Crazy from the Heat is a EP by David Lee Roth, released on January 28 1985. His debut solo recording, it was released while Roth was still lead singer for Van Halen, though he parted ways with the band several weeks later and launched a solo career. The EP is certified platinum by the RIAA, having sold more than one million copies in the United States.
Crazy from the Heat consists of cover versions of songs of a decidedly dissimilar style from Roth’s previous work with Van Halen. The song Easy Street was originally recorded by The Edgar Winter Group, while Coconut Grove was originally recorded by The Lovin’ Spoonful.
The medley of Just a Gigolo and I Ain’t Got Nobody is based on Louis Prima’s 1956 medley combining two pre-World War II songs. This version peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100, supported by a well-received music video. Roth‘s version of the well known Beach Boys‘ hit California Girls peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, the same position that the Beach Boys‘ original rendition reached 20 years prior.
According to the EP’s liner notes, the cover picture of Roth was shot in the Seychelle Islands. Roth used the title of the EP for his 1997 autobiography, Crazy from the Heat, and his future solo song “Goin’ Crazy” uses the line “Goin Crazy… from the heat.”
Tracklist:
- Easy Street
- Medley: Just a Gigolo/I Ain’t Got Nobody
- California Girls
- Coconut Grove
Credits
David Lee Roth: vocals
Dean Parks: guitar on “Coconut Grove”
Eddie Martinez: guitars
Sid McGinnis: guitars
Willie Weeks: bass guitar
John Robinson: drums
Sammy Figueroa: percussion
James Newton Howard – synthesizers on “Coconut Grove”
Edgar Winter: keyboards, synthesizer, saxophone and backing vocals on tracks 1, 2 & 3
Brian Mann: synthesizer
Carl Wilson: backing vocals on “California Girls”
Christopher Cross: backing vocals on “California Girls”
