OU812 is the 8th studio 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. The first person to use the phrase was Redd Foxx.[1] Furthermore, \"OU812\" is the license plate on the red Ferrari that Cheech and Chong drive in Cheech & Chong's Next Movie (released in 1980).
Van Halen started work on the album in September 1987; the album would be finished in April 1988, just one month before its release.
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.
The album is dedicated to Eddie and Alex's father, Jan, who died in December 1986 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.[2]
In a magazine interview published some years after the release of the album, Eddie Van Halen expressed his displeasure with the final mix of the album, saying \"Sonically it was shit.\"
Production :
Producer: Van Halen, Donn Landee
Engineer: Donn Landee
Assistant engineer: Ken Deane
Mastering: Bobby Hata
Art direction: Jeri Heiden, Maura P. McLaughlin
Photography: Eika Aoshima, Stuart Watson .
Members Band :
Sammy Hagar - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Eddie Van Halen - lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
Michael Anthony - bass guitar, backing vocals
Alex Van Halen - drums, percussion .
