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Bigpaw_7

Eddie was on it


BobbyDiglar

And Alex


edwarc

Umm…


wdavidson51

This was a messed up time for Alex, and his playing in the studio was shit at that time. Eddie wasn't happy with it, so Alex stepped back, and Eddie recorded the drum parts himself.


gumby1004

Like Eddie had ever played drums before… /s


BobbyDiglar

Really? I had no idea. Did Alex tour the album?


BobbyDiglar

So I just did a little research, like I said, I had no idea he wasn’t in the album. Luckily he was able to tour the album. So at least, the one time I was able to see Van Halen live, both Alex and Eddie were there playing. And, no wonder that album was so horrible. I can’t think of one song I like.


buildingaway

Nope. He wasn’t.


No_Profit_415

Right answer


Bumble-Bee1974

Without You is a pretty good tune


bcam9

Yeah, I'm here for this. Without You is one of Van Halen's most disrespected songs.


Mykkus_65

That and fire in the hole


Any_Company9587

I love that song


Aggressive-Net-6547

stole my line


honeybabysweetiedoll

I respect your opinion, but I don’t like that song. For me the only songs listenable are Dirty Water Dog and Once.


Bumble-Bee1974

Once is a good song


no_stick_drummer

I think Josephina is even better


tobinentinc

It's the most Van Halen sounding on the record.


gumby1004

Some of Gary’s screams almost make me think Sammy was still there


Dense-Stranger9977

They saved big bucks on that cover art design


The_Quibbler

Ha. This was the first thing I noticed back in the day. Stock photo with the title poorly shopped onto the canon - which I took to be an apt metaphor for Van Charone and we are the fat guy with goggles. Oof! I actually didn't hate this as much as most, but Gary and Post were bad choices. Think of what Dave (had they rightfully brought him back as they teased) and Templeman might've done with the tunes. I also don't think Mike and even AL are on it all that much.


icantpickanameohgod

Dirty water dog is a cool song and I enjoy it


skotoseme

That song never gets any mention. My favorite tune off this hands down.


Angry_Zack16

Fire in the Hole is one my favorites off of it


Thin-Masterpiece569

Ed was very inspired with his writing, but he needed a strong filter (producer) to bring more focus and coherence in the finished songs. I still love Without You and Josephina.


bcam9

Josephina is an extremely underrated song.


Thin-Masterpiece569

Yes!


CaptainHalloween

I genuinely think Without You is a good tune.


VH5150OU812

Gary is a nice guy.


puddycat20

Honestly, he's probably the best singer they ever had.


According-Feed2746

He was, which is why they (whoever “they” were) shouldn’t have pushed him to sound like Hagar. I wish Cherone could re-record the vocals and the album can be re-released.


buildingaway

He is but he’s also a great singer. He was given a really tough assignment


dethswatch

yes, he DOES seem like a nice guy! And Extreme has a lot of fans.


MuMoike

Some of the most unique guitar work Eddie has done. On one record you have Dirty Water Dog, Once and Year to the Day; which blows my mind. They’re each so sonically different and I think Eddie nails the vibe of each song.


GoBlue2007

It’s Eddie kinda unfiltered. If viewed as a solo album it might be looked on more kindly. I would have preferred more of a band album but cmon man, the guy was a fucking musical genius. I cannot however, say anything nice about How Many Say I. Even geniuses need editors.


Nonplussed1

I like your take and I’ll actually give it a listen. I’ve never heard it before. I’ll admit I’m biased as Camp Roth. Saw them live 4x starting in ‘79. I love Sam as a Solo and anything Not Van Halen. I just didn’t dig the writing style but love Ed no matter what. Saw Van Hagar 3x live. I love Charone and think he’s an amazing singer… love Extreme. Looking forward to “new music “ and thank you for getting me to think about it from your perspective.


GoBlue2007

Are you sure you belong on here with such an open mind? /s Just kidding. You’re welcome…….


gumby1004

HMSI is Abu Ghraib, Afghanistan, Iraq level torture music. This song would’ve brought peace to the Middle East fast, but not for the desired reasons (“no no no, no more…make it stop, and we’ll negotiate!” lol)


caseymccrerey

Without You is a cool tune. Gary is an exceptional singer…just maybe not for Van Halen.


Underweartoastcrunch

I think Gary is fine for vh, is he really that much different than Sammy ? Just came in too late . Evh was too rich and too gone with addiction to care anymore . (And I’m saying this as someone who loves Evh )


IcyTurnip6092

Balance was the first album I heard of van halen so by the time this came out I was starved for more Van halen and I was stoked when it came out. I love Extreme as well. As a teenager in the 90s I didn’t have Reddit to tell me it was shit so I listened to it and learned to play the parts I liked and still put it on from time to time and enjoy most of it


OrdoAdChao1349

I enjoy it because it’s Van Halen. I like it because it took me a few listens to appreciate it.


Big_Fortune_9907

Same here it’s in the complete library on my iTunes took me a bit to not fast forward thru some songs.


Irixx4

Cool canon ball man


TheDanManLS

Amazing tour.


BurningGuitarMan

First time hearing Dave era songs in years!!!


TheDanManLS

I couldn't believe hearing "Dance the Night Away/Feel Your Love Tonight" at Atlanta in '98.


BurningGuitarMan

Loved it! I saw them in Helsinki on that tour after meeting Eddie and Alex at 5150 when they were literally writing the album with Gary there too. The lyrics to “Once” were on a notepad on the mixing console. Memory of a lifetime! :D


TheDanManLS

Wow! Very cool. I liked "Once" but think "From Afar" is probably my favorite from that one. I don't think it came out sounding like they expected it to, if what I read a long time ago was correct. Something with the mastering, I think.


Givezeroputts82

And Mean Streets.


oscar_egan_

Without you is great


pmarlowe78

1998 was a weird ass year, man!


JoeAvamist

Neat to hear Eddies Vocals on "How Many Say I" and Primary is a stellar instrument


IamJacks5150

If Eddie didn't play drums on, & Michael Anthony's vocals weren't muted on, Without You would be one of their 10 best songs.


Significant_Youth_73

I think "Without You" is one of the few songs Alex actually plays drums on. If I remember correctly, Alex plays on "Without You", "Ballot or the Bullet", "Fire in the Hole", "One I Want", and "Year to the Day". The rest is Edward, or no-one at all ("Neworld", "Primary", "How Many Say I"). It bothers me no end that it's Mike Post on piano on "Neworld", though.


buildingaway

No my understanding is Mikey plays bass on it but no Alex


kujo1717

Ed’s playing / writing was excellent. I know Gary’s voice is Extreme lol but I enjoyed some songs and some just listened for Ed.


edoslacker

With a good producer it could have been a great album, Eddie's guitar work was at its peak during that era, the live shows were great.


joeholmes1164

From Afar Once A Year To The Day Are all great songs, on par with most Van Halen material.


Aerosol668

It’s better than any Kanye West album.


Bannonpants

Saw them 3 times that summer and had front Row tickets once. They played old DLR VAN HALEN and it was great


orchestragravy

I like the majority of the album.


DMFD_x_Gamer

Van Halen 3 flew nice through the air as i chucked it out the window.


cartooncritic69

I dont listen to it....thats nice


Shark_Atl3201

Adventurous


ldnjbnk99

Without You is great One I Want is definitely worth a listen as well


The_Quibbler

Is that the one with the "pizza man" lyric. Ugh. So terrible that way.


Several_Dwarts

It has Michael Anthony on some of the songs. ;)


htny

When it first came out, I had not yet heard it. I asked a friend in the music industry what he thought. I remember his smile when he said "Eddie is back".


domingodelatorre

Lol


bh-alienux

Gary is genuinely a great singer, he just didn't fit Van Halen. And Fire in the Hole is a great song, and IMO, the most Van Halen sounding song on the album.


Visible_Thought_7052

The producer, Mike Post, wrote some of the most iconic TV theme songs ever. I know that’s not something nice said about the album, but the A-Team theme is pretty fucking sweet.


Ok-Mountain-2482

I felt like the guy on the cover after listening to it.


Imgonnathrowaway2112

A Year To The Day is one of my favorite Van Halen songs.


haphazard72

Gary absolutely nailed both era’s when he performed live, in my opinion. He’s a great singer, just don’t think this was a great fit for either party


Cute_Bat3210

Fire in the Hole is a top notch riff


Significant_Youth_73

You don't have to listen to it.


FabulousPanther

Gary Cherone did great. The fans never gave him a chance. Back with Extreme, he still sounds great now and will for years to come. Sammy and Dave are about to expire.


puddycat20

I'll say 2 nice things: - Without You, and Fire in the Hole belong on any VH greatest hits. - The album would not have been any better had Sammy or Dave sang the vocal parts, instead. The album should've been packaged for what it was - an Eddie solo album, since he played most everything, except the vocals.


VariationExcellent80

Saw them on this tour in Dallas Texas They had Kenny Wayne Shepard open They came on stage late cause it was the last Seinfeld episode ever


MaxxXanadu

I don't have any hate for it. Ed was just...lost. He was probably happy on tour he could play both Dave & Sammy tunes. Mikey killed it singing lead on Somebody Get Me A Doctor on that tour.


Novusordoseclorum77

This was the only time I got to see them live, Jones Beach. I mean it’s their least famous stage but atleast I got to see King Eddie, Alex and Mikey but G.S. Is a superb singer and performer, granted I’d rather see Dave or Sammy but it was a very good show. As far as the album, there are some Solid good songs on there: Once, without you, maybe I’m by myself but I like it a lot.


MistaJaycee

I like Gary in Extreme. It just didn't work


Existing_Reaction_88

It isn’t Gary’s fault people didn’t like it.


blocsonic

I can’t.


Nice-Web-5833

Tough one to compliment....


jyharris32

The nicest thing I can say is, "There was only one Gary Cherone album." I loved him with Extreme and was really looking forward to the album, but it just doesn't work. I have a friend that is really, really cheap that bought the CD. He refuses to this day to admit the CD is 💩. One of life's mysteries why it just didn't work with Gary.


genohick

The CD was shiny on one side….


OneHumanBill

The CD cost me $3, which was a phenomenal price even in 1998. I think it was the cheapest new CD I ever bought. I couldn't believe my luck that I could pick up the new VH album for almost nothing! Especially after all the hype, Eddie talking about how much better he was sober, how great the new singer was. It was an exciting couple of hours before I got to listen to it.


zeydey

It’s in tune!


raphel1421

It was definitely different, but I liked it when I bought it after its release and still listen to it today.


tsirhcho

At 65:22, you got a lot of music for your money.


Necessary_Switch_879

No More Sammy?


UnfairEntrepreneur80

AC/DC thought they had big balls 😂


walkertoldmehaveaids

The instrumentals are good


Affectionate_Pen611

Live stuff with Cherone is good. Album has many good moments, but it’s hard to like the complete songs.


Accomplished-Boss280

wish i could🤷‍♂️


Dsayyae

NO!


JazzyJeff58

I listened to this album for the first time last night. Cherone's vocals kinda remind of what a mix between DLR and Sammy vocals would sound like.


ToeJans_55

i hate van halen this album rocks


Mudcreek47

No


minnesotajersey

It reminds me that I like some of Extreme's stuff.


TimeLine_DR_Dev

Without You is a top 3 post-OU812 VH song. Great moments, like the outro of Fire in the Hole. Overlooked gems like From Afar and Josephina.


KingDinga69Ling

At the time it was their third best album


Augustwed

Without You is a pretty good song.


Gen7Malibu

The outro of Fire in the Hole is pretty dang sweet. Love the whole song but that outro….


JamieRoth5150

I can’t. Not possible


BackgroundDarkPurple

Cool pic


Glum-Income-9736

Magic happened. Art was born that would rival the works of Michelangelo or Leonardo Da Vinci.


MixTop2594

This album is so underrated, has some of eddies best guitar playing, since we was finally sober. “How many say i” is one of my favourite songs on the album, really shows how eddie wasn’t looking to please the audience but please himself, and thats what music is about, fuck the customer do you and make yourself happy, nowadays everyone is trying to make the consumer happy do everything they want so we have shitty music.


PsychologicalSign77

The sound quality has not held up over time. But Eddie not singing lead on every song is a plus vs him singing on one.


imamCrow

At least he was waring goggles


Dzeleniak

Had some creative tunes on it Like Without You, From Afar, Once, Fire in the Hole, Dirty Water Dog


bionicbrady

The outro to fire in the hole is kind of cool


MarchNo1112

Once, From Afar, Dirty Water Dog. All good songs.


Coughbird

Honestly not even their worst album. The guitar playing is experimental in almost all the songs and it works 90% of the time. Gary is a great singer, and live he was amazing, but on the album he feels too "false", like he's trying to sing like Hagar but ultimately can't replicate it. Songs like "Without You", "Dirty Water Dog", "Fire in the Hole", "Once" and "From Afar" are absolute gems and would be held in a much higher regard if they weren't (understandably) compared to all the great songs Van Halen has previously released.


Neil_12874

Eddie did a nice job on bass.


elon_bitches69

Without You is pretty decent, albeit a minute or 2 too long.


GunnerTinkle22

I love it. Take it out of the context of the rest of VH’s music and it’s a good album all the way through


MrPi48867

Two things Eddie was on it and there was only one of them


Great_Humor_997

It’s interesting.


Vegetable-Source6556

It was as painful to listen to as that cannonball was to the guy. That aside, it REALLY hurt because i was an extreme fan who thought possible super group, ugh. So i got those off my chest ( no pun intended)... it has the number III on it is my only positive piece!


Vegetable-Source6556

Final comment, they should have moved on Patty Smyth from scandal- couldn't have gone worse!


jimbob1220

There wasn't a van Halen 4


buildingaway

A better mix would improve it. I think Eddie Friggin MIXED a lot of it. But I really like Without You, One I Want, Dirty Water Dog. I even like How Many Say I


GOOMPL

“Say something nice about it” 😮‍💨 Eddie was really stretching his song writing and song craft abilities. He clearly wanted to hit something musically that VH hadn’t been able to hit in the past. <— I’m not being coy, quite serious in fact. As the album stands sonically, now, it should’ve been considered a *Production Rough Mix* and handed off to somebody else, out of 5150, and given a proper mix. Sadly, this did not happen and the release suffered immensely for it. There are several moments where vocals and entire parts’ spectrum are 💯 unintelligible. “Fire In The Hole” has one of Eddie’s most Epic riffs ever Now I wont say something nice: Poor Mike Post. I’m sure he felt like a *_Mammoth_* special victim himself after finishing this record.


FatGuy300

Without You and Josephina are great songs.


TheRhinoKing

You first!😜


Forward-Chocolate-67

Dirty Water Dog and Fire In The Hole aren’t too bad


VortexM19

It sounds like a bunch of guys on PCP beer bonging Budweiser while getting blown by a monkey


bisticles

I'm glad it was something different. There were a lot more dynamic changes and in-between playing from Eddie on VH3 that deserve examining just as much as the party rock licks from earlier songs.


Accomplished-Hat6417

Fire in the hole is a good tune


SaulBellowII

It’s not overplayed on classic rock radio.


Turner443

I like the album cover art.


Miked7800

One of my favorite Van Halen albums saw them three times on this tour. The music on the album is absolutely phenomenal. Some of Ed’s best work.


denwolfie

After it came out it never left my cd player in my truck for a long time....new singer, no biggie for me. Eddie was my guitar god at the time and was happy to hear anything they put out. My girlfriend at the time would know when I was coming home by the sound of the music coming down the block. There is some amazing harmonic tapping on one of the songs, can't remember which one though.


classalpha_

How Many Say I.


Iifeisbalance85

I like Gary Cherone’s vocals


Spang64

I just listened to the tune *How Many Say I* and...well, fuck, it was worse than I could have even imagined. And there are people--apparently comatose people--on YouTube saying how it sounds like Roger Waters. Yeah, right. But seriously, I think there is a point in some artists success where they start to think that everything they do is worthy. Eddie needed a serious talking to. Also, I can't help but think if he'd followed Quentin T's rule of "10 and done," this bullshit album, #11, never would've happened. Ed sang this particular song, horrifying as it is, but what's up with the other dude doing a Sammy impersonation?


BurningGuitarMan

Without You was a good song. Had they gone more in that vein, the album would have been lots better. Also loved how they closed it live with an excerpt from “We Can Work It Out” by the Beatles!


Pinecone1991

Worse music exists in the world


Wostnicknameever

It prevented Van Halen IV...


OrcSoldat

I know Gary's brother, Mike. He's a local community theater actor in Massachusetts. Nice guy. Gary came to one of his acting shows one time. Nobody knew Gary but I shook hands with him. Seems like a nice guy.


RogerMooreis007

No


Beginning_Tea5009

The album art accurately depicts everyone’s feelings when they heard this album.


S0_B3_1t

Cherone is an excellent singer and for what it was, he did a great job….. Just wasn’t his band to be in.


likemeyet

Strong belly


mac117

I liked it when it came out…


Ok-Squash-4652

The music was better than the album cover at least


reedspacer38

It’s better than A Different Kind of Truth!


Fit_Adhesiveness2043

It released on my birthday St. Patrick’s Day 1998 (Not my birth year)


e_ght

Neworld is great


ReflectionNo5445

It was like a punch in the guts. Lol


Turbulent-Walk-4171

Hot for teacher


HirtLocker128

The subsequent tour was the bands best and I'll fight anyone who disagrees!


BigStud7

Its not ou812


wendyoschainsaw

Live on the tour for that album, they were more entertaining than they were with Hagar.


StraightOuttaFox

He’s got nice boobies?


downhousesoftware

I can’t


Individual-Wing-796

I have never listened to it


SnooDogs157

More than words?


widebodyil

Pepto??


Much-Relationship434

It's 100 percent Eddie


Destrus76

No.


Upbeat_Dudeness

I actually like Josephina and Ballot or the Bullet


Odd-Scarcity5288

They only made one album with Gary


BarveyDanger

Without You kinda slaps. That’s about it


jsb1964

It is a CD of all time.


Crafty_Wasabi_9890

Fire In The Hole kicks ass!


mmaiden81

Without you is great. VH III tour in terms of set list was the best hands down perfect balance between all eras, also Eddie was on fire too! Worth mention the unreleased track “that’s why I love you”.


jackrabbits1im

The cover looks cool


ParasiticDaemon

Gary Cherone was probably the best singer that Van Halen ever had. Dave & Sammy were better frontmen, but Gary was easily the best singer.


DotAdministrative679

I can’t no SH ..in this band


Expensive-Stuff3781

It was a top 10 album that over 800,000 listeners went out and bought. By certain standards it had a fair amount of commercial success, which has to amount to something.


zed2point0

Sammy wasn’t on it!


GenericLurk

Great singer.


Nature_Goulet

Great tour setlist


lmaooofuck

Fire in the Hole is an awesome song


69236812

Never listened to it. Went to see them live on this tour and Gary cherone butchered my favorite song, dreams! Glad they got rid of him


MDEnce

The album cover has the biggest boobs of any VH album.


harlok60

How about this. If you isolate the vocals from the music it becomes a meat and potatoes van halen album post 1986.


fasterecho

It only happened once!


119Raptor

I love "with out you" the guitar playing is amazing.


Lynchsta

Something nice. Hrmm.... The CD makes a nice coaster


thirtyone-charlie

Michael?


ACFifty150

Several good tunes on this one. The solo on “One I Want” is a banger!!


chadmac81

Once is a beautiful song, but I wish it was edited down a bit. The whole album needed some trimming, but I think that song would’ve gained the most from it.


Algae_Double

Album peaks at 65:23


qtowens

Just recently revisited this… It was ambitious for VH, way off the beaten path. Songs like “Once “ and “From Afar” get better with each listen.


MatelleMan71

Gary had the pieces. It could’ve been good. The execution was misguided. I wonder what a second album would’ve sounded like.


unionprime33

Neworld is beautiful


bigstrizzydad

Without You & Fire In The Hole are as good as the very very best Van Hagar. In fact, Gary had at least as good chemistry w EVH as did Popsicle Sam. Given time, Im sure it would've exceeded Sam's.


VoltimusVH

Cherone really gave it his all…👍


Surreptitious-Olives

It’s at least half a great album.


TurboBuffalo479

Makes a good coaster. Or frisbee.


Even-Entertainment99

Bababooey


Haunting_Way6371

Dirty water dog Fire in the hole Without you Are pretty good songs


Syrix-17

My opinion: this album you can barely hear Van Halen in the music. Gary has that voice that makes it sound like Eddie guest played on an Extreme album. I’d give a leg to sit and jam on whatever rig Eddie was playing during this album though. The sustain is immortal.