This is the diamond one’s third solo album after leaving Van Halen. It a big change in personnel after the first two albums. Steve Vai and Billy Sheehan had left to do their own thing, and on the recording a young Jason Becker played guitar. He was diagnosed with ALS while recording the album, and managed to finish it but was unable to do the tour. The touring band featured the amazing Joe Holmes on guitar, and Todd Jensen was on the bass.
This was the beginning of Dave’s decline. The album was a change in style to more of a blues based album, and it was also right in the middle of the grunge period. Whereas the tour was a success in Europe, it did really bad in the US where shows were cancelled altogether. I am a big Dave fan and I do like this album, but it didn’t reach the heights of the previous two. Main highlights for me are the title track, which is trademark DLR, the barroom sleazy blues of Sensible Shoes, and the very Hot For Teacher vibe of Its Showtime.
I managed to catch one of Dave’s solo shows in Vegas before COVID hit, and he was fantastic.
8.5/10 from The Grooveman.
