Posted on 06/06/2024 11:02:54 AM PDT by nickcarraway
David Lee Roth fans should be used to the former Van Halen frontman throwing them curveballs, so perhaps they won’t be too surprised by the latest song he’s premiered on his social media pages. Diamond Dave has debuted his own version of power-pop band Tommy Tutone’s 1981 hit “867-5309/Jenny.”
Roth has recorded a faithful cover of the song, which was a No. 4 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 for Tommy Tutone.
Roth posted his cover under the name “Jenny Jenny (That telephone song).” The tune is accompanied by a video featuring two Styrofoam mannequin heads. One of the mannequin heads resembles Roth and is wearing a headset microphone and wraparound sunglasses. The second head has female features, has bottlecaps for eyes, and is mottled with pink paint.
Roth’s Fans React to His “867-5309/Jenny” Cover
Roth’s new recording inspired a lot of fans to share their opinion about the tune in the comments section of his Instagram page.
“I know I’m supposed to hate this but….it’s pretty cool,” one fan wrote. “Dave ain’t lost nothing, it’s just a different Diamond Dave. I dig it, we’re lucky to have him.”
Another commented, “I need these songs available on cd or vinyl, please, make it happen!”
A third fan wrote, “Traveling back to the 80’s with Dave is a fun trip.”
About Roth’s Recent Recordings
During the last few years, Roth has posted a variety of previously unreleased tracks on his official website and social media pages. He’s also made some of these songs available as digital downloads and via streaming services.
Many of the tracks were originally featured in The Roth Project, an interactive comic book Roth debuted in 2020. The online presentation boasted a soundtrack that included tracks Roth recorded several years earlier in collaboration with current Mötley Crüe guitarist John 5.
In 2022 and 2023, Roth also posted new versions of several Van Halen songs that he recorded with studio musicians.
More About “867-5309/Jenny”
“867-5309/Jenny” appeared on Tommy Tutone’s second album, Tommy Tutone 2. The song was co-written by Jim Keller, the band’s lead guitarist, and Alex Call, who’d been the lead singer, guitarist, and principal songwriter of the Bay Area group Clover.
Drummer John Cowsill, a member of the family band The Cowsills, sang backing vocals and played percussion on the track. In recent years, Cowsill has played drums with The Beach Boys.
Great song, great singer.
“A third fan wrote, “Traveling back to the 80’s with Dave is a fun trip.”
Probably a little off topic but I’m sorry I certainly disagree with that. I was 18 when VH first album came out and I saw them live several times.....Roth is a proper jackass.....always has been, always will be.
Last show I saw live happened to be the very last show of that tour and he was so drunk he forgot the words to several songs and eventually climed up on a speaker cabinet, layed down, refused to come down and refused to sing at all.
He resented Eddie Van Halen for his talent and mentally tortured him for that reason for years.
A very small person with very little character IMO.
Sorry, just had to get that out.
Underrated singer who can do any genre credibly, from blues to jazz to new wave.
Why would Eddie Van Halen allow that, since he was in charge?
Ping
“A third fan wrote, “Traveling back to the 80’s with Dave is a fun trip.”
Like Dave said, in the 80s “The Music Smiled, The Clothes Smiled, and the People Smiled”.
From what I’ve heard, Eddie wasn’t the driving force, it was Alex. Eddie just wanted to play and not deal with the drama.
Well, they did eventually kick Roth out of the band, much like another primadonna Dennis DeYoung of Styx, they probably had the band believing they couldn’t make it without ‘em. Both bands finally had enough and found more agreeable bandmates.
Styx got Lawrence Gowan and VH got Sammie Hagar.....very similar scenarios IMO.
I saw a documentary recently about Roth and in it Valerie Bertinelli had some choice things to say about that joker.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not attacking roths singing ability....but his behavior doesn’t overcome being a total A-hole....not to me anyway.
He is weird as hell. I grew up loving VH but could never stand Roth. He just comes across as phony and not genuine. It’s like he is playing diamond dave not that he really is Diamond Dave.
I’m not really a fan, but I though Roth left because they were becoming too keyboardy, then Eddie asked Patty Smyth to be the singer.
Yes, but for their audience, wasn’t that a feature, not a bug?
Anywho, here's the entire album on YouTube.
“for their audience, wasn’t that a feature, not a bug?”
Like I said, not when you pay your hard earned money for a ticket only to see the lead singer so drunk he can’t sing....40 years later and that STILL pisses me off....obviously. lol!
Enjoyed his voice on several songs and when he went solo
I had tickets for a concert in 1984
The Marine I worked next to told me he’d seen them before and that the show was awful
Well I had already bought the tickets
I went don’t remember who I took
They pretty much just jacked around on stage - I have told people that it was the worst concert I ever saw
I was surprised
No, roths official statement was he “wanted more control” got frustrated and left VH....that I DO believe......narcissists are very often control freaks.
Sorry if I hijacked your post my friend but I lived VH first hand as I was in my 20s, very much into 80s rock and remember it very well.
Roth reminds me of problem child athletes that have exceptional talent....their behavior is very often overlooked because they can perform.
The Marine I worked with who sat next to me told me
Oops 😬
he is talented, but he would have gotten farther had he gotten a little humble.
It was too much, like he had no sense of when enough was enough
Not a lot of point to his doing this except maybe that he wanted to. He brings nothing to it.
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