This is a respectable cover, although the original is better.
9. Medicine Man-This is a Dave original. This is just Dave singin' the blues with a harmonica. It's a fun tune and gives the album a nice touch.
10. Let it all Hang Out-This is by the Hombres. This is another dance song in which Dave raps. I'm not familiar with the original but this is a great cover. It's very infectious and catchy.
11. Thug Pop- A Dave original. This sounds very much like it could have been included on the 1998 DLR Band album. This is a hard-rocker with a good hook.
12. Act One-Another Dave original. This is just Dave making odd noises over the sound of a drum.
13. Ice Cream Man-This is a cover of a Van Halen song, which itself was a cover. This sounds much different from the version on Van Halen's debut. The screeching guitars have been replaced by a big band with horns. It's interesting to hear the same song with such a different interpretation.
14. Bad Habits-Another big band song with horns. It's a lot of fun and a good way to close the album.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Diamond Dave -- Soul Man, July 10, 2003

By 

Arthur P. Andersons "expensive_wino" (Lake Orion, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Diamond Dave (Audio CD)

I didn't know what to expect from this CD. Radio isn't playing it -- no surprise.

This isn't 'In-Your-Face-David-Lee-Roth.' It's more like 'David Lee Roth, Lounge Lizard.' Diamond Dave is a fusion of rock, funk, soul and some jazz. Very cool stuff. This CD is probably his best effort other than 'Eat 'Em And Smile.'

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best DLR Album Yet, January 23, 2004

By 

Ryan P Day (Cross Plains, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Diamond Dave (Audio CD)

I was kind of hesitant to purchase this CD. I bought his last CD "DLR Band", which was good,but could have been alot better. Then the whole Van Halen thing. Such a waste. BUT!.This new David Lee Roth album entitled "Diamond Dave" is the best CD I own at this moment. I am floored. Dave is doin' what he likes to do. And it rocks. His interpretations (not covers) are a breath of fresh air. In my opinion(always humble of course), I think it could be worth a Grammy nomination. But...what do I know. I do know it's great to have Diamond David Lee Roth back to show us how rock 'n roll is done.