Skyscraper (album)

Skyscraper
Studio album by David Lee Roth
Released	January 26, 1988
Recorded	Spring - Autumn 1987
Genre	Hard rock
Length	41:12
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	David Lee Roth, Steve Vai
David Lee Roth chronology
Eat 'Em and Smile (1986) Skyscraper (1988) A Little Ain't Enough (1991)

Skyscraper is the second full-length album by David Lee Roth (of Van Halen), released in 1988. It was the last to feature guitarist Steve Vai, who left the group in 1989 to join Whitesnake and continue his solo career. Bassist Billy Sheehan would also leave the group before the tour to eventually form Mr. Big. This album contained the US hit single, "Just Like Paradise", which reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Skyscraper was not a critical success at the time of release, but has since been labeled a 'classic rock/hard rock' album with a sunny 'California' feel, typical of Roth's positive outlook.

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link
Robert Christgau	C+ link
Rolling Stone

Track listing

All songs written by Roth/Vai unless otherwise noted.

1. "Knucklebones" (Bissonette/Roth) – 3:18
2. "Just Like Paradise" (Roth/Tuggle) – 4:03
3. "The Bottom Line" – 3:37
4. "Skyscraper" – 3:38
5. "Damn Good" – 5:49
6. "Hot Dog and a Shake" – 3:19
7. "Stand Up" (Roth/Tuggle) – 4:39
8. "Hina" – 4:40
9. "Perfect Timing" (Roth/Tuggle) – 3:41
10. "Two Fools a Minute" – 4:28

CD reissue

All songs written by Roth/Vai unless otherwise noted.

1. "California Girls" (Brian Wilson/Mike Love) – 2:51
2. "Knucklebones" (Bissonette/Roth) – 3:18
3. "Just Like Paradise" (Roth/Tuggle) – 4:03
4. "The Bottom Line" – 3:37
5. "Skyscraper" – 3:38
6. "Damn Good" – 5:49
7. "Just a Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody" (Casucci/Caesar/Williams/Graham) – 4:41
8. "Hot Dog and a Shake" – 3:19
9. "Stand Up" (Roth/Tuggle) – 4:39
10. "Hina" – 4:40
11. "Perfect Timing" (Roth/Tuggle) – 3:41
12. "Two Fools a Minute" – 4:28

• Tracks 1 & 7 are from the Crazy from the Heat EP.

Notes

• "California Girls" is a cover of the Beach Boys song.
• "Hina" is notable in that it features only one guitar track; it is panned to one ear, while a delay effect then sends the guitar sound to the other ear, allowing Vai to, in essence, play off/harmonize with himself.
• Roth's management received a phone call asking for permission for "Just Like Paradise" to be used as the theme song of a new television show, Beverly Hills 90210. They rejected the idea without asking Roth first, so an original piece of instrumental music was used instead.

Personnel

The Band:

• David Lee Roth - vocals
• Steve Vai - guitar, horn (alto)
• Billy Sheehan - bass guitar, backing vocals
• Gregg Bissonette - drums, percussion, backing vocals

Guest Musicians:

• John Batdorf - backing vocals
• Gary Falcone - backing vocals
• Tommy Funderburk - backing vocals
• Tom Kelly - backing vocals
• Joe Pizzulo - backing vocals
• Dr. Funk PhD - bass guitar
• Brett Tuggle - keyboards, programming, backing vocals
• Todd Grace - programming, keyboard programming
• Richie Raposa - programming, keyboard programming

Production:

• David Lee Roth - producer, concept, cover design
• Steve Vai - producer, engineer
• Gary Wagner - engineer
• Doug Parry - engineer
• Magic Moreno - engineer, mixing
• Steve Holroyd - engineer
• Bernie Grundman - mastering
• Marnie Riley - engineer
• Stephen Shelton - engineer
• Pete Angelus - concept, cover design
• Galen Rowell - photography
• Paul Levy - engineer
• Bob Cats - mixing
• Vigon Seireeni - artwork
• Gina Vivona - artwork

Charts

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1988	The Billboard 200	6

Singles

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1988	"Damn Good"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	2
1988	"Just Like Paradise"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	1
1988	"Just Like Paradise"	The Billboard Hot 100	6
1988	"Stand Up"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	5
1988	"Stand Up"	The Billboard Hot 100	64