OU812 by Van Halen (CD, May-1988, Warner Bros. Records Record Label)

Track listing
1. Mine All Mine
2. When Its Love
3. A.F.U. (Naturally Wired)
4. Cabo Wabo
5. Source Of Infection
6. Feels So Good
7. Finish What Ya Started
8. Black And Blue
9. Sucker In A 3 Piece
10. A Apolitical Blues


Details
Playing time: 50 min.
Producer: Van Halen
Distributor: WEA
Recording type: Studio
Recording mode: Stereo
SPAR Code: n/a


Album notes
Van Halen: Sammy Hagar (vocals); Eddie Van Halen (guitar, keyboards); Michael Anthony (bass); Alex Van Halen (drums, percussion).
Recorded at 5150 Studios, Hollywood, California.
In the late '80s, both Van Halen and David Lee Roth were at their commercial peaks, with the two camps competing fiercely against each other for Top 10 dominance. While lacking the overall crunch of earlier albums, OU812 does take the band into credible pop/electronic territory. Showing that party rock can grow and develop, the album contains some premium musicianship.
"Mine All Mine" features Ed Van Halen's continued use of synthesizers and is an introspective tune about believing in one's self. "When It's Love" is a catchy power ballad that continued the band's streak of Top 10 hits, along with "Finish What Ya Started," with its good-natured country licks. "Feels So Good," a 180-degree turn from the heavy rock of the band's early days, is a keyboard-driven pop ditty. The band doesn't totally stray from its roots though, as "Black And Blue" is a greasy, bluesy salute to an active sex life.

ONE OF THIER BETTER ALBUMS WITH SAMMY HAGGAR INSTEAD OF DAVID LEE ROTH ALOT OF GREAT SONGS. IF YOU HAVE NOT LISTENED TO IT YOU SHOULD IT IS A VERY GOOD ALBUM

great album, van halens best without eddie sammy stills rocks!!!!!!!!!!!! After this album they all went down hill!!!!!!!!

awsome c/d!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!​!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!​!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!​!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!​!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!​!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I loved the transition of Sammy and what he contributed to the band. Im not particularly fond of the love ballots and like things a little heavier. This cd is a must for those multi thousand song mp3 players.

Van Halen essentially morphed into a harder edged version of Survivor when Sammy Hagar took position in the band. His fault? No - Edward Van Halen's fault. After tasting the success of hit singles with "Jump", Edward figured that Van Halen's reputation as a dangerous rock and roll band was less important than radio friendly keyboard songs about love and Cabo, and Sammy of course was more than happy to go along for the ride, himself having experienced superstardom as lead singer of Van Halen that he'd never had previously as a solo artist.

Michael Anthony's bass is buried under a synth-heavy mix, and this sounds nothing like the classic Van Halen that conquered the world in the late '70s and early '80s. Although OU812 is radio-friendly fluff, generic garbage at best, it's the last listenable album that Van Halen ever recorded.