A Little Ain't Enough
Encyclopedia
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.
Singles – Billboard (North America)
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by David Lee Roth
David Lee Roth
David Lee Roth is an American rock vocalist, songwriter, actor, author, and former radio personality. Roth was ranked nineteenth by Hit Parader on their list of the 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Singers of All Time....
(of Van Halen
Van Halen
Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
), released in 1991. It was certified gold on April 11, 1991. Produced by Bob Rock
Bob Rock
Robert Jens Rock, , is a Canadian musician, sound engineer, and record producer best known for producing bands such as Aerosmith, The Cult, Bon Jovi, Mötley Crüe, 311, Metallica, Our Lady Peace, The Offspring and most recently Bush.-Payola$ and Rock and Hyde:Rock began his music career in Langford,...
, the album featured the lead guitar work of Jason Becker
Jason Becker
Jason Eli Becker is an American virtuoso neo-classical metal guitarist and composer. At the age of 16, he became part of the Mike Varney-produced duo Cacophony with his friend Marty Friedman. They released Speed Metal Symphony in 1987 and Go Off! in 1988...
, a then up-and-coming guitarist who was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Motor neurone disease
The motor neurone diseases are a group of neurological disorders that selectively affect motor neurones, the cells that control voluntary muscle activity including speaking, walking, breathing, swallowing and general movement of the body. They are generally progressive in nature, and can cause...
(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.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
label in 1996, it was later reissued (in remastered form) in 2007 on the Friday Music label.
Track listing
- "A Lil' Ain't Enough" (Robbie NevilRobbie NevilRobert S. "Robbie" Nevil is an American pop singer, songwriter, producer and guitarist. He is best known for his 1986 Billboard Hot 100 #2 hit, "C'est La Vie".-Life and career:...
, David Lee RothDavid Lee RothDavid Lee Roth is an American rock vocalist, songwriter, actor, author, and former radio personality. Roth was ranked nineteenth by Hit Parader on their list of the 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Singers of All Time....
) – 4:41 - "Shoot It" (Gregg BissonetteGregg BissonetteGregg Bissonette, is an American drummer. Gregg was born in a family of musicians. His father Bud Bissonette plays drums, his mother Phyllis plays piano and vibraphone, and brother Matt Bissonette plays bass guitar. Gregg started learning to play the drums at age 5 from his father...
, Nevil, Roth, Brett Tuggle) – 4:13 - "Lady Luck" (Craig GoldyCraig GoldyCraig Goldy is an American guitarist, mostly notably of the band Dio.Before Dio, he played in the bands Vengeance, Rough Cutt, and Giuffria. He replaced Jake E. Lee in Rough Cutt and was himself replaced by Amir Derakh in this group. Prior to joining Rough Cutt, he had played in the band Vengeance...
, Roth) – 4:41 - "Hammerhead Shark" (Eric Lowen, Roth, Preston Sturges) – 3:34
- "Tell the Truth" (Steve Hunter, Roth, Tuggle) – 5:18
- "Baby's on Fire" (Hunter, Roth, Tuggle) – 3:22
- "40 Below" (Hunter, Roth, Tuggle) – 4:54
- "Sensible Shoes" (Dennis Morgan, Roth, Sturges) – 5:09
- "Last Call" (Matt BissonetteMatt BissonetteMatt Bissonette is an American bass player and the brother of drummer Gregg Bissonette. He attended the University of North Texas's jazz music program. According to Guitar 9, an online musicianship magazine, he has played bass and other stringed instruments on at least 22 albums, with music...
, G. Bissonette, Rocket Ritchotte, Roth, Tuggle) – 3:22 - "The Dogtown Shuffle" (Hunter, Roth, Tuggle) – 4:58
- "It's Showtime!" (Jason BeckerJason BeckerJason Eli Becker is an American virtuoso neo-classical metal guitarist and composer. At the age of 16, he became part of the Mike Varney-produced duo Cacophony with his friend Marty Friedman. They released Speed Metal Symphony in 1987 and Go Off! in 1988...
, Roth) – 3:46 - "Drop in the Bucket" (Becker, Roth) – 5:07
Personnel
- David Lee RothDavid Lee RothDavid Lee Roth is an American rock vocalist, songwriter, actor, author, and former radio personality. Roth was ranked nineteenth by Hit Parader on their list of the 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Singers of All Time....
– vocals, harmonica, concept - Jason BeckerJason BeckerJason Eli Becker is an American virtuoso neo-classical metal guitarist and composer. At the age of 16, he became part of the Mike Varney-produced duo Cacophony with his friend Marty Friedman. They released Speed Metal Symphony in 1987 and Go Off! in 1988...
– lead guitar - Steve HunterSteve Hunter (guitarist)Steve "The Deacon" Hunter, born June 14, 1948, in Decatur, Illinois, is an American guitarist best known for his collaborations with Lou Reed and Alice Cooper. He first played with Mitch Ryder's Detroit, beginning a long association with record producer Bob Ezrin.In the 1970s, he appeared on five...
– guitar, rhythm guitar - Paul Baron – brass
- Gregg BissonetteGregg BissonetteGregg Bissonette, is an American drummer. Gregg was born in a family of musicians. His father Bud Bissonette plays drums, his mother Phyllis plays piano and vibraphone, and brother Matt Bissonette plays bass guitar. Gregg started learning to play the drums at age 5 from his father...
– percussion, drums - Matt BissonetteMatt BissonetteMatt Bissonette is an American bass player and the brother of drummer Gregg Bissonette. He attended the University of North Texas's jazz music program. According to Guitar 9, an online musicianship magazine, he has played bass and other stringed instruments on at least 22 albums, with music...
– 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 RockBob RockRobert Jens Rock, , is a Canadian musician, sound engineer, and record producer best known for producing bands such as Aerosmith, The Cult, Bon Jovi, Mötley Crüe, 311, Metallica, Our Lady Peace, The Offspring and most recently Bush.-Payola$ and Rock and Hyde:Rock began his music career in Langford,...
– 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)| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | The Billboard 200 | 18 |
Singles – Billboard (North America)
| Year | Chart | Single | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Mainstream Rock Tracks | "Sensible Shoes" | 6 |
| 1991 | Mainstream Rock Tracks | "Tell the Truth" | 39 |
| 1991 | Mainstream Rock Tracks | "A Lil' Ain't Enough" | 3 |