In 1985, David Lee Roth , still a member of the renowned group Van Halen , eager for a new release and tour, decided to release the EP Crazy From The Heat , containing several covers of songs from the 60s and 70s. Shortly after, Roth left Van Halen citing creative differences with its leader and guitarist, Eddie Van Halen , who was beginning to incorporate ballads and synthesizers into the raw and festive sound that made the band famous.
After falling out with his former bandmates, David decided to assemble a team as virtuoso and intense as the one that had accompanied him in recent years. For guitars, he called upon former Frank Zappa and rising virtuoso Steve Vai ; for bass, he recruited the future Mr. Big and also rising star Billy Sheehan ; and on drums, the highly competent Gregg Bissonette .
The band was formed, the album recorded, and on July 7, 1986, David Lee Roth's first full-length solo album – after all, Crazy From The Heat was an EP of covers – hit the stores. This was his first recording after his split with Van Halen, which by then had Sammy Hagar on vocals and had released the album 5150 , featuring a more radio-friendly sound, full of synthesizers, ballads, and a melodic and powerful voice in its place – everything Roth feared and certainly wanted to avoid in his new group.
The album opens with the classic "Yankee Rose," whose introduction features one of the most iconic moments not only of the work, but of all American 80s hard rock, with the dialogue between Roth and Steve Vai's guitar – as if they were both flirting with a girl before the song itself – an ode to the centennial of the Statue of Liberty – begins, with the heavy, swinging sound and virtuoso guitar moments that were a trademark of his time in Van Halen.
The festive tone, roaring guitars with whammy bars, moments of pure seduction, and an extremely tight rhythm section permeate the work from beginning to end, as if Roth were continuing the sound that his former band abandoned after his departure.
Another highlight is the chemistry between Sheehan and Vai, both giving a true lesson on how to be virtuosos on their instruments without sounding pedantic or pretentious, and with a lot of energy, whether in sounds worthy of a typical wild party of the time, as can be heard in the fast and almost heavy metal "Shyboy", or in bluesy and unpretentious moments that sound more like a fun jam session between friends, as in "I'm Easy" or the funky "Ladies' Nite In Buffalo?".
The album was originally conceived as a film soundtrack, but the project never materialized. Instead, music videos were released whose humor perfectly reflects Roth's party-loving and eccentric personality, such as "Yankee Rose" and "Goin' Crazy".
This album is highly recommended for fans of 80s hard rock, the famous "farofa hard rock" as it's popularly known, and especially for the most die-hard fans of Eddie Van Halen and his band, because the work done by Vai and Sheehan on this album not only did justice to their former boss but also showed great respect for his work, without sounding like an imitation or caricature, simply bringing a festive and seductive approach, but full of originality and charisma.
Eat 'Em and Smile received a special edition in Brazil in a slipcase. The release was made possible through a partnership between Wikimetal and Oporto Da Música. Click here to purchase your copy.
Spanish version of Eat 'Em And Smile
At one point, Billy Sheehan reads in a newspaper that more than half of the Mexican population at the time consisted of young people between 18 and 27 years old, an age group that was the main consumer of records.
The bassist then suggests to David that he re-record the album's vocals in Spanish, for an exclusive release in Spanish-speaking countries (focusing on Mexico) in an attempt to boost sales of the work.
All the instrumental parts were kept, only Roth's vocal lines were replaced with translated versions of the lyrics, which Roth created with the help of a Spanish tutor. Needless to say, the endeavor, christened Sonrisa Salvaje – Wild Smile , was a failure, with the Spanish-speaking audience finding Roth's strong accent strange. Listen to the version below.
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