Van Halen - OU812

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NME.COM feature on Van Halen - OU812 album including album review, artwork, tracks, listen now, tour dates, discography and more.

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Release date: 25 October 1990

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Van Halen - OU812: Wikipedia Album Entry

OU812 is the eighth album by American hard rock band Van Halen, released in 1988. The album title is allegedly a joke on Van Halen's previous lead singer David Lee Roth's 1986 album Eat 'Em and Smile (OU812 translates phonetically to "Oh, you ate one too?"). However, "OU812" was also seen in the 70s sitcom Taxi written on a wall. Furthermore, "OU812" is the license plate on the red Ferrari that Red and Chong drive in Cheech & Chong's Next Movie (released in 1980).

The original European release (as shipped in France, Germany, Italy and the UK) is missing track 10, as are all vinyl pressings of the album. The CD and some cassette versions have Track 10. The track listing on the back cover is arranged in alphabetical order, instead of in sequence.

Many fans derided OU812's production; Eddie Van Halen's guitar sits low in the mix, and its sound, as on 5150 does not resemble the loud, bright sound on the Roth-era albums. However, the crisp acoustic western sound and style on "Finish What Ya Started" was well received as a first for the band.

One song, "Cabo Wabo" was a reference to the band's, particularly Sammy Hagar's, love of the Mexican port town of Cabo San Lucas. The band opened a Cabo Wabo restaurant and cantina in the city, as well as other American locations. However, the venture was soon bought out to be owned by Hagar in its entirety. Hagar later parlayed this into a premium tequila brand sold around the world, Cabo Wabo.

The album is dedicated to Eddie's and Alex's father, Jan, who died that year at the age of 66. The inner linings of the album include the words, "This one's for you, pa." Jan Van Halen had previously appeared playing clarinet on one track, "Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now)," on Van Halen's 1982 album, Diver Down.

In a 2007 episode of Chuck, the unlock code to the universal remote control at the Buy More is "OU812#," an apparent reference to this album.

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