C'mon, Dave, Throw Us a Bone

When Diamond Dave & Co. rock Tampa tonight, they will dutifully dish out all the Van Halen hits: Panama, Unchained, And the Cradle Will Rock...and there's certainly nothing wrong with that. Heck, fans would riot if they didn't hear about "Junior's grades." (Here's a link to the probable setlist.)

But I've been waiting to see these dudes play for 25 years. And I've been spinning their albums for even longer. So here's a dream playlist of deep, delicious forgotten cuts that, if dusted off after all these years, would send fans into a frenzy. (If you don't know 'em, get your tuchus to iTunes. Hear About It Later is their best song ever, man!)

1. Hear About It Later (from 1981's Fair Warning): This sucker was meant for midnight. (LISTEN)
2. Take Your Whiskey Home (from 1980's Women and Children First): Behind the fastest-fingers showboating, Eddie is a gutbucket bluesman.
3. Bottoms Up! (from 1979's Van Halen II): Rowdy rock goodness served straight up.
4. Drop Dead Legs (from 1984's 1984): Randy and irresistible, much like DLR himself. (WATCH)
5. Me Wise Magic (from 1996's Best Of: Volume I): Silly voodoo from their aborted '96 reunion.
6. Top Jimmy (from 1984): The most underrated cut on their best album? Discuss.
7. Feel Your Love Tonight (from 1978's Van Halen): With that hook, this should have been a smash.
8. Where Have All the Good Times Gone! (from 1982's Diver Down): Their second-best Kinks cover.
9. Fools (from Women and Children First): Such tough boys, such sweet harmonies.
10. Sinner's Swing! (from Fair Warning): Might as well be the VH anthem.

Comments

[Marissa]

It's just like you to tell us to toss out what we and everybody and their brothers know about VH. You dare us to dig deep and discover something that isn't mainstream VH. You are one btchn dude, Daly. Muchas Gracias!

[jane]

Just when I was all set to have a day of listening to Bauhaus/Peter Murphy, the Replacements and Hüsker Dü, I come across this and change gears. Completely.

And yes, I got my tuchus (LOVE this word) over to iTunes to fill in the gaps in my VH collection, as you directed.

My two cents: There's no way in hell they'll play this tonight, but my favorite underappreciated VH tune is "Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now)" off Diver Down. Not just because I have my own Sweet William boy-child, but because it's a cheeky tune that features Papa Van Halen on clarinet. How cool is that.

[Spears]

I'll be with Mr. Daly tonight, rockin' out, screaming my head off, trying to sing along to "So This Is Love?"

And searching in vain for that classic VH logo concert shirt ... in size XXXL.

[Marissa]

I wonder if the female VH fans of the 80s will be flashing Diamond Dave? He'll have to look a little lower than he did in the 80s, but I'm betting the 'girls' will be out.

[Sean Daly]

Those XXXL shirts are gonna be pricey. It might be cheaper if I buy two XLs and just stitch them together.

[sparky]

You can't have a VH list of songs without Everybody Wants Some. Still see the dancing hamburger from Better Off Dead whenever the song is played.

[Sean Daly]

Sparky, Sparky, Sparky -- dude, that's a hit, a smash, a classic. We're talking deep album cuts here.

[sparky]

It's Alive, Daly. It's Alive!

[sparky]

I have always been partial to In a Simple Rhyme and So this Is Love? also.

[jane]

"Feel Your Love Tonight" -- shoulda been a hit. Definitely.

"Hear About It Later" -- totally meant to accompany a bit of drinkin' and contemplatin'.

My favorite on your list: "Take Your Whisky Home." It cooks, man.

[Bassnote]

Sean, great list of VH deep cuts. I always loved 'Take Your Whiskey Home'.

[Al]

Amen, Mr. Daly, Amen.

Enjoy the show boys!

"Pistons poppin'.....ain't no stopppin nooooow......PANAMA!"