SAMMY HAGAR

Sammy Hagar is one of the finest rock and front men in the business. He has had a successful solo career, fronted one of the biggest rock bands in history, Van Halen. And on top of that he has worked with and has the respect of the rock community.
Sammy may not have the best voice out there, but he packs an emotional wallop in his songs. Sammy may not be the best guitarist out there, but he can handle his own against the best. He may not be the
best stage persona, but he has fun on stage, and brings the audience along for the fun. Sammy's song writing at times seems pigeon holed, but he does it good, and will still step out into the political or religion area and have his say. So what makes Sammy one of the best front men out there, all the above, and a love for what he does. It shows on every cd. I may not like everything he has done, but Sammy holds to his guns, and lets it rip. The cds below are what I have, and with the new Chickenfoot cd, now is a good time to see how it compares to the rest.




Chickenfoot-2009 (B+)


A new "super group" of veteran rockers, lead by Hagar on vocals, with his musical buddy from Van Halen, Micheal Anthony on bass. Joe Satriani, is the guitarist, and Red Hot Chilly Peppers drummer, Chad Smith fills out the band. What a combination, I didn't know whether to run and hide or strap on my headphones and crank it up. Not being a big Chilly Pepper fan and not having followed Satriani career that much, I was in doubt about this cd. But hearing Mike and Sam together again was what made me crank it up. I am glad I did. This cd starts off with a bang and heads along at warp speed. Sometimes the music seems ready to jump off the disk. The first 4 songs Avenida Revolucion, Soap On A Rope, Sexy Little Thing and Oh Yeah, along with Get It Up and Learning To Fall make for a great rock and roll cd. The band for the most parts seem to click very well together, still a little issue with the drummer, but he moved up a notch in my book. Satriani I like his style, got 6 of cds on the way. What can I say about Sammy and Mike, other than BAM!!!! In your face rock, lets see if Dave, Eddie and little wolfie can beat this!





Sammy Hagar-1977- (C+)

First record of Hagar's I ever owned. This cd hasn't really stood the test of time that well. The are a hand full of good tunes Red, Rock-n-Roll Weekend are the best of them, while Filmore Shuffle and Cruisin and Boozin feel out the rest the decent songs. C&B musically, is good , but hate the thought of drinking and driving with your buddies, now a days, sends shivers down my spine. Rest of the cd is filler and the songs really are slightly below average.



Danger Zone-1979 (C)


This outing by the Red Rocker contains some good songs also. Love Or Money, Bad Reputation, Iceman and Run For Your Life. But as with Sammy early work, the songs were either good or bad, and it is about 50/50 on this outing. Production is better this time too. Sammy plays with a gusto on all the songs, it just that all the songs aren't worth the effort.





Musical Chairs-1981 (B-)


This is were Sammy started coming into his own. Chairs is a raw energy filled cd. The songs are all good. There are no songs that have "filler" written all over them. Reckless, Turn Up The Music, You Make Me Crazy, and Someone Out There are the stand outs on this cd. Turn Up The Music is one of my top 10 Hagar songs. And he has done something here that was really lacking on his earlier efforts, you want to listen to the whole cd, and some of the songs have you singing along.



Standing Hampton- 1981 (A)

This is my favorite Hagar cd. From front to back it rocks. If Hagar came into his own on Musical Chairs, he kicked it into overdrive with this outing. I'll Fall In Love Again, Heavy Metal, Sweet Hitchhiker, Baby's On Fire, and my favorite Hagar, There's Only One Way To Rock. Production on this cd is the best yet to this point, not to raw and not to polished, it adds just the right kick without overdoing it. Not a bad song on this cd, the music is tight, the vocals are powerful and Hagar is at his best. There is only one way to rock with Hagar, LOUD!

Live 1980-1983 (D)

I wanted so bad to like this cd when it came out in 83. The performance and production does nothing to catch Sammy at his best, and that is on stage. Cd (record then) was recorded in 1980 so nothing from his last two fine recordings, Standing Hampton and Musical Chairs are on here. I feel it was released to catch some sales on Hagar's new found popularity. Song selection is ok, and the cd may be better if it was remastered. But for now it is the low man on the totem pole.

3 Lock Box-1983 (B)

Again Hagar delivers another great cd. Many people I have talked to consider this his best pre Van Halen cd, and some his best period. I am not one 0f those people. I think the cd is good and has many good songs on it like, 3 Lock Box, Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy, Rise Of The Animal and I Don't Need Love. It is the other songs that fail to hit the mark. Remote Love and I Would Change A Thing are cringe worthy. Rest of the songs are ok, but do not offer any thing good or bad to the cd.

Through The Fire-1984 (C-)

I did not get this cd till a few years back. Never heard of it till then. Hagar and Neal Schon of Journey on one cd. The possibilities!! The cover promised this music would be on fire, just like I thought. Top Of The Rock was just that my favorite song from the cd. But then something bad happened, rest of the songs failed to capture the lead of song. What should have been an awesome musical experience turned to pain. Each track was a bigger disappoint than the last one. It wasn't until My Home Town that the guys turned it around and then it was too late. The cd may not be as really bad as I say it is. But the problem is with the greatest axeman in the business, Neal, and one of the greatest rock and roll front men, you hopes are really high for a great cd, no an outstanding cd. What we got here is a plain doctored up live cd, with ok production and just ok songwriting and playing.

V.O.A.-1984 (B)

Again back to his basic band, Hagar pull out another good cd. I Can't Drive 55, one of Sammy's best songs, starts this disk out on the right start. A hard guitar lick and a great sing along chorus that sinks its hooks in you and drags you along. The cd almost stumbles with the second song, Swept Away. The song is a little too over dramatic for it's own good. Rock Is In My Blood, Two Sides Of Love, and Don't Make Me wait are standard Hagar affair, they are still worth repeated listens. And the cd ends with the awesome Burning Down The City, some great guitar work on this song.

I Never Say Goodbye-1987 (A-)

This is my second favorite cd by Hagar, which was recorded after his first cd 5150, with Van Halen (Van Hagar). The production adds a heavy feel to the cd, which normally I do not care for, but it works here. Some of Sammy's best guitar work is on this cd, and his voice is in true form. Every song is good from the blues Standing At The Same Old Crossroads, to free flying Eagles Fly. Returning Home and Boys Night Out sound like 5150 material (which was their best cd), while the rest could have had a place on any of his last 3 studio cds. The last three songs on this cd are in my top 10 Hagar songs, Back Into You, Eagles Fly, What They Gonna Say Now. Give To Live was the hit off this cd, and probably my favorite liked song on it. A great cd.

The Best Of Sammy Hagar-1992 (A)

Of all the early Hagar "best of" collections this is the best. Pulls from all the early cds, plus has Hagar's version of his own song, that Rick Springfield made famous, I've Done Everything For You. Plus Otis Redding's' Sittin On The Dock Of The Bay with the rock Boston on backing vocals. Plus it doesn't hurt that it has all my favorite early Hagar songs, like Plain Jane, Turn Up The Music, Reckless, Bad Reputation, You Make Me Crazy. A good solid best of collection all the way around.

Unboxed- 1994 (A)

Another good collection of Sam's songs, this time from 81 to 87. The big ones are here Only One Way To Rock, Heavy Metal, I Can't Drive 55, plus many other. Two new songs Buying My Way Into Heaven and Up In Smoke are a welcome addition to the Sam club of music.

Marching To Mars-1997 (A-)

Sammy comes back to his solo career with a vengeance. Marching is a solid effort that kicks some serious butt! Little White Lie is a rocker with a blues feel to it, and Huey Lewis is playing harmonica on it too. Lie is under 3 minute and packs a punch, that makes me want to throw down on guitar, or in my case air guitar. Following along in the right Now mode, is Who Has The Right a very social commentary song about life and death. Both Sides Now is another good rocker, as is the tile track. The Meatloaf song, which Hagar wrote, is on here, Amnesty Is Granted. Meat played it out as a straight rocker, but Sammy builds it up then takes it down for a nice controlled ride with his voice at times cutting loose and taking you over the edge. rest of the songs stand out as more than just filler. Another great cd.

The Anthology-1998 (B+)

A good collection of songs from montrose to his V.O.A. cd. The songs are in chronological order and show a good selection from his early years to his right before Van Halen years.

Red Voodoo-1999 (C)

Sammy started getting away from the rocker and going more into the party mode in both persona and concerts. It was a change I didn't like. The songs are ok, and the production pretty weak. The songs are not bad, but other than Don't Fight It, I really can't find any reason to own it, unless yur a Hagar fan.

Ten 13-2000 (B)

A return to basic for Sammy here, at least on recording. Better production, writing and playing make for a better record, and that is what we got this time around. It starts off with Shaka Doobie a nice little rocker, with a nice guitar lick. Must say Sammy and his new band (from 97's cd up) are starting to gel pretty good here. Let Sally Drive, Serious Juju, Deeper Kind Of Love, and Ten 13 are the standouts, only a couple songs fall below standard fare, and the rest stay above average rock.

Not 4 Sale-2002 (B+)

Another laid back cd from Sam, that rocks! Sam must be getting older and wiser, having learned what works and what doesn't, he has laid the ground work for a great cd here. Production at times seems a little weak, but the song writng is above par. Half Way To Memphis is one of his finest songs. Stand Up, Whole Lotta Zep, Hallelujah, Things've Changed are all stand out songs on a cd full of good siongs. Sammy plays with the experience of a seasoned rocker, but with the gusto of a young one. One of My most listened to Sammy cds.



Live: Hallelujah-2003 (B)

Live, raw, loud and in your face is the best way to describe this cd. If I remember right the cd was recorded in different cities and not at one show, which I must say kinda of set me back at first. But there is no denying this Sammy at his best. Montross, Van Halen and his solo songs are here.








The Essential Red Collection-2004 (A-)

Probably the best collection of Hagar songs from early to his 1999 cd Red Voodoo. Collects some of his soundtrack songs too.

Livin' It Up-2006 (B)

A great laid back cd from Sammy, and the new songs Sam I Am and Living On A Coastline are great songs that set the mood for rest of the cd. Want rock, you got it, want some blues, it is here. want some folk sounding songs, check, want some country he got that too. A very dervierse cd for Hagar, and it comes across very clear that Sam is having a blast.

Sammy covers Dylan and Chesney along with a couple of others. Sammy's band is tight, and so is the production. Very good outing, but, there were a couple songs that I tend to skip, not because they are bad, just not my cup of tea, or in Sammy's case shot of tequila.

Cosmic Universal Fashion-2008 (D+)

I have gave this cd several listens before passing judgement. Sammy has long been one of my favorite artists, but this is crap. Sam tries to reinvent himself. I don't know what he trying to prove here, we all know he can rock, but this cd tries to be so upfront, that it is distracting. Most of the problem seems to come from the production of the cd. I don't know who produced this cd, got mine copy off Itunes, but he needs to be fired. The production is so sloppy in its attempt to sound modern and hip that it kills the songs. And for the most part the songs need to be killed. Sammy does a horrible cover of the Beaties Boys Fight For Your Right To Party, the Beastie Boys? Come on Sam, you can write better songs than this in your sleep.

The title track, Psycho Vertigo, Peephole, and When The Sun Don't Shine are the best of this poor selection. They are actually good songs, but production just about makes them unlistenable. I actually like Peephole better here even with the production better than the Soul Sirkus version that Hagar and Schon wrote for Planet Us. About the only track that Sammy's vocals don't sound like he is whinning. I thought for a while Sammy's vocie was shot unitl I heard Chickenfoot, again a casuality of poor production.

Maybe next time Sam will leave his tequila at home and pay more attention to want his going on around him.