The ’80s hard rock, glam and hair metal scene was wild, insane, ambitious, outrageous. There were albums selling millions of copies, and millions of dollars were also invested in bands and albums. There were talented musicians, gigs that changed lives, there were people who were at the right time in the right place, there was a lot of hairspay, colour, sweat, sex and drugs. There were great albums that stood the test of time, albums that sucked, image over music, and there were also great bands that sold-out huge venues but later were dropped in small clubs. One of the most successful, both artistic and commercial bands of that era, was the one with David Lee Roth, Eddie Van Halen, Michael Anthony and Alex Van Halen.
After recording six studio albums with Van Halen and meeting huge commercial success, the blonde singer, acrobat-dancer and golden frontman David Lee Roth, parted ways with the multi-platinum and diamond-selling band. While still with Van Halen, during the year they released 1984, Lee Roth recorded the 4-song EP Crazy from the Heat including cover songs, and it was released at the beginning of 1985. A few months later, David Lee Roth officially left Van Halen to pursue a solo career. In 1986, he released his first solo full-length under the title Eat ‘Em and Smile with an all-star band including Steve Vai (guitars), Billy Sheehan (bass) and Gregg Bissonette (drums).
Produced by Ted Templemen, Van Halen’s producer and also the man behind albums from bands and artists such as The Doobie Brothers, Van Morrison, and Montrose, Eat ‘Em and Smile was a commercial success, but it also had another side, a funny paradox in the music history. There is also a Spanish version of the album, not just a regular Spanish release, but a version in the Spanish language!
There was the idea to re-record the album in Spanish because they believed that there was a huge Spanish-speaking market of young people buying records. However, the album wasn’t really re-recorded, and it was just Lee Roth who re-recorded the vocals in the Spanish language, also editing a few of the naughty lyrics during the translation. The Spanish version was named Sonrisa Salvaje and it translates to Wild Smile.
Sonrisa Salvaje tracklist:
01. Yankee Rose
02. Tímido (Shyboy)
03. Soy Fácil (I’m Easy)
04. Noche De Ronda En La Ciudad (Ladies’ Nite In Buffalo)
05. Loco Del Calor! (Goin’ Crazy!)
06. La Calle Del Tabacco (Tobacco Road)
07. Arma De Caza Mayor (Elephant Gun)
08. En Busca De Pleito (Big Trouble)
09. Cuánto Frenesí (Bump And Grind)
10. Así Es La Vida (That’s Life)
Eat ‘Em and Smile was a success, but Sonrisa Salvaje wasn’t well received. It was dropped quickly, and many people wanted to forget it, especially the ones involved. It was a release that many people don’t even know about. It was a wacky, awkward paradox of the ’80s, an album that could only be released in the ’80s.
David Lee Roth photo by Ross Marino.
