A Little Ain't Enough

A Little Ain't Enough is the third full-length album by David Lee Roth (of Van Halen), released in 1991. It was certified gold on April 11, 1991. Produced by Bob Rock, the album featured the lead guitar work of Jason Becker, a then up-and-coming guitarist who was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, aka Lou Gehrig's Disease) a week after joining the band. He managed to finish recording the album, but was unable to tour in support of the album, as his condition left him with little strength in his hands.

Sales of the album were helped by the controversy surrounding the promotional music video released for the album's first single, A Li'l Ain't Enough; featuring barely dressed women and oddly dressed little people, the video was banned from MTV shortly after its initial airing.

The album is seen as the beginning of Roth's commercial decline, as there was a drop-off in sales from his prior two albums. Timing is seen as a factor in the album not selling as successfully as his prior works. Within a year of the album's release, the Seattle grunge movement had created a sea-change in rock, and Roth's brand of hard-rock was considered, by mainstream audiences, as obsolete. Still, A Little Ain't Enough is something of a fan-favorite and many view it as his most under appreciated album. Although A Little Ain't Enough went out of print on the Warner Bros. label in 1996, it was later reissued (in remastered form) in 2007 on the Friday Music label.

Track listing

1. "A Lil' Ain't Enough" (Robbie Nevil, David Lee Roth) – 4:41
2. "Shoot It" (Gregg Bissonette, Nevil, Roth, Brett Tuggle) – 4:13
3. "Lady Luck" (Craig Goldy, Roth) – 4:41
4. "Hammerhead Shark" (Eric Lowen, Roth, Preston Sturges) – 3:34
5. "Tell the Truth" (Steve Hunter, Roth, Tuggle) – 5:18
6. "Baby's on Fire" (Hunter, Roth, Tuggle) – 3:22
7. "40 Below" (Hunter, Roth, Tuggle) – 4:54
8. "Sensible Shoes" (Dennis Morgan, Roth, Sturges) – 5:09
9. "Last Call" (Matt Bissonette, G. Bissonette, Rocket Ritchotte, Roth, Tuggle) – 3:22
10. "The Dogtown Shuffle" (Hunter, Roth, Tuggle) – 4:58
11. "It's Showtime!" (Jason Becker, Roth) – 3:46
12. "Drop in the Bucket" (Becker, Roth) – 5:07

Personnel

• David Lee Roth – vocals, harmonica, concept
• Jason Becker – lead guitar
• Steve Hunter – guitar, rhythm guitar
• Paul Baron – brass
• Gregg Bissonette – percussion, drums
• Matt Bissonette – bass, vocals
• Derry Byrne – brass
• Brian Dobbs – engineer
• Tom Keenlyside – brass
• Marc LaFrance – backing vocals
• George Marino – mastering
• Jim McGillveray – percussion
• Ian Putz – brass
• Bob Rock – producer, mixing
• Randy Staub – engineer
• David Steele – backing vocals
• Chris Taylor – engineer
• Brett Tuggle – keyboards, vocals
• John Webster – keyboards
• Pete Angelus – concept
• Jim Pezzullo – art direction, design

Charts

Album – Billboard (North America)

Singles – Billboard (North America)