Van Halen at thier worst is better than anyone else in the genre at their peak. I cherish Diver Down, there's no other album like it. The two bands that always make me feel good are Van Halen and The Beatles! It's a joyful infectious spirit.
@valleyoforion1 Ok I would take Diary over Diver but you get the point. If only we had a couple more albums with that Ozzy team because he was never that good again.
One of my favorites too for sure. Everything on it! Big Bad Bill, Little Guitars, and on and on. And for me Eddie's solo on Hang Em High is one of his best. That double kick on Hang Em High and Michael's bass playing on it just kicks ass!!!
Diver down is like a nice breeze on a perfectly warm summer day. Just an easy nice listening album with a few gem tracks like secrets and little guitars . Awesome album I love it and it always puts me in a better mood .
My favorite part about Diver Down is the absolutely stellar vocals throughout, both lead and background. Anyone whose mantra was “David Lee Roth can’t sing” obviously didn’t listen to “Secrets” or “Little Guitars”, two of Roth’s finest career vocals.
@@davedavid7061 back in the days he sang great live. His voice was much deeper back then. Listen to Oakland 81, that’s when his voice was at it best. That’s when they should have made a live lp. IMO.
Dave was always great in the studio, but from what I've seen and heard he had his limits live. My impression is that if he would have stuck to singing the songs as they were on the record (i.e. if he stayed within his limits) he would have been just fine. But at some point, he started riffing and improvising pretty much all of his melodies and timing, never singing the songs as they were written and recorded, because that's what his idols did (problem is, unlike his idols, Roth wasn't singing jazz tunes). And that brought on two problems: 1. he quickly went past the limits of his ability and 2. the song gets lost and becomes unrecognizable.
Dave now is so odd. He has lost some range sure, but his tracks never had much anyway except for the little squeals. But he seems to have forgotten how to sing some songs. Like Jump. He actually seems to try and sing some lines completely different. Going UP on the end of lines to notes he can't hit in key. When the actual album is a bit more monotone. People defend and say he was always bad live, but there's a treasure trove of live shows on youtube that he sings great. Everyone is great in the studio, especially now with pitch correction, but he didn't have that or autotune. Every single record you hear today has very very likely been pitch corrected. Even the live stuff. Remasters too. Sad.
DIVER DOWN is really good. I knew there was mostly covers on it, but didnt care. ITS VAN HALEN!! Im only 58, and they were my life for a 15 yr old kid. Im so glad VAN HALEN was our Era Band. Definetly a Summer Party Album. Most of their albums were.
I’m 59 and I liked this album when it came out too. I’m a guitar player so Fair Warning is my favorite album by them, this was a very popular album, but as you remember there was a plethora of great bands back then and great guitar players.
DD is different than the 4 previous albums but you have to remember VH was a party band first and foremost, and in that context, DD embodies what VH is about.
Wrong, certain members were partyers, the lead guitarist and his brother were lifelong addicts. DD does embody the band...the dysfunctional band of boozers. What we all know now is VH and their fans shared not only delusion but enabling behavior. VH were addicts, fans were enablers. Each feeding the other, denial and ego, with no musical rehab in sight.
Secrets is such a good song. I love Diver Down. Where Have All the Good Times Gone! is a great cover, maybe better than the original (and that’s coming from a Kinks fan.)
Summer 1982 me and my friends on our own took the bus to Santa Monica pier. And this album always reminds me of that summer. We had a wild time for 13 years old, and VH was the soundtrack. Ahhh.. the memories! Dancing in the streets was a big deal because Eddie was playing a synthesized keyboard, and he was king of 6-strings! But then you hear Hang 'em high, where have all the good times gone and pretty woman, Cathedral... well, the entire album and it was just what us 13 yr olds needed to have one of the best summers!
This was the first album I bought by Van Halen. I was 19 at the time and really enjoyed it and thought it was a fun album. Always cherished that about this album
“Graduating from Kiss”! 😂 Well put! I am only a couple years older than you and can totally relate to and remember that ‘moving on’ to that better band discovery era you are referring to. I graduated from Kiss Univ. around the time between ‘Alive II’ & ‘Dynasty’….and, Van Halen was one of those new directions and ‘Van Halen II’ was fresh off the presses. 👍🏻
I was 11 y.o. watching "Pretty Woman" on MTV with jaw dropped open. It was one of the first albums I bought with my own money. To this day, "Secrets", "Full Bug" and "Hang'em High" are three of my faorite Van Halen songs of all time!!
Diver Down was my first VH album purchase and had me hooked as a fan. A friend of mine had it on cassette and the "electricity" of this album was absolutely and intangible for me. For me, it was something gutteral(or somewhat lower). The opening swagger of "Where Have all the Good Times Gone" had me hooked. I loved the sound of Alex Van Halen's drums from "Little Guitars" to the drive of "Intruder" and into "Pretty Woman". I remember the song "Cathedral" coming up and my friend informed me that it was all played on the guitar which blew me away. The diversity of "Big Bad Bill" and "Happy Trails" was a nice reminder that these guys could play anything. It always bummed me out that Eddie and a lot of fans didn't have good things to say about the album. But, it was my entry into the world of the mighty Van Halen.
I rank Van Halen's albums in descending order; so I consider Diver Down their fifth best album, and the last one I ever bought. VH was a great live band in the early days, too. I was fortunate to see them in 78, 79, 80, 81 and twice in 1982.
That's a stupid comment. We are consumers of music, of many styles, it's not my job to write better VH music...that was their job...and they failed more times than they succeeded. I will listen to BETTER music. VH had a lifetime and slowly decayed into a pop band then into a drug fueled solo album (VHIII). By all means, enjoy the second weakest VH album...continue to worship a band that never cared for you. DD sucks but congrats to VH for selling it to you! LOL!!!
Same...Kiss to Van Halen...never really thought about it, but we were listening to all sorts of stuff. My buddy's dad had it all and we were 6 years old in 1976 listening to 2112, Aerosmith, Boston, Elvis, and then Priest, and Kiss. Sabbath then Ozzy. Early Journey and Fleetwood Mac, then some alternative stuff like the Talking Heads and the Police. Tom Petty. So lucky and not afraid to listen to anything and everything. What a fun time.
Lifelong (almost) DLR-era VH fan, I love every single one of those records, but Diver Down holds a special place for me. Hang 'em High, Cathedral, Secrets, Intruder, Little Guitars (esp intro), dayum... An *excellent*, gorgeous, FUN counterpoint to "Fair Warning" (which I also still love.). Anyway, I know EVH wasn't as big a fan as he had a ton of original material that didn't get used as they made it a short album with a lot of covers. But IMO has always been criminally underrated.
Wow Bob how freaking ironic.Diver Down and Signals are the two albums that got me through that summer I moved from my hometown. Being someplace new and not knowing anybody, I got to know this album very well. So this album also has a very special spot in my heart. I love Alex's drumming on Little guitars and intruder. One of my favorite albums.(Graduating from KISS I like the way you put that)🙂
That's awesome! It's amazing how some of this music played such a big role in our lives during those moments when we needed it. Likewise, this album was really important to me. Thanks for sharing your story.
Cool man. Haven't listened to this one in years. Gona put on tonight while working on guitars, my night job is guitar service, my dayjob is motorcycle technician. Will put it on in the shop asap, should be interesting to see the young techs reactions.
To me, "Diver Down" was an almost perfect album. The originals on this album are among Van Halen's best tunes ever. Roth's cleverness lyrically shines brightest on "Little Guitars" ("catch as catch can - anybody in their right mind could see, it's you and me"). The only song I've ever tired of is "Happy Trails" because I've heard people from my generation singing that "bom-ba-dea" part for 40 years. The over-playedness of "Pretty Woman" is saved on the album by the instrumental intro "Intruder" which, to me, is still mind-blowing. The band doesn't overstay their welcome, for sure, as it's a rather short set but it just makes me want to start it over and listen again.
This was my first exposure to the band. A girl at school had the cassette on the bus. I asked her about it, and she told me to take it home for a few days and try it. I was instantly a Van Halen fan. This will always be my favorite album by them, because it reminds me of when I discovered them.
I was introduced to "Diver Down" on Christmas day 1984. I asked for "1984" and my parents got me "Diver Down". I spent the day listening to this cassette tape over and over. "Secrets" became a personal favorite from the album. While I would never rank this album as high as say "1984", "Fair Warning", "Women and Children First", "Van Halen II" or "Van Halen", I still have a special place in my heart for it. The original songs are fantastic!! The cover tracks? They feel kind of hit or miss with me. I would say I go back for the originals far more than the cover songs. Thanks for these two reviews! I enjoyed the video a lot.
I loved everything about this album from the very first play. Where Fair Warning was darker, this one was bright and fun. Where Fair Warning was more about power, Diver Down was about energy. The U.S. was entering the 3rd year of a severe recession in 1982, and America and its youth needed optimism and fun, and Van Halen quickly stirred up and delivered the medicine in 12 quick doses.
I'm 58, and I had the same reaction when I bought the album! I had no clue that the cover songs were covers, until many years later. And even after that, I still didn't care! I remember just looking at those pictures over and over, while listening to Eddie's wonderful fuzz tone. Ahhh, those were the days. My Technics turntable, 25 watt receiver, and cheap speakers! And the headphones from Radio Shack!
its well known this album was quickly put together during a planned year off. They released the "Pretty Woman" single and planned to take a break but its success had Warner Bros. push them into the studio to churn something out quickly. That's why there are a lot of covers and instrumentals........that said, it's a fantastic album. 11 year old me fell in love with it immediately & a few months later I saw them on this tour in New Jersey. To this day, best concert I ever attended
My first concert as a 15 year old high school kid was Van Halen on the Diver Down tour in the summer of 1982. DD highlights for me during the show? Intruder being played with the lighting rig turned off giving it an ominous feel in the completely dark arena. Another would be Edward playing Cathedral with a single blue spotlight from the back of the arena shining on him. He played a double necked neon yellow guitar with the EVH distinctive stripes for the moment. The very end of the concert? Happy Trails sung by all four members (after Alex finally wandered out from behind his mammoth drumset) to bring my first VH concert to a perfect conclusion. I proudly wore my tour shirt featuring the lion wearing sunglasses when the schoolyear started. I bought DD the week it came out. Not my favorite VH album, but for obvious reasons, it holds to this day a special place in my heart. I really enjoyed your analysis and look forward to more in the future. Oh yeah, you said something that make me think ME TOO! Where you talk about growing out of your KISS albums and discovering Van Halen. I have a saying that describes my like kind journey: KISS got me into rock n roll. Van Halen got me thru high school.
That is a great way to put the VH/KISS relationship in our lives! Even though I didn't see this VH tour, I got one of those lion T-shirts somehow. Thanks for a great comment!
I LOVE the 'as we graduated from being KISS fans' - That's so me. Though I loved other bands, like Rush, Led Zep, ted Nugent, Aerosmith, etc, I'll never forget the first time I heard Van Halen (Runnin' with the Devil) in 1980. But THIS record (Diver Down) was my first anything I owned by VH and always brings me back to the beach that summer (1983). VH probably at their 'poppiest' but still VH being themselves. I could never get enough of these original 6 albums. And what a stepping stone to 1984
Yep, we are very close to the same age it sounds like. Great album. And Dave just had that swagger, like the coolest kid in town… just being awesome and silly, and having a blast. And those melodies, and guitar parts, take me right back to the early 80s. 😝🤘🏻🎸
I was listening to VH since the 1st album and Diver Down did not disappoint. I wore out my cassette listening to it so much. I like it more than 1984. The Diver Doen tour was the 1st live VH show I saw, and they rocked. It was such a fun, upbeat album and tour.
I first listened to Diver Down in the summer of ‘85 (arrived late to the party). I spent an entire month in a little beach shack with my parents. I listened to the album each day - by the end of our stay, my folks knew the lyrics 😂. DiverDown brings back lovely childhood memories
For me you hang them high and the full bug are the best songs on there. As a guitar player gotta go with VH II, Fair Warning and 1984 for best riffs and guitar tones. 🤘🤘🤘
Greetings Robert 🖐 so happy tohear a fellow VH fan praise diver down ! I love that album. I dont gove a rip what others say about it . Its great ! Love 3:07 the covers on it also ! Thanks dude . Excellent video brother 👍
I did not realize at time I bought DD at a Woolworth store in 1982 in cassette that there were 5 songs Van Halen had covered by other artists, I was very young then I was 14 yrs old and was blown away by how good it was listening to it ion my Sony Walkman
Damn! I hate when I'm the old grumpy guy 🤣 For me, the best VH is their first two albums. I did think Dancin In The Streets was cool. The three things that got me in this episode, was when you said graduated from KISS! That was perfect. Then the first guy said America's Led Zeppelin. I just wanna say, we didn't have a Zeppelin. Thanks to Aerosmith, we had our version of The Stones, but no Zepp. Then the second guy said Diver Down was a good metal album? I never once have thought of VH as a metal band. They were our larger than life, ultimate party band. Another good one Robert 👍
Never hated Diver Down, just "Dancing in the Streets"... As a kid it was destroyed by a Jagger/Bowie video on MTV and i associated the two covers as worthy of the same hate. Love hearing the Van Halen version today, still hate the Jagger/Bowie cover with every fiber of my being.
My 1st Van Halen concert, Diver Down Tour, the backdrop was 2 lions with sun glasses, that was also the concert t-shirt I had. Columbia house was the mail order music service, we all used it. I bought Kiss rock n roll over and styx cornerstone as part of the order, never heard Van Halen yet so I got Van Halen 2 on 8 track as a bonus tape with order, buy 10 and get 1 for a penny. Holy throw back. That was my introduction to Van Halen. Peace ✌️
I remember buying this album when it first came out. I recall that much was made of the fact that it comprised of a large amount of covers but I think that accounted for much of the record’s charm. I mean, who else could possibly get away with Big Bad Bill? Little Guitars is my personal favorite on this collection and the album still holds up to this day. All over, it’s one of VH’s most fun and enjoyable recordings.
Spot on in your observation. Some great gems on that album. Even though it is a lot of covers nobody takes a cover and completely dismantles it into a high energy blitzing like VH! The originals on it are some of my favorites. Great video! Thanks for sharing
What I just realized after all these years is that with only 4 new songs Diver Down could rightfully be called an Extended EP masquerading as a full blown LP album. I think that works and is totally fair and maybe explains the gimmicky vibe a bit better.
Diver Down was released during a time when the band wasn't having much commercial success. Their music was still being played on album rock radio, but not mainstream. It might not be their best album, but it's my favorite. It's my "go to" feel good VH record and my 1982 summer soundtrack. I got to see them three times on this tour, so I have many great memories of that as well.
Diver down is one of my favorite albums of all time. It’s the soundtrack to the summer of 82 for me. Every time the needle hits the wax, I can smell the beach. That’s the summer I met my wife of 41 years. I don’t blame Van Halen for that though. 😂😂😂
Energy!!! You nailed it!!!!! Side note: Ace and Peter from the KISS Dynasty album behind you, at times / angels looks like you're wearing KISS Mickey Mouse ears! Not a bad thing...pretty cool. Great video once again. Keep rockin'
When Diver Down came out, I to got it through Columbia House. I LOVED this album as well. I had it on repeat for months!!! I also transitioned from being a KISS fan into a VH fan!
You nailed it on every level. Down to graduating from KISS to Van Halen. We must be the same age. Ironically, Gene Simmons discovered them. I bought this album on cassette when I was 12, after discovering Van Halen with 1984, and absolutely loved it. I didn't know their catalog then so maybe that is why I loved it so much. I had nothing to compare it too other than 1984. It also brings back so many great memories for me. Even after I became acquainted with their whole catalog, I still love this album.
_ W_O_W - - SPEECHLESS !! - - I AM a 55-Yr Old DUTCHMAN -- My 1st, All-my-Own Pocket money Record (at Age 10) was KISS' "Dynasty", Cause of the EPIC "Warhol x KiSS" Full-Face War-Paint Cover-Art, and the Hit single "I Was Made for Lovin' You" -- Then Leveled-Up to Boston, AeroSmith and Van Halen -- All Ten of their first Albums (9 Studio & 1 Live). -- ONLY "The Fat of the Land" (The Prodigy) Brought EVEN Greater ENERGY than Van Halen 1 !! - - - THANX For This Review ! !
First off, I love your channel. I wish I would have thought of doing it first! I am a huge VH fan of both eras, and I have always been one of those who has sort of shuffled this record off to the side. It is like the "ugly child" sandwiched between Fair Warning and 1984, two of their best in my opinion. But, watching your clip made me realize there are some really great tracks on this record, and a lot of great memories associated with it (I too am in my mid 50's). Your track analysis is spot on. Intruder was just an amazing 2 minutes of bad-assness. The guitar noise was a beer can going across Eds strings. The synth/guitar groove behind Dancing in the streets was so cool. Secrets, The Full Bug... all the originals are great. I read a lot about rock history, and from what I have learned, at this time Dave and Ted Templeman had sort of taken a direction toward more danceable poppy stuff, where Ed was just learning synth and wanted to take it to a new place. Ed was extremely frustrated recording Diver Down because he lost multiple battles about the direction in sound. For example, he wanted Intruder to be its own song, and not an opening to Pretty Woman. He also wanted the Dancing in the Streets guitar groove to be its own song. But ultimately Ted and Dave won those arguments (and maybe for the betterment of the record). Its amazing how the second reviewer nailed it about what was to come, putting together the raw energy, sense of humor, and overall ensemble approach in the future to make a masterpiece. As you said, we all know that became 1984. I never really thought about it that way before, but its true. Without Diver Down, and the departures they took to make it, 1984 and even later stuff like 5150 may not have been the same. Keep up what you are doing, I absolutely love watching your videos!!! 👍👍👍
My favorite VH album. It has my 2 favorite songs of theirs (Little Guitars and Secrets), showcases their diversity and wildly demonstrates the thing that most artists don’t have the power to do that VH does easily; take cover songs and make them THEIR OWN.
Diver Down was effective as a cross-over to greater fan base... Radio friendly, high energy, lots of humor, great playing and incredible vocals. I strangely think of it as a quick low-cost "extended" EP. My only complaint is the quick mix. Would love a remixed catalogue... or boxset treatment. ;) And of course... this was the set up to the immaculate 1984. Great commentary. I shared a lot of the points. Cheers! #mrchristophertv
I hear you man. I can remember every time I heard the first track off the first 6 =VH= (ok . the first 7) albums. They are all moments that shaped my youth and adulthood! I'm 59.
Yes, Energy and Youthfulness. The band’s trademark during the Dave era. The youthfulness is in the backing vocals, with Dave adding swagger. A brilliant album! I’m 61 and will never forget the day the album came out. I played the tape until it was transparent. The covers are done in an original way, mainly due to Ed’s unique approach to each song, and play to Dave’s strengths. The band had just come off a lengthy tour and were pressured by the record company to put out a new album. It was a rushed job, which necessitated the inclusion of covers. But dang, they did it well and reflected the band’s versatility.
I only had OU812 for years and grew up in the Sammy era, so when I dove into the full albums I took them in all at once - in that scenario the album feels like an EP, but then I'm 1000x more into the originals so that's why it seems so scant.
My memory had me thinking it was a much older album than it was. It was the one right before 1984! I, too, didn't know some songs were covers back then.
The criticism is not entirely wrong. They were fluffing up a couple songs with covers to make an LP. This is an easy target for a reviewer back then. Remember in those days rock writers did not fawn over our heroes. Now the record companies are owned by the 4 corporations that own the websites that review the records and make the hot dog buns you eat. Diver Down is a blast! The electric guitar intro for Little Guitars is so sexy!! And the video for Oh Pretty Woman? Oscar worthy!
Had all the vinyl LPs and went through a big VH phase in the mid 80s when I was about 19..... but I'd never dream of listening to any of it now. Not even for nostalgia purposes.
Robert...feel the same about Diver Down! Little Guitars is in my top 5 VH songs. Drum intro is totally badass. Love this record, despite the covers. Kinks cover is so solid. Full Bug and Hang em High totally rock. Dancing in the street is only song I skip but it's still good. Intruder is perfect to blast on stereo speeding down the highway. And....seriously love Secrets' mellow smooth vibe. Love the lyrics and Dave's vocals. I was almost 13 when this was released and my friends and I listened to it a ton during the summer of 82 up to next record in Jan 83...1984! Great video btw. Keep up the good work. Webb in ATL
This album was the soundtrack to many vivid, joyful, adolescent rock n roll memories. This particular album captures Van Halen at its core; a killer local Pasadena rock n roll outfit playing back yard keg parties on steroids! Van Halen along with Boston and Queen fueled my teenage years. The energy of sunshine California is vibrant; and this album soaks it up, spits it out, and sprays it around on every track!
Reflecting back to my sister’s album/record Diver Down. Everyone expected VanHalen self title album but better as a sophomore album although it never could match that and what their second album. It was a “For Those About To Rock” AC/DC album if you want to compare the anticipation for the next great album
The Full Bug was my main song on that album. Timeless.
Van Halen at thier worst is better than anyone else in the genre at their peak. I cherish Diver Down, there's no other album like it. The two bands that always make me feel good are Van Halen and The Beatles! It's a joyful infectious spirit.
You obviously never heard Diary of a Madman……
@valleyoforion1 Ok I would take Diary over Diver but you get the point. If only we had a couple more albums with that Ozzy team because he was never that good again.
Horseshit!
Boston
This album does not deserve the harsh criticism it often receives. One of my favorites.😊
Agreed..it's badass
Same. On of my favorites too.
One of my favorites too for sure. Everything on it! Big Bad Bill, Little Guitars, and on and on. And for me Eddie's solo on Hang Em High is one of his best. That double kick on Hang Em High and Michael's bass playing on it just kicks ass!!!
VH was fun. It was never deep, but that's okay.
I agree. Even when VH “sucks” they still kick 🫏 !
Diver down is like a nice breeze on a perfectly warm summer day. Just an easy nice listening album with a few gem tracks like secrets and little guitars . Awesome album I love it and it always puts me in a better mood .
My favorite part about Diver Down is the absolutely stellar vocals throughout, both lead and background. Anyone whose mantra was
“David Lee Roth can’t sing” obviously didn’t listen to “Secrets” or “Little Guitars”, two of Roth’s finest career vocals.
Most of those guys say Roth can't sing live and I wonder where they are listening to live VH. I'm listening to studio tracks
@@KMansfield-t8l and guitar work
@@davedavid7061 back in the days he sang great live. His voice was much deeper back then. Listen to Oakland 81, that’s when his voice was at it best. That’s when they should have made a live lp. IMO.
Dave was always great in the studio, but from what I've seen and heard he had his limits live. My impression is that if he would have stuck to singing the songs as they were on the record (i.e. if he stayed within his limits) he would have been just fine. But at some point, he started riffing and improvising pretty much all of his melodies and timing, never singing the songs as they were written and recorded, because that's what his idols did (problem is, unlike his idols, Roth wasn't singing jazz tunes).
And that brought on two problems: 1. he quickly went past the limits of his ability and 2. the song gets lost and becomes unrecognizable.
Dave now is so odd. He has lost some range sure, but his tracks never had much anyway except for the little squeals. But he seems to have forgotten how to sing some songs. Like Jump. He actually seems to try and sing some lines completely different. Going UP on the end of lines to notes he can't hit in key. When the actual album is a bit more monotone. People defend and say he was always bad live, but there's a treasure trove of live shows on youtube that he sings great. Everyone is great in the studio, especially now with pitch correction, but he didn't have that or autotune. Every single record you hear today has very very likely been pitch corrected. Even the live stuff. Remasters too. Sad.
DIVER DOWN is really good. I knew there was mostly covers on it, but didnt care. ITS VAN HALEN!! Im only 58, and they were my life for a 15 yr old kid. Im so glad VAN HALEN was our Era Band.
Definetly a Summer Party Album. Most of their albums were.
I’m 59 and I liked this album when it came out too. I’m a guitar player so Fair Warning is my favorite album by them, this was a very popular album, but as you remember there was a plethora of great bands back then and great guitar players.
True: Diver Down wasn't "a serious album". But -- it didn't have to be -- and that's why it was so awesome.
Awesome it was/is!!
This guy is spot on with his description of this album. I loved it always and he’s right. It’s 🎯energy,awesome!
Still one of my all time favorite albums.
Secrets is such a sleeper of a track one the most beautiful songs they’ve ever written
Yes! This!
Agree... it's almost like a song you'd yourself listening to on a road trip driving through the desert or walking through the dunes.
The Full Bug is a great deep track
DD is different than the 4 previous albums but you have to remember VH was a party band first and foremost, and in that context, DD embodies what VH is about.
Wrong, certain members were partyers, the lead guitarist and his brother were lifelong addicts. DD does embody the band...the dysfunctional band of boozers. What we all know now is VH and their fans shared not only delusion but enabling behavior. VH were addicts, fans were enablers. Each feeding the other, denial and ego, with no musical rehab in sight.
They covered those songs great, and the ones they wrote are fantastic. Secrets was awesome.
Secrets is such a good song. I love Diver Down. Where Have All the Good Times Gone! is a great cover, maybe better than the original (and that’s coming from a Kinks fan.)
I love Where Have All The Good Times Gone.
I always wonder where they have gone. Take me back tothe 80's
It's my favorite summer album. It just FITS summer.
Summer 1982 me and my friends on our own took the bus to Santa Monica pier. And this album always reminds me of that summer. We had a wild time for 13 years old, and VH was the soundtrack. Ahhh.. the memories!
Dancing in the streets was a big deal because Eddie was playing a synthesized keyboard, and he was king of 6-strings! But then you hear Hang 'em high, where have all the good times gone and pretty woman, Cathedral... well, the entire album and it was just what us 13 yr olds needed to have one of the best summers!
Yep! Me too👍🏻
Yes! It was the perfect summer music, especially for a young teenager!
17 years old in 82, same memory! Rock on brother 🤘
This is my favorite rock album of all time.
Best summer album ever!!!!!
I LOVED this album & tour!
This was the first album I bought by Van Halen. I was 19 at the time and really enjoyed it and thought it was a fun album. Always cherished that about this album
DD has a lot of magic , awesome album
I agree 100%! I was 13yo when I bought this album with my lawn mowing money. I know this isn’t the band’s favorite work,but it’s mine! Love it!
“Graduating from Kiss”! 😂 Well put! I am only a couple years older than you and can totally relate to and remember that ‘moving on’ to that better band discovery era you are referring to. I graduated from Kiss Univ. around the time between ‘Alive II’ & ‘Dynasty’….and, Van Halen was one of those new directions and ‘Van Halen II’ was fresh off the presses. 👍🏻
I was 11 y.o. watching "Pretty Woman" on MTV with jaw dropped open. It was one of the first albums I bought with my own money. To this day, "Secrets", "Full Bug" and "Hang'em High" are three of my faorite Van Halen songs of all time!!
Diver Down was my first VH album purchase and had me hooked as a fan. A friend of mine had it on cassette and the "electricity" of this album was absolutely and intangible for me. For me, it was something gutteral(or somewhat lower). The opening swagger of "Where Have all the Good Times Gone" had me hooked. I loved the sound of Alex Van Halen's drums from "Little Guitars" to the drive of "Intruder" and into "Pretty Woman". I remember the song "Cathedral" coming up and my friend informed me that it was all played on the guitar which blew me away. The diversity of "Big Bad Bill" and "Happy Trails" was a nice reminder that these guys could play anything. It always bummed me out that Eddie and a lot of fans didn't have good things to say about the album. But, it was my entry into the world of the mighty Van Halen.
"Electricity" exactly!
when people say diver down sucks, tell them to go make a better one
It is a fact that Diver Down is considered to be one of Van Halens worst albums ever.
I rank Van Halen's albums in descending order; so I consider Diver Down their fifth best album, and the last one I ever bought. VH was a great live band in the early days, too. I was fortunate to see them in 78, 79, 80, 81 and twice in 1982.
@@acorn-yy1gi1984 > DD
That's a stupid comment. We are consumers of music, of many styles, it's not my job to write better VH music...that was their job...and they failed more times than they succeeded. I will listen to BETTER music. VH had a lifetime and slowly decayed into a pop band then into a drug fueled solo album (VHIII).
By all means, enjoy the second weakest VH album...continue to worship a band that never cared for you. DD sucks but congrats to VH for selling it to you! LOL!!!
@@RichardGutierrezRG You went on a rage of very little substance.
Same...Kiss to Van Halen...never really thought about it, but we were listening to all sorts of stuff. My buddy's dad had it all and we were 6 years old in 1976 listening to 2112, Aerosmith, Boston, Elvis, and then Priest, and Kiss. Sabbath then Ozzy. Early Journey and Fleetwood Mac, then some alternative stuff like the Talking Heads and the Police. Tom Petty. So lucky and not afraid to listen to anything and everything. What a fun time.
Lifelong (almost) DLR-era VH fan, I love every single one of those records, but Diver Down holds a special place for me. Hang 'em High, Cathedral, Secrets, Intruder, Little Guitars (esp intro), dayum... An *excellent*, gorgeous, FUN counterpoint to "Fair Warning" (which I also still love.). Anyway, I know EVH wasn't as big a fan as he had a ton of original material that didn't get used as they made it a short album with a lot of covers. But IMO has always been criminally underrated.
I wish they had done more albums like this.
Wow Bob how freaking ironic.Diver Down and Signals are the two albums that got me through that summer I moved from my hometown. Being someplace new and not knowing anybody, I got to know this album very well. So this album also has a very special spot in my heart. I love Alex's drumming on Little guitars and intruder. One of my favorite albums.(Graduating from KISS I like the way you put that)🙂
That's awesome! It's amazing how some of this music played such a big role in our lives during those moments when we needed it. Likewise, this album was really important to me. Thanks for sharing your story.
@audiomover it's always my pleasure Bob
Cool man. Haven't listened to this one in years. Gona put on tonight while working on guitars, my night job is guitar service, my dayjob is motorcycle technician. Will put it on in the shop asap, should be interesting to see the young techs reactions.
Nice!
When the cymbal swell kicks off Good Times Gone,
You’ll smile inside.
Damn dude you got two kick ass jobs, good choices dude.
This album is great.
Hang Em High is one of Eddie’s greatest riff of all time supersonic shuffle absolutely smoking
To me, "Diver Down" was an almost perfect album. The originals on this album are among Van Halen's best tunes ever. Roth's cleverness lyrically shines brightest on "Little Guitars" ("catch as catch can - anybody in their right mind could see, it's you and me"). The only song I've ever tired of is "Happy Trails" because I've heard people from my generation singing that "bom-ba-dea" part for 40 years. The over-playedness of "Pretty Woman" is saved on the album by the instrumental intro "Intruder" which, to me, is still mind-blowing. The band doesn't overstay their welcome, for sure, as it's a rather short set but it just makes me want to start it over and listen again.
Secrets was tune that made all magic for me around VH... So poetic...
DD is a classic. The six VH albums with Roth - 1 to 1984 - are iconic. This was the greatest band in the world.
I love old Motown but Van Halen's
Dancing in the Streets is my favorite version.
This was my first exposure to the band. A girl at school had the cassette on the bus. I asked her about it, and she told me to take it home for a few days and try it. I was instantly a Van Halen fan. This will always be my favorite album by them, because it reminds me of when I discovered them.
I was introduced to "Diver Down" on Christmas day 1984. I asked for "1984" and my parents got me "Diver Down". I spent the day listening to this cassette tape over and over. "Secrets" became a personal favorite from the album. While I would never rank this album as high as say "1984", "Fair Warning", "Women and Children First", "Van Halen II" or "Van Halen", I still have a special place in my heart for it. The original songs are fantastic!! The cover tracks? They feel kind of hit or miss with me. I would say I go back for the originals far more than the cover songs. Thanks for these two reviews! I enjoyed the video a lot.
I loved everything about this album from the very first play. Where Fair Warning was darker, this one was bright and fun. Where Fair Warning was more about power, Diver Down was about energy. The U.S. was entering the 3rd year of a severe recession in 1982, and America and its youth needed optimism and fun, and Van Halen quickly stirred up and delivered the medicine in 12 quick doses.
Each VH album was different And this was no different. Great tunes 🎶
I'm 58, and I had the same reaction when I bought the album! I had no clue that the cover songs were covers, until many years later. And even after that, I still didn't care! I remember just looking at those pictures over and over, while listening to Eddie's wonderful fuzz tone. Ahhh, those were the days. My Technics turntable, 25 watt receiver, and cheap speakers! And the headphones from Radio Shack!
Technics is good stuff!
Love this album also.
@johndef5075 Thanks! Cool!
its well known this album was quickly put together during a planned year off. They released the "Pretty Woman" single and planned to take a break but its success had Warner Bros. push them into the studio to churn something out quickly. That's why there are a lot of covers and instrumentals........that said, it's a fantastic album. 11 year old me fell in love with it immediately & a few months later I saw them on this tour in New Jersey. To this day, best concert I ever attended
My first concert as a 15 year old high school kid was Van Halen on the Diver Down tour in the summer of 1982. DD highlights for me during the show? Intruder being played with the lighting rig turned off giving it an ominous feel in the completely dark arena. Another would be Edward playing Cathedral with a single blue spotlight from the back of the arena shining on him. He played a double necked neon yellow guitar with the EVH distinctive stripes for the moment. The very end of the concert? Happy Trails sung by all four members (after Alex finally wandered out from behind his mammoth drumset) to bring my first VH concert to a perfect conclusion. I proudly wore my tour shirt featuring the lion wearing sunglasses when the schoolyear started. I bought DD the week it came out. Not my favorite VH album, but for obvious reasons, it holds to this day a special place in my heart. I really enjoyed your analysis and look forward to more in the future. Oh yeah, you said something that make me think ME TOO! Where you talk about growing out of your KISS albums and discovering Van Halen. I have a saying that describes my like kind journey: KISS got me into rock n roll. Van Halen got me thru high school.
That is a great way to put the VH/KISS relationship in our lives!
Even though I didn't see this VH tour, I got one of those lion T-shirts somehow. Thanks for a great comment!
I LOVE the 'as we graduated from being KISS fans' - That's so me. Though I loved other bands, like Rush, Led Zep, ted Nugent, Aerosmith, etc, I'll never forget the first time I heard Van Halen (Runnin' with the Devil) in 1980. But THIS record (Diver Down) was my first anything I owned by VH and always brings me back to the beach that summer (1983). VH probably at their 'poppiest' but still VH being themselves. I could never get enough of these original 6 albums.
And what a stepping stone to 1984
There aren't many albums that I can listen to in their entirety and this is one.
Yep, we are very close to the same age it sounds like. Great album. And Dave just had that swagger, like the coolest kid in town… just being awesome and silly, and having a blast. And those melodies, and guitar parts, take me right back to the early 80s. 😝🤘🏻🎸
A favorite. I listened to it regularly the first two years when it came out. I still have it, and consider it highly. I have no problem with it.
I was listening to VH since the 1st album and Diver Down did not disappoint.
I wore out my cassette listening to it so much.
I like it more than 1984.
The Diver Doen tour was the 1st live VH show I saw, and they rocked. It was such a fun, upbeat album and tour.
You had me at Van Halen! Very good video, thanks for sharing the great music info, Peace!
I experienced, the Diver Down Tour
I first listened to Diver Down in the summer of ‘85 (arrived late to the party). I spent an entire month in a little beach shack with my parents. I listened to the album each day - by the end of our stay, my folks knew the lyrics 😂. DiverDown brings back lovely childhood memories
I love it. Probably my favourite VH album
For me you hang them high and the full bug are the best songs on there. As a guitar player gotta go with VH II, Fair Warning and 1984 for best riffs and guitar tones. 🤘🤘🤘
Greetings Robert 🖐 so happy tohear a fellow VH fan praise diver down ! I love that album. I dont gove a rip what others say about it . Its great ! Love 3:07 the covers on it also ! Thanks dude . Excellent video brother 👍
Awesome! Thank you!
I did not realize at time I bought DD at a Woolworth store in 1982 in cassette that there were 5 songs Van Halen had covered by other artists, I was very young then I was 14 yrs old and was blown away by how good it was listening to it ion my Sony Walkman
Damn! I hate when I'm the old grumpy guy 🤣
For me, the best VH is their first two albums.
I did think Dancin In The Streets was cool.
The three things that got me in this episode, was when you said graduated from KISS! That was perfect.
Then the first guy said America's Led Zeppelin. I just wanna say, we didn't have a Zeppelin. Thanks to Aerosmith, we had our version of The Stones, but no Zepp.
Then the second guy said Diver Down was a good metal album? I never once have thought of VH as a metal band. They were our larger than life, ultimate party band.
Another good one Robert 👍
Never hated Diver Down, just "Dancing in the Streets"... As a kid it was destroyed by a Jagger/Bowie video on MTV and i associated the two covers as worthy of the same hate. Love hearing the Van Halen version today, still hate the Jagger/Bowie cover with every fiber of my being.
My favorite Van Halen album.
My 1st Van Halen concert, Diver Down Tour, the backdrop was 2 lions with sun glasses, that was also the concert t-shirt I had. Columbia house was the mail order music service, we all used it. I bought Kiss rock n roll over and styx cornerstone as part of the order, never heard Van Halen yet so I got Van Halen 2 on 8 track as a bonus tape with order, buy 10 and get 1 for a penny. Holy throw back. That was my introduction to Van Halen. Peace ✌️
I love Diver Down!
Thank you for this.
I remember buying this album when it first came out. I recall that much was made of the fact that it comprised of a large amount of covers but I think that accounted for much of the record’s charm. I mean, who else could possibly get away with Big Bad Bill? Little Guitars is my personal favorite on this collection and the album still holds up to this day. All over, it’s one of VH’s most fun and enjoyable recordings.
Totally! Favorite album huge impact on me! Super happy super perky rocking guitar! This album definitely had amazing energy!
Van Halen's MOST FUN album.
It is the definitive summer time record.
Spot on in your observation. Some great gems on that album. Even though it is a lot of covers nobody takes a cover and completely dismantles it into a high energy blitzing like VH! The originals on it are some of my favorites. Great video! Thanks for sharing
What I just realized after all these years is that with only 4 new songs Diver Down could rightfully be called an Extended EP masquerading as a full blown LP album. I think that works and is totally fair and maybe explains the gimmicky vibe a bit better.
Great review, I can remember listening to this in the early 80's and I wasn't overly blown away by it....I think it was the quantity of cover songs!
Diver Down was released during a time when the band wasn't having much commercial success. Their music was still being played on album rock radio, but not mainstream. It might not be their best album, but it's my favorite. It's my "go to" feel good VH record and my 1982 summer soundtrack. I got to see them three times on this tour, so I have many great memories of that as well.
Diver down is one of my favorite albums of all time. It’s the soundtrack to the summer of 82 for me. Every time the needle hits the wax, I can smell the beach. That’s the summer I met my wife of 41 years. I don’t blame Van Halen for that though. 😂😂😂
Energy!!! You nailed it!!!!! Side note: Ace and Peter from the KISS Dynasty album behind you, at times / angels looks like you're wearing KISS Mickey Mouse ears! Not a bad thing...pretty cool. Great video once again. Keep rockin'
Enjoyed this!
When Diver Down came out, I to got it through Columbia House. I LOVED this album as well. I had it on repeat for months!!! I also transitioned from being a KISS fan into a VH fan!
One of my favorite Van Halen albums also and the concert was awesome I was a young teenager and I was blown away 👑 Edward VH 💎 Dave 🔥
I bought Diver Down and Yars Revenge (Atari cartridge) on the same day in the early summer of 1982. I was 12.
You nailed it on every level. Down to graduating from KISS to Van Halen. We must be the same age. Ironically, Gene Simmons discovered them.
I bought this album on cassette when I was 12, after discovering Van Halen with 1984, and absolutely loved it. I didn't know their catalog then so maybe that is why I loved it so much. I had nothing to compare it too other than 1984. It also brings back so many great memories for me. Even after I became acquainted with their whole catalog, I still love this album.
_ W_O_W - - SPEECHLESS !! - - I AM a 55-Yr Old DUTCHMAN -- My 1st, All-my-Own Pocket money Record (at Age 10) was KISS' "Dynasty", Cause of the EPIC "Warhol x KiSS" Full-Face War-Paint Cover-Art, and the Hit single "I Was Made for Lovin' You" -- Then Leveled-Up to Boston, AeroSmith and Van Halen -- All Ten of their first Albums (9 Studio & 1 Live). -- ONLY "The Fat of the Land" (The Prodigy) Brought EVEN Greater ENERGY than Van Halen 1 !! - - - THANX For This Review ! !
When diver down came out it was party time and that album was and still is... a party
First off, I love your channel. I wish I would have thought of doing it first! I am a huge VH fan of both eras, and I have always been one of those who has sort of shuffled this record off to the side. It is like the "ugly child" sandwiched between Fair Warning and 1984, two of their best in my opinion. But, watching your clip made me realize there are some really great tracks on this record, and a lot of great memories associated with it (I too am in my mid 50's). Your track analysis is spot on. Intruder was just an amazing 2 minutes of bad-assness. The guitar noise was a beer can going across Eds strings. The synth/guitar groove behind Dancing in the streets was so cool. Secrets, The Full Bug... all the originals are great. I read a lot about rock history, and from what I have learned, at this time Dave and Ted Templeman had sort of taken a direction toward more danceable poppy stuff, where Ed was just learning synth and wanted to take it to a new place. Ed was extremely frustrated recording Diver Down because he lost multiple battles about the direction in sound. For example, he wanted Intruder to be its own song, and not an opening to Pretty Woman. He also wanted the Dancing in the Streets guitar groove to be its own song. But ultimately Ted and Dave won those arguments (and maybe for the betterment of the record). Its amazing how the second reviewer nailed it about what was to come, putting together the raw energy, sense of humor, and overall ensemble approach in the future to make a masterpiece. As you said, we all know that became 1984. I never really thought about it that way before, but its true. Without Diver Down, and the departures they took to make it, 1984 and even later stuff like 5150 may not have been the same. Keep up what you are doing, I absolutely love watching your videos!!! 👍👍👍
My favorite VH album. It has my 2 favorite songs of theirs (Little Guitars and Secrets), showcases their diversity and wildly demonstrates the thing that most artists don’t have the power to do that VH does easily; take cover songs and make them THEIR OWN.
Love Secrets! It sounds sophisticated and groovy. Loved the backside pic with the stadium crowd
Diver Down was effective as a cross-over to greater fan base...
Radio friendly, high energy, lots of humor, great playing and incredible vocals.
I strangely think of it as a quick low-cost "extended" EP.
My only complaint is the quick mix.
Would love a remixed catalogue... or boxset treatment. ;)
And of course... this was the set up to the immaculate 1984.
Great commentary. I shared a lot of the points.
Cheers!
#mrchristophertv
After all these years, it's still my favorite VH album.
I hear you man. I can remember every time I heard the first track off the first 6 =VH= (ok . the first 7) albums. They are all moments that shaped my youth and adulthood! I'm 59.
Love Diver Down, it’s perfect for me!
Yes, Energy and Youthfulness. The band’s trademark during the Dave era. The youthfulness is in the backing vocals, with Dave adding swagger. A brilliant album!
I’m 61 and will never forget the day the album came out. I played the tape until it was transparent.
The covers are done in an original way, mainly due to Ed’s unique approach to each song, and play to Dave’s strengths.
The band had just come off a lengthy tour and were pressured by the record company to put out a new album. It was a rushed job, which necessitated the inclusion of covers. But dang, they did it well and reflected the band’s versatility.
I only had OU812 for years and grew up in the Sammy era, so when I dove into the full albums I took them in all at once - in that scenario the album feels like an EP, but then I'm 1000x more into the originals so that's why it seems so scant.
Totally agree, same feeling
My memory had me thinking it was a much older album than it was. It was the one right before 1984! I, too, didn't know some songs were covers back then.
The criticism is not entirely wrong. They were fluffing up a couple songs with covers to make an LP. This is an easy target for a reviewer back then. Remember in those days rock writers did not fawn over our heroes. Now the record companies are owned by the 4 corporations that own the websites that review the records and make the hot dog buns you eat. Diver Down is a blast! The electric guitar intro for Little Guitars is so sexy!! And the video for Oh Pretty Woman? Oscar worthy!
Van Halen has a pretty diverse catalog really. You make several different style play lists with their songs. My favorite is a heavy mix!🤘😈🤘
My favorite VH record. Maybe not the best but definitely my favorite.
Hang 'Em High might be my favorite VH deep cut ever with The Full Bug right behind that.
I like it better then 1984, which is my worst VH album.
Had all the vinyl LPs and went through a big VH phase in the mid 80s when I was about 19..... but I'd never dream of listening to any of it now. Not even for nostalgia purposes.
Little Guitars…One of their best live songs. Cathedral leading into Little Guitars was epic. I was lucky to see it at the time..
Robert...feel the same about Diver Down! Little Guitars is in my top 5 VH songs. Drum intro is totally badass. Love this record, despite the covers. Kinks cover is so solid. Full Bug and Hang em High totally rock. Dancing in the street is only song I skip but it's still good.
Intruder is perfect to blast on stereo speeding down the highway.
And....seriously love Secrets' mellow smooth vibe. Love the lyrics and Dave's vocals. I was almost 13 when this was released and my friends and I listened to it a ton during the summer of 82 up to next record in Jan 83...1984! Great video btw. Keep up the good work.
Webb in ATL
Solid album for me and loved it on day one, it is a summertime album !
This album was the soundtrack to many vivid, joyful, adolescent rock n roll memories. This particular album captures Van Halen at its core; a killer local Pasadena rock n roll outfit playing back yard keg parties on steroids! Van Halen along with Boston and Queen fueled my teenage years. The energy of sunshine California is vibrant; and this album soaks it up, spits it out, and sprays it around on every track!
Nicely put.
Reflecting back to my sister’s album/record Diver Down.
Everyone expected VanHalen self title album but better as a sophomore album although it never could match that and what their second album.
It was a “For Those About To Rock” AC/DC album if you want to compare the anticipation for the next great album
This is one of my favorite albums EVER!! Like DLR once said " Your not going to be sittin around crying while Diver Down plays" 😂