Eat ‘Em and Smile is the debut studio album by former Van Halen singer David Lee Roth, released on July 7, 1986, after his unpredicted successful debut EP Crazy from the Heat (1985). After releasing Crazy from the Heat, an EP of lounge standards that became a surprise hit during early 1985, and subsequently parting ways with Van Halen while the band was at its commercial zenith, Roth assembled a new backing band: bassist Billy Sheehan (later of Mr. Big); drummer Gregg Bissonette (later of Ringo Starr’s All-Star Band); and virtuoso guitarist Steve Vai, who had played with Frank Zappa, PiL, and Alcatrazz.
Roth later said that the songs written for the album were originally intended to form the soundtrack to a film, entitled Crazy from the Heat, which was never made.
Tracklist:
- Yankee Rose
- Shyboy
- I’m Easy
- Ladies’ Nite in Buffalo?
- Goin’ Crazy!
- Tobacco Road
- Elephant Gun
- Big Trouble
- Bump and Grind
- That’s Life
Credits
David Lee Roth: vocals, backing vocals
Steve Vai: guitars, horn arrangement on 3
Billy Sheehan: bass, backing vocals on 2, 3, 5, and 6
Gregg Bissonette: drums, backing vocals on 3
Additional personnel
Jeff Bova: keyboards on 1
Jesse Harms: keyboards on 5
Sammy Figueroa: percussion on 5
The Waters Family: backing vocals on 10
The Sidney Sharp Strings: strings on 10
Jimmie Haskell: horn and string arrangement on 10
