This podcast is exceptional! Stumbled upon the snipers on apple while traveling for work and no less than 5 minutes into the first one, I’m furiously looking for my wallet to subscribe! Had a 6 hour car ride yesterday and loved the deep dive into 5150 and Balance. Amazing insights and terrific content.
Your technical dissection of the songs, style and feel helps this fan realize why I loved EVH and VH so much!
Just finished the VH 3 ( Ep. 18 ). Loved it ( I didn't have any audio problems on my system ). I REALLY loved the additional " live " commentary with Blues and James ( I could SWEAR that Blues often sounds like Ben Stiller!! ). I think having multiple commentaries on future episodes could be a extra fun avenue to pursue.
As far as my own thoughts on VH3:
-I liked the album when it came out. But, when I bought the guitar tab book for it in 1999, I realized that Ed was a layering genius. There is so much audio candy on this album ( there are several sections in the tab book that reference " edit " points for some of Ed's solos, implying that there were probably multiple takes done on certain sections ). " From Afar " had several edit points ( and, funny enough, features the Kramer Stereo Ripley guitar, one of which was used for " Top Jimmy " ). You can also hear a cello in the background in a few places ( Ed perhaps? ).
-Bringing up some key points of the " out of phase " engineering. There used to be an old VH style fan club called " The Inside " magazine. In one of those issues, the club interviewed several personnel for the album ( I can't remember if it was Erwin Musper, Mike Frasier or Eddy Schreyer-who also mastered the album ). The content of those interviews included mentions that Edward had recorded drum parts for several songs in demo form but were not properly recorded.
-The transcription to " A Year To The Day " looks exactly the same ( note wise ) to the main melody to " New World/Without You " except in minor and not major. My thinking was that Edward was creating a concept of " New World " throughout the album with an emphasis on that melody ( I can hear it also on " How Many Say I " as well ).
-" Fire In The Hole " has a breakdown in the verse which was taken from a verse section in " Summer Nights. "
-Michael Anthony recently did a podcast interview explaining that he wasn't on most of VH3, claiming he was on 3 songs alone ( although it wasn't clarified as to which three songs ).
Overall, good album and ( in some ways ) the kind of album that Edward NEEDED to make so that he could get it out of his system.
Dave, I appreciate that review, and the generous take you have of an artist trying for something. This episode made me a little uncomfortable. I think it’s all the laughing & general disrespect overall. Too often we love our heroes until they disappoint us.
The first time I heard this album was in the days after Eddie passed. With that view, there were parts that were quite poignant. In the end the problem was with slapping a Van Halen logo on it. It should’ve been an Eddie Van Halen project, and Gary should’ve been allowed to be Gary.
And finally, let’s hear it for producers, collaborators, who call musicians on their shit, fight and argue, and in the end get something the public wants to hear. I think next episode with John Shanks will confirm a lot of that. John was willing to work hard to make the last studio album happen.
This album needed a counterforce, someone for Eddie to trust. I wish he had tried for this music when Wolfgang was older.
When I first uploaded the audio I selected the wrong file by mistake. I have replaced the file and the audio is being reprocessed. Sorry about that! It should be working correctly in a few minutes.
I just finished listening while running. Fantastic stuff and fantastically honest, as expected. Thanks for all you do; I’m a huge fan of both yours and your Dad’s music.
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Dweezil,
This podcast is exceptional! Stumbled upon the snipers on apple while traveling for work and no less than 5 minutes into the first one, I’m furiously looking for my wallet to subscribe! Had a 6 hour car ride yesterday and loved the deep dive into 5150 and Balance. Amazing insights and terrific content.
Your technical dissection of the songs, style and feel helps this fan realize why I loved EVH and VH so much!
Mike
2 NEW episodes since Iast visited! AWESOME!
Just finished the VH 3 ( Ep. 18 ). Loved it ( I didn't have any audio problems on my system ). I REALLY loved the additional " live " commentary with Blues and James ( I could SWEAR that Blues often sounds like Ben Stiller!! ). I think having multiple commentaries on future episodes could be a extra fun avenue to pursue.
As far as my own thoughts on VH3:
-I liked the album when it came out. But, when I bought the guitar tab book for it in 1999, I realized that Ed was a layering genius. There is so much audio candy on this album ( there are several sections in the tab book that reference " edit " points for some of Ed's solos, implying that there were probably multiple takes done on certain sections ). " From Afar " had several edit points ( and, funny enough, features the Kramer Stereo Ripley guitar, one of which was used for " Top Jimmy " ). You can also hear a cello in the background in a few places ( Ed perhaps? ).
-Bringing up some key points of the " out of phase " engineering. There used to be an old VH style fan club called " The Inside " magazine. In one of those issues, the club interviewed several personnel for the album ( I can't remember if it was Erwin Musper, Mike Frasier or Eddy Schreyer-who also mastered the album ). The content of those interviews included mentions that Edward had recorded drum parts for several songs in demo form but were not properly recorded.
-The transcription to " A Year To The Day " looks exactly the same ( note wise ) to the main melody to " New World/Without You " except in minor and not major. My thinking was that Edward was creating a concept of " New World " throughout the album with an emphasis on that melody ( I can hear it also on " How Many Say I " as well ).
-" Fire In The Hole " has a breakdown in the verse which was taken from a verse section in " Summer Nights. "
-Michael Anthony recently did a podcast interview explaining that he wasn't on most of VH3, claiming he was on 3 songs alone ( although it wasn't clarified as to which three songs ).
Overall, good album and ( in some ways ) the kind of album that Edward NEEDED to make so that he could get it out of his system.
Dave, I appreciate that review, and the generous take you have of an artist trying for something. This episode made me a little uncomfortable. I think it’s all the laughing & general disrespect overall. Too often we love our heroes until they disappoint us.
The first time I heard this album was in the days after Eddie passed. With that view, there were parts that were quite poignant. In the end the problem was with slapping a Van Halen logo on it. It should’ve been an Eddie Van Halen project, and Gary should’ve been allowed to be Gary.
And finally, let’s hear it for producers, collaborators, who call musicians on their shit, fight and argue, and in the end get something the public wants to hear. I think next episode with John Shanks will confirm a lot of that. John was willing to work hard to make the last studio album happen.
This album needed a counterforce, someone for Eddie to trust. I wish he had tried for this music when Wolfgang was older.
This upload seems to start halfway through the interview. Am I missing something here?
Hi Bernie,
When I first uploaded the audio I selected the wrong file by mistake. I have replaced the file and the audio is being reprocessed. Sorry about that! It should be working correctly in a few minutes.
Have you checked it to see if it works for you? It should be all set.
I just finished listening while running. Fantastic stuff and fantastically honest, as expected. Thanks for all you do; I’m a huge fan of both yours and your Dad’s music.
RWTD Ep -17 Andy Wood Balance and Ep-18 Blues Saraceno + James Santiago VH III are both available now. I'm working on the next episode this week.