OU812

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OU812
OU812 cover
Studio album by Van Halen
Released May 24, 1988
Recorded 1987 at 5150 Studios, Hollywood, CA
Genre Hard rock
Length 50:09
Label Warner Bros.
Producer(s) Van Halen, Donn Landee
Professional reviews
Van Halen chronology
5150
(1986)		 OU812
(1988)		 For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
(1991)


OU812 is the eighth album by American hard rock band Van Halen, released in 1988. The album title is a joke on former band member David Lee Roth's 1986 album Eat'em and Smile (OU812 translates phonetically to "Oh, you ate one too?")

[edit] Track listing

all songs by the band, except where noted

[edit] Side One

  1. "Mine All Mine" – 5:11
  2. "When It's Love" – 5:36†
  3. "A.F.U. (Naturally Wired)" – 4:28
  4. "Cabo Wabo" – 7:03†

[edit] Side Two

  1. "Source of Infection" – 3:58
  2. "Feels So Good" – 4:27†
  3. "Finish What Ya Started" – 4:20†
  4. "Black and Blue" – 5:24†
  5. "Sucker in a 3 Piece" – 5:52
  6. "A Apolitical Blues" (Lowell George) – 3:50

† denotes a single

[edit] Miscellanea

The original European release (as shipped in France, Germany, Italy and the UK) is missing track 10, as are all vinyl pressings of the album. The CD and cassette versions have Track 10. (Note: some U.S. cassette versions of "OU812" did not contain Track 10.)

OU812 is interesting in its in stark contrast to Edward Van Halen's old guitar sound. Van Halen's guitar tone is heavily processed and effects-laden throughout the album, sounding almost synthesizer-like, unlike the organic "brown" sound he made famous in the late 1970s and early 1980s. One can see the next step in this transition on the next Van Halen album, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, where Edward's guitar tone is slightly more akin to his original sound, providing a better balance between old and new. An exception to this is Finish What Ya Started, a quiet, innuendo-laden plea to a girl that shows off Edward Van Halen's fingerstyle chops. One of the song's rhythm tracks features a plastic Airline guitar.

Cabo Wabo has become a focus of additional business ventures including Cabo Wabo Cantina and Cabo Wabo tequila.

Toby Keith mentions the Cabo Wabo Cantina in his song "Stays in Mexico". Keith and Sammy Hagar are friends.

Mr. Bungle named their 1989 demo, "OU818", after this album. Boston-based hardcore band Gang Green also parodied the title with their own I81B4U.

The track listing on the back cover is arranged in alphabetical order, instead of chronological.

Eddie stated in a magazine interview that he was ultimately unhappy with the final mix of the album. He said, "Sonically it sounds like [poop]".

[edit] Personnel

[edit] Production

  • Producer: Van Halen, Donn Landee
  • Engineer: Donn Landee
  • Assistant engineer: Ken Deane
  • Mastering: Bobby Hata
  • Art direction: Jeri Heiden, Maura P. McLaughlin
  • Photography: Eika Aoshima, Stuart Watson

[edit] Charts

[edit] Album

Billboard (North America)

Year Chart Position
1988 The Billboard 200 1

[edit] Singles

Billboard (North America)

Year Single Chart Position
1988 "Black and Blue" Mainstream Rock Tracks 1
1988 "Black and Blue" The Billboard Hot 100 37
1988 "Cabo Wabo" Mainstream Rock Tracks 31
1988 "Feels So Good" Mainstream Rock Tracks 6
1988 "Finish What Ya Started" Mainstream Rock Tracks 2
1988 "Finish What Ya Started" The Billboard Hot 100 13
1988 "When It's Love" Mainstream Rock Tracks 1
1988 "When It's Love" The Billboard Hot 100 5
1989 "Feels So Good" The Billboard Hot 100 35
Van Halen
David Lee Roth | Eddie Van Halen | Wolfgang Van Halen | Alex Van Halen
Sammy Hagar | Gary Cherone | Michael Anthony
Discography
Studio Albums: Van Halen | Van Halen II | Women and Children First | Fair Warning | Diver Down | 1984
5150 | OU812 | For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge | Balance | Van Halen III
Compilations, Extended Plays and Live albums: Live: Right Here, Right Now | Best of Volume I
The Best of Both Worlds
Videos and DVDs: Van Halen - Live Without a Net | Van Halen: Right Here, Right Now - Live | Van Halen: Video Hits, Vol. 1
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