Little Ain't Enough

David Lee Roth | Format: Audio Cassette

Product Details

• Audio Cassette (January 10, 1991)
• Label: Warner Bros / Wea
• ASIN: B00000EYUL
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #440,882 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. A Lil' Ain't Enough

2. Shoot It

3. Lady Luck

4. Hammerhead Shark

5. Tell the Truth

6. Baby's on Fire

7. 40 Below

8. Sensible Shoes

9. Last Call

10. The Dogtown Shuffle

11. It's Showtime!

12. Drop in the Bucket

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars an under-rated album, July 20, 2003

By 

Daniel Maltzman (Arlington, MA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Little Ain't Enough (Audio CD)

David Lee Roth's third solo album "A Little Ain't Enough" marks something of a turning point in Diamond Dave's career, and in some ways, represents the end of an era--not just the end of David Lee Roth's relevancy as a solo artist, but the end of an era in popular music--namely 80s pop-metal.

After the "Skyscraper" world tour, Steve Vai left Dave's band (bassist Billy Sheehan had left prior to the tour) and Dave had to rebuild his band. Dave kept hold-overs Gregg Bissonette (drums), Matt Bissonette (bass), who had played on the "Skyscraper" tour, Brett Tuggle (keyboards) and added guitarists Jason Becker and Steve Hunter to record this album. As everyone knows, Becker was tragically diagnosed with ALS prior to the recording of the album and was unable to tour in support of it.

The band behind "A Little Ain't Enough" was pretty stellar. It may not have had the big names of the "Eat 'Em and Smile" lineup, but it was a good band. The Bissonette brothers provided a tight, muscular rhythm section, Becker certainly had the chops to be compared to players like EVH and Vai, and Tuggle's playing didn't saturate the album as it did on "Skyscraper." Dave himself still sounds like Dave, full of charisma and in control, blissfully unaware of the storm coming out of Seattle that is headed his way.

When ALAE was released, Roth stated that it was a cross between the first Van Halen album and "Skyscraper." While there isn't a song like "Jamie's Cryin'" or anything as good as what's on Van Halen's debut, Dave's statement makes sense. What ALAE is, more or less, is a slick, meat-and-potatoes collection of 80s Van Halen-esque rock. The bluesy "Tell the Truth," the country-ish "Sensible Shoes" and the excellent mid-tempo rocker "Lady Luck," were the exceptions in what was Dave's return to hard rock after the synth-heavy "Skyscraper." A lot of care went into crafting and performing these songs and it shows. Dave and the band wanted to put out a ballsy rock record and take the world by storm.

The problem was, more or less, timing, rather than lack of good songs. If "A Little Ain't Enough" had been released in '89/'90, it may have had a better run on the charts. By 1991, however, this style of music, and Dave himself, were starting to be seen as stale. Even before the grunge era, audiences were yearning for something new. When Nirvana and Pearl Jam blew-up later in the year, Dave and all he was associated with were seen as passe.

All this is a shame, because "A Little Ain't Enough" is a good album. No, it's not a masterpiece, but it's a solid, 80s style hard rock album that fans of classic Van Halen would enjoy. The title track, "Lady Luck," "40 Below," "Last Call," and "Drop in the Bucket" stand as some of Dave's best solo work. I would argue that, overall, it's just as strong as what Van Halen were doing at the time with Sammy Hagar, with their "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge" album. It's a shame that Dave wasn't able to survive the 90s the way his former bandmates were.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The last great album of it's era, June 28, 2003

By 

michael blair (Raceland, KY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Little Ain't Enough (Audio CD)

THIS album is the best album DLR produced post Van Halen. And that is saying something. Jason Becker, a 19 year old, was the greatest talent find EVER. Unfortunately, Jason was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gherig's Disease) DURING the recording sessions and never toured with Dave, and never produced more brilliance with the master of wit and showmanship...

Because of that tragedy, and the emergence of the 1990's "whiner sound" that took over (and sadly still has hold today), Dave's career also went down.

BUT, if you want to hear the 80's BIG ROCK sound, with guitar solos, FUN lyrics, party attitude, GET THIS no matter what you have to do.

Bob Rock, incidentally, produced Metallica's Black Album. ALAE is better. GET IT.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Was vaccinated with a phonograph needle one summer break..., November 16, 2003

By 

"jbuilt" (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Little Ain't Enough (Audio CD)

Some of the best lyrics I've ever heard on one of the best CDs I've ever heard! This albums is full of energy and upbeat music. The songs are so powerful and catchy and just want to make you get up and dance.

I highly recommend it, it will cheer you up whenever you feel down.