Skyscraper is the second full-length studio album by David Lee Roth, released during his solo career after his departure from Van Halen. It was released on January 25, 1988, on Warner Bros. Records, shortly after the commercially and critically successful Eat 'Em and Smile Tour of 1986–1987.

Development

In a 2022 interview with Eonmusic, Vai said that the song "Damn Good" was developed from a piece called "Scandinavian Air Solo", originally slated to appear on his Passion and Warfare album.

Track listing

All songs were written by David Lee Roth and Steve Vai unless otherwise noted. Covers of "California Girls" and "Just a Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody", from Roth's 1985 Crazy from the Heat EP, are on some CD re-releases in Europe.

Reception

Skyscraper was received with divided public and critical opinion. Although Roth's 1988 Skyscraper Tour was successful, many fans and critics were disappointed by Van Halen's post-Roth, keyboard-heavy sound and expressed similar dissatisfaction with Skyscraper. Skyscraper hit No. 6 on the Billboard Top 200 U.S. album chart during February 1988, toward selling two million copies in the United States. "Just Like Paradise" is one of Roth's most popular singles, reaching No. 6 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. The acoustic ballad "Damn Good" reached No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard Rock chart. Cash Box called "Stand Up" an "engaging, catchy rock song, with a funky danceable groove" and "Damn Good" a "satisfying and artistic effort".

Charts

Weekly charts

Certifications

Personnel

The band Guest musicians Production