Great episode, I certainly share Andy’s love for this record and the right here, right now, live era. It was when I got into Van Halen. I share so many of his thoughts! The ‘glassy tone’ on don’t tell me that reminds him of Slash’s Use Your Illusion tone was a nice observation. Always loved that UYI ‘liquid’ wah-tone and I get what he’s saying. I’m happy he called out the solo to ‘Can’t stop loving you’, which has always been one of my favorites – completely out of character, indeed almost session player like. I was really surprised to hear Andy bringing up Extreme’s Play With Me…that’s always been the song I compare Big Fat Money to as well, together with ‘We didn’t start the fire’ by Billy Joel (I’ve even got those three programmed together on a playlist), much more so than the Led Zep one. I also share his view on the solo-record thing…’aren’t they all’? His take on the Aftershock/Enter Sandman comparison also hits home to me…I see quite a few people saying he ripped off that riff, but to me it never really sounded alike, probably for that ‘meandering, wobbly sitting in the pocket’ reason Andy gives. I also like the observation that the band had matured gracefully. They had pretty much reinvented themselves (again) at this point, and the fiery maturity during these few years was amazing (also just listen to those 2 new Roth tracks in '96...)
Anyhow, too many nuggets on this album to mention, and I really enjoyed the listen.
One question for Dweezil: you mention that parts of the Big Fat Money solo are patterns he uses elsewhere on the Wild Life soundtrack. I’d be curious to hear what parts you mean, since it doesn’t really sound pattern based to me, and it seems to fit the weird rhythm playing behind it very well. It’s another one of my favorite solo’s of his, again very atypical. If you’re doing a Wild Life episode, please link back to this observation!
Really enjoying the Balance Ep! The discussion of Big Fat Money is fun and there are so many references in that tune. The piano isn't the only connection to A Apolitical Blues, the first vocal line and overall feel are a pretty direct nod to Little Feat's Teenage Nervous Breakdown. 70s Little Feat rules and probably one of the swinging-est bands around. Wonder if all of VH were into them or if it was a Sammy thing?
Another excellent episode, Balance is still one of my favourite Van Hagar albums. I don't think Bruce would have contributed the arrangement ideas such as a Beatles part or Led Zep vibe though, I think that was just coming from Ed and Al, and Sammy too in his vocal delivery. I think Ed allowed his influences to come out more prominently at this time and then even more so on VH III, with nods to everything from the blues to Peter Gabriel. Apparently 'Strung Out' was taken from hours of a recording where Ed destroyed a rather expensive piano! I saw an interview around that time and Ed said that 'Baluchitherium' was supposed to be a vocal track, but Sammy couldn't come up with lyrics for it?
Dweezil: GREAT episode!!! Another home run. The part of Andy playing the intro to " Cliffs Of Dover " in the wet-dry-wet configuration almost made me collide with another car while listening to the show ( haha )! Question: Has interviewing these guests inspired you to ask them to contribute to your " What The Hell Was I Thinking " project ( keep in mind I'm asking this being unaware of your current work load status )? All the best-DMC
Awesome. New episode has arrived! I'll be checking it out today on my routes. Andy is someone fairly new to me ( I've caught a couple of his You Tube shows in the past-Great player ). Thanks Dweezil!
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Great episode, I certainly share Andy’s love for this record and the right here, right now, live era. It was when I got into Van Halen. I share so many of his thoughts! The ‘glassy tone’ on don’t tell me that reminds him of Slash’s Use Your Illusion tone was a nice observation. Always loved that UYI ‘liquid’ wah-tone and I get what he’s saying. I’m happy he called out the solo to ‘Can’t stop loving you’, which has always been one of my favorites – completely out of character, indeed almost session player like. I was really surprised to hear Andy bringing up Extreme’s Play With Me…that’s always been the song I compare Big Fat Money to as well, together with ‘We didn’t start the fire’ by Billy Joel (I’ve even got those three programmed together on a playlist), much more so than the Led Zep one. I also share his view on the solo-record thing…’aren’t they all’? His take on the Aftershock/Enter Sandman comparison also hits home to me…I see quite a few people saying he ripped off that riff, but to me it never really sounded alike, probably for that ‘meandering, wobbly sitting in the pocket’ reason Andy gives. I also like the observation that the band had matured gracefully. They had pretty much reinvented themselves (again) at this point, and the fiery maturity during these few years was amazing (also just listen to those 2 new Roth tracks in '96...)
Anyhow, too many nuggets on this album to mention, and I really enjoyed the listen.
One question for Dweezil: you mention that parts of the Big Fat Money solo are patterns he uses elsewhere on the Wild Life soundtrack. I’d be curious to hear what parts you mean, since it doesn’t really sound pattern based to me, and it seems to fit the weird rhythm playing behind it very well. It’s another one of my favorite solo’s of his, again very atypical. If you’re doing a Wild Life episode, please link back to this observation!
Really enjoying the Balance Ep! The discussion of Big Fat Money is fun and there are so many references in that tune. The piano isn't the only connection to A Apolitical Blues, the first vocal line and overall feel are a pretty direct nod to Little Feat's Teenage Nervous Breakdown. 70s Little Feat rules and probably one of the swinging-est bands around. Wonder if all of VH were into them or if it was a Sammy thing?
Another excellent episode, Balance is still one of my favourite Van Hagar albums. I don't think Bruce would have contributed the arrangement ideas such as a Beatles part or Led Zep vibe though, I think that was just coming from Ed and Al, and Sammy too in his vocal delivery. I think Ed allowed his influences to come out more prominently at this time and then even more so on VH III, with nods to everything from the blues to Peter Gabriel. Apparently 'Strung Out' was taken from hours of a recording where Ed destroyed a rather expensive piano! I saw an interview around that time and Ed said that 'Baluchitherium' was supposed to be a vocal track, but Sammy couldn't come up with lyrics for it?
Dweezil: GREAT episode!!! Another home run. The part of Andy playing the intro to " Cliffs Of Dover " in the wet-dry-wet configuration almost made me collide with another car while listening to the show ( haha )! Question: Has interviewing these guests inspired you to ask them to contribute to your " What The Hell Was I Thinking " project ( keep in mind I'm asking this being unaware of your current work load status )? All the best-DMC
Awesome. New episode has arrived! I'll be checking it out today on my routes. Andy is someone fairly new to me ( I've caught a couple of his You Tube shows in the past-Great player ). Thanks Dweezil!