Skyscraper (album)

Skyscraper is the second full-length studio album by David Lee Roth, the original and current lead vocalist of Van Halen. It was released on January 26, 1988 on Warner Bros. Records.

Overview
Skyscraper was issued shortly after the commercially and critically successful Eat 'em and Smile World Tour of 1986–1987. Skyscraper hit No. 6 on the Billboard Top 200 U.S. album chart during February 1988, en route to selling two million copies in the United States. The album features one of Roth's most popular singles, "Just Like Paradise," which reached No. 6 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. Additionally, it features the acoustic ballad "Damn Good," which reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Rock chart.

At the time of its release, the eclectic, quasi-psychedelic Skyscraper divided public and critical opinion. Although Roth's 1988 Skyscraper Tour was successful, many fans and critics disappointed by Van Halen's post-Roth, keyboard-heavy sound expressed similar dissatisfaction with Skyscraper. Guitarist Steve Vai (who co-produced Skyscraper, and co-wrote many of its songs) and bassist Billy Sheehan, who formed the core of David Lee Roth's solo band, left the group over various controversies regarding Skyscraper.

Track listing
All songs written by David Lee Roth and Steve Vai unless otherwise noted.


 * 1) "Knucklebones" (Gregg Bissonette, Matt Bissonette, Roth) – 3:18
 * 2) "Just Like Paradise" (Roth, Brett Tuggle) – 4:03
 * 3) "The Bottom Line" – 3:38
 * 4) "Skyscraper" – 3:40
 * 5) "Damn Good" – 5:49
 * 6) "Hot Dog and a Shake" – 3:19
 * 7) "Stand Up" (Roth, Brett Tuggle) – 4:39
 * 8) "Hina" – 4:41
 * 9) "Perfect Timing" (Roth, Brett Tuggle) – 3:41
 * 10) "Two Fools a Minute" – 4:29

CD reissue
All songs written by Roth/Vai unless otherwise noted.


 * 1) "California Girls" (Brian Wilson, Mike Love) – 2:50
 * 2) "Just a Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody" (Leonello Casucci, Irving Caesar/Spencer Williams, Roger A. Graham) – 4:41
 * 3) "Knucklebones" (Bissonette, Roth) – 3:18
 * 4) "Just Like Paradise" (Roth, Tuggle) – 4:03
 * 5) "The Bottom Line" – 3:38
 * 6) "Skyscraper" – 3:40
 * 7) "Damn Good" – 5:49
 * 8) "Hot Dog and a Shake" – 3:19
 * 9) "Stand Up" (Roth, Tuggle) – 4:39
 * 10) "Hina" – 4:41
 * 11) "Perfect Timing" (Roth, Tuggle) – 3:41
 * 12) "Two Fools a Minute" – 4:29


 * Tracks 1 & 2 are from the Crazy from the Heat EP.

Personnel

 * The Band
 * David Lee Roth – vocals
 * Steve Vai – guitar, horn (alto)
 * Billy Sheehan – bass guitar, backing vocals
 * Gregg Bissonette – drums, percussion, backing vocals
 * Brett Tuggle – keyboards, programming, backing vocals


 * Guest musicians
 * Gary Falcone – backing vocals on tracks 1 and 9
 * Joe Pizzulo – backing vocals on track 1
 * Tommy Funderburk, Tom Kelly – backing vocals on track 2
 * John Batdorf – backing vocals on track 9
 * Magic Moreno – backing vocals on track 10
 * Dr. Funk, PhD – bass synthesizer
 * Todd Grace, Richie Raposa – programming, keyboard programming


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

Chart positions
Album

Singles