Van Halen Diver Down CD

Van Halen: David Lee Roth (vocals); Eddie Van Halen (guitar); Michael Anthony (bass); Alex Van Halen (drums).
Addtional personnel: Jan Van Halen (clarinet).
Recorded in 1982.
Digitally remastered by Chris Bellman.
Fair Warning was such a dark, intense record that Van Halen almost had no choice but to lighten up on their next album, and 1982's Diver Down is indeed much lighter than its predecessor. In many ways, it's a return to the early albums, heavy on covers and party anthems, but where those records were rough and exuberant -- they felt like the work of the world's best bar band just made good, which is, of course, kind of what they were -- this is undoubtedly the work of a finely honed band who has only grown tighter and heavier since their debut. As a band, they might be tight, but Diver Down is anything but tight. It's a downright mess, barely clocking in at 31 minutes, cobbled together out of five covers, two minute-long instrumentals, and five new songs. By most measures, this should be the kind of slop that's difficult to muddle through, but it's not: it's one of Van Halen's best records, one that's just pure joy to hear. Like the debut, it's a great showcase for all the group's strengths, from Eddie Van Halen's always thrilling guitar to the bedrock foundation of Alex Van Halen and Michael Anthony's throbbing pulse to, of course, David Lee Roth's strut. Each member gets places to shine and, in a way, covers showcase their skills in a way none of the originals does, since they get to twist "Oh, Pretty Woman," "Dancing in the Street," and "Where Have All the Good Times Gone" inside out, all the better to make them their own. But this isn't complacent; Van Halen is stretching out in different ways, funneling the menace of Fair Warning into the ominous instrumental "Intruder," playing with the whiplash fury of a punk band on "Hang 'Em High," and honing their pop skills on the bright, new wavey rock of "Little Guitars" and the sweet "Secrets," which displays the lightest touch they've ever had on record. Combine that with the full-throttle attack on the covers, along with Dave's vaudevillian song and dance on "Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now)" -- a shtick that's electrified on the equally fun "The Full Bug" -- and the result is a record that's nothing but fun, the polar opposite of its predecessor. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
DIVER DOWN was a #3 smash for Van Halen in 1982. The band scored its biggest hit up to that point with "(Oh) Pretty Woman," and were to begin its "Hide Your Sheep" tour by headlining the US festival. Although criticized for containing nearly 50 percent cover material, DIVER propelled the group into the rock stratosphere.
"Where Have All The Good Times Gone" actually exceeds the Kinks' original, using the same formula that worked with "You Really Got Me." "Hang 'Em High" contains a blistering Eddie Van Halen solo, while the somber instrumental "Cathedral" shows Ed's use of digital delay and electric guitar volume swells to create a synthesizer-like sound. On "Dancing In The Street" the band tries to stay true to the vibe of the original tune while still injecting the Van Halen sound. The flamenco-style intro of "Little Guitars" leads into another distinct, innovative Eddie guitar line. The album concludes on a humorous note with "Happy Trails." Great songs, David Lee Roth's charismatic vocals, and Eddie's virtuoso guitar are just some of the reasons to pick up DIVER DOWN.