The album of the first six that everyone hates on. The only thing that bugs me is it is the shortest album ever, at just a tad over 29 minutes. One of the biggest criticism is there are too many covers. Well, the record company forced them into the studio to record an album when they thought they were going to get some downtime so, covers was a good way of coming up with a quick album. The covers that they chose weren’t obvious and you have to admit they are great renditions.
The band’s first single was a Kinks cover so, a return to them with Where Have All The Good Times Gone was an inspired choice and they made it their own. Hang ‘Em High is a monster uptempo track with an awesome riff and groove. Cathedrals is Eddie playing around with swells, a chorus peddle, and his volume control for a neat solo piece. Secrets is one of my favourite tracks on the album with a really cool groove, and Eddie gives it the beans with a superb solo. Intruder was added to Pretty Women as the song itself was too short for the video they shot, and it’s Ed just torturing a guitar – you have to admit this version of Pretty Woman is killer. Dancing In The Street was a Dave choice for a cover, and it shows the band could play anything and make it their own. Little Guitars is a superb original, and again the band are really stretching out here taking their sound off piste. Big Bad Bill is a traditional swing standard, and Eddie and All get to play with their dad who plays the clarinet. The Full Bug is Van Halen doing what they do best: a full on boogie with plenty of swagger and a ripping solo from Ed. We close out with Happy Trails, which the band used to do acapella live.
I love this album just as much as the other Dave era albums and it gets 10/10 from the Grooveman.
