Track Listing

1. Easy Street
2. Medley: Just a Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody
3. California Girls
4. Coconut Grove

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #511674 in Music
• Released on: 1990-10-17
• Format: EP

Customer Reviews

A sign of great things to come
When you listen to every Van Halen record from 1979 - 1984, you hear traces of David Lee Roth's happy-go-lucky, lounge singer-type style throughout every song, and that's highlighted in this "Crazy From The Heat" 4-song EP. One gets the sense, when you listen to it, that Roth is trying to say "YES!! I'M FREE!!" in every song. And who can blame him? By the time VH's album "1984" came out, Roth had begun to notice that everybody else in the band was steering away from the fun musicical style that he liked so much & going into a more serious direction, causing him to leave the band and launch his solo career. This EP was the result of that effort. And what a good first effort it was!!

After the last song, "Coconut Grove," you were left asking "Is that all?" Fans would have to wait another year to get that answer, and they wouldn't be disappointed. It would only get better.

I ain't got noboooooooooooooody!
Looking at the cover of David Lee Roth waist deep in the waters off the Seychelles, one might come up with an image of something more relaxing compared to the heavy metal theatrics of Van Halen. And it shows that rather than dipping his toe in the water to test for a viable solo career, Roth confidently knew what he was doing, even though he returned to the same Van Halen-type rock in Eat'em And Smile.

Dan Hartman's bluesy "Easy Street" is definitely a change from "Panama" or "Jamie's Cryin'", with Edgar Winter's sax helping out. In fact Roth thanks the Frankenstein man in the liner notes for inspiration.

The jump swing and jiving swagger of 1940's-50's artists like Louis Jordan or Louis Prima fits Diamond Dave's persona well on the medley "Just A Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody." And Roth's rapid-fire scat vocals following Edgar Winter's sax before he launches into the final reprise of the number adds to the retro-40's sound. Figures, as he grew up listening to Frank Sinatra and Louis Prima, the latter whom I know covered this, but whether he was the original artist, I know not. Despite the difference in instrumentation, jazz instruments versus rock instruments, the engaging swinging sound is well-preserved.

The standout cut here is the Beach Boys classic "California Girls," in which he enlists the aid of Carl Wilson and Christopher Cross for backing vocals. This retread is boosted by a harder-edged guitar compared to the original as well as Edgar Winter's synthesizers, but loses none of that laid back beach music flavour due to Mr. Wilson's contribution. Both this video and the one for "Just A Gigolo" comprise early MTV memories for me.

Finally, a cover of the Lovin' Spoonful's "Coconut Grove," which is a laid back affair compared to the previous three numbers.

So, we have a 70's instrumentalist who worked with the Winter Brothers, a prime example of swaggering jump swing, and two songs from the 60's, the laid back California sound and a group known for its good-natured "electric good time music." It shows the various influences and appreciations that the Van Halen frontman had for music.

Producer Ted Templeman, who produced all the Van Halen albums up through 1984, clearly followed Diamond Dave on this album and his first full-length solo album, Eat'em And Smile. Crazy From The Heat isn't a bad EP and launching ground for solo stardom. Unfortunately, it led to a schism in Van Halen fans, Roth loyalists who derogatorily referred to the reformed Van Halen as Van Hagar, and those who sided with the Van Halen brothers, snidely thinking "David Lee Who?" Chances are though, there were those who accepted the split and both, such as your humble reviewer here.

David Lee Roth - 'Crazy From The Heat' (Warner Bros.) 3 1/2 stars
Only reason I'm giving this over-priced four track EP as high as rating as I have,is because EVEN after twenty-plus years,these tunes are actually still fun to listen to,believe it or not. I'm one to USUALLY avoid most CD singles,EP's,etc. Keep in mind this is Roth's first post-Van Halen outing. Always have and probably always will dig the videos Roth made for "Just A Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody" and his Beach Boy's cover of "California Girls". The other two cuts "Coconut Grove" and "Easy Street" are good summer time tunes as well. Party on! Enjoy.