Skyscraper (album)

Background

Skyscraper was issued shortly after the commercially and critically successful Eat 'em and Smile World Tour of 1986–1987. Skyscraper hit #6 on the Billboard Top 200 U.S. album chart during February 1988, en route to selling two million copies in the U.S. alone. The album features one of Roth's most popular international hit singles, "Just Like Paradise", which reached #6 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. Additionally, it features the acoustic ballad "Damn Good", which reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard Rock chart.

At the time of its release, the eclectic, quasi-psychedelic Skyscraper divided public and critical opinion. Retrospective reviews tend to evaluate the album more favorably.

Although Roth's 1988 Skyscraper Tour was successful, many fans and critics who had felt disappointed by Van Halen's post-Roth, keyboard-heavy sound expressed similar dissatisfaction with Skyscraper. Guitarist Steve Vai (who co-produced Skyscraper, and wrote a majority 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

Personnel

Chart positions

Album

Singles