Skyscraper

Personnel: David Lee Roth (vocals); Steve Vai (acoustic & electric guitars); Brett Tuggle (keyboards, programming, background vocals); Billy Sheehan (electric & fretless basses, background vocals); Gregg Bissonette (drums, percussion, background vocals); Richie Raposa (programming); Magic Moreno, Gary Falcone, Joe Pizzulo, Tom Kelly, Tom Funderburk (background vocals). For his second full-length solo album, 1988's SKYSCRAPER, David Lee Roth decided to experiment with his expected heavy-rock style. Synthesizers played more of a prominent role than they had in the raging hard rock of EAT 'EM AND SMILE, and Billy Sheehan's bass heroics were toned down a few notches (resulting in his exit from the band just after the record's release). Guitarist Steve Vai co-produced the album with Roth, providing another key factor in the music's new direction. Vai, previously a member of Frank Zappa's band, gave SKYSCRAPER a quirky edge. On SKYSCRAPER, Roth stresses songwriting over instrumental virtuosity this time around-with often-grand results. The epic, sonically rich title track was comparable to little else at the time (or, for that matter, anything else since), while the single "Just Like Paradise" was the top-ten hit that pushed SKYSCRAPER to platinum status. Other highlights include the new wave dance sounds of "Stand Up," the gorgeous pop rocker "Hina" (which deserved to be a single), the nostalgic acoustic ballad "Damn Good," and the rockers "Knucklebones," "The Bottom Line," and "Hot Dog and a Shake." Unfortunately, SKYSCRAPER and the subsequent tour marked the last collaborations between Vai and Roth.