  
It's hard to believe it, but its 40 years since Sammy Hagar rose to success in the rock world, as a member of Montrose. After leaving the band he pursued a solo career until he hit the headlines when he took over from David Lee Roth as singer of Van Halen. Samy Hagar remained with Van Halen for over ten years before leaving and resuming a solo career. A short reunion with Van Halen, along with solo work and working with HSAS and Chickenfoot means he's been a busy man. He's now about to release his latest solo album - "Sammy Hagar and Friends" - his first solo album for five years.
So, with a title like "Sammy Hagar and friends" then its fairly clear he's got some guests joining him on the album, and looking at the list it's a seriously impressive collection of musical friends. The list includes Kid Rock, Nancy Wilson (Heart), Ronnie Dunn (Brooks & Dunn), Michael Anthony (ex-Van Halen, Chickenfoot), Neal Schon (Journey), Chad Smith (Chickenfoot), Joe Satriani, Bill Church & Denny Carmassi (Montrose), The Wabos and more. See the full list of who plays on what tracks at the bottom of this review.
Musically the album is rock with a bit of country and some blues thrown in. The songs are generally quite short and have extra impact as a result - four of the songs clock in at under three minutes which is quite unusual these days yet during the sixties was very common for singles.
Brief comments on a few tracks..
My favourite cover on the album is Sammy Hagar's version of "Personal Jesus". It's been given a nice swampy blues-rock sound, but then to counter-balance this, the backing singers add a touch of gospel to it with their refrain of "Jesus" every time Hagar sings the words "Personal Jesus". It works beautifully
"Father son" is probably my least favourite song on the album. it's got two quite distinct sections - a great rock chorus section, and a much more folk sounding section with accordion, and its that section that I'm just not keen on - the accordion isn't exactly my favourite instrument. Despite all this it's still a very good song - its just that up against the other songs on the album, this doesn't impress as much as the other songs do.
"Knockdown dragout" is a great heavy song. Sammy Hagar shares vocal duties with Kid Rock on a song that can't be listened to quietly - it's one of those songs that makes you want to turn the volume all the way up.
"Ramblin' Gamblin' Man" is a nice guitar driven heavy rock track, and features a nice guitar solo - a great cover of this Bob Seger song.
Thanks largely to the pedal steel along with the slower pace, "All we need is an island" has quite a different feel to most of the other tracks. It's a great song though, and it's nice to hear something different like this.
A great album - highly recommended.
"Sammy Hagar & Friends" will be released on 27th September 2013 through Frontiers records
Track listing:
1. Winding Down
2. Not Going Down
3. Personal Jesus
4. Father Sun
5. Knockdown Dragout
6. Ramblin' Gamblin' Man
7. Bad On Fords And Chevrolets
8. Margaritaville
9. All We Need Is An Island
10. Going Down (Live In Studio-Take 1)
11. Space Station #5 (Live From Ronnie Montrose Tribute Concert) (Bonus Track Deluxe Edition only)
DVD:
Knockdown Dragout (videoclip) – “Making of the Album” documentary
Sammy Hagar & Friends
1. Winding Down
written by Sammy Hagar
Lead Vocals: Sammy Hagar & Taj Mahal
Electric, acoustic and dobro guitars: Dave Zirbel
2nd acoustic guitar: Sammy Hagar
Percussion: John Cuniberti
Backing Vocals: Mona Gnader & Vic Johnson
2. Not Going Down
written by Jay Buchanan
Lead Vocal: Sammy Hagar
Guitars: Vic Johnson & Sammy Hagar
Bass: Bill Church
Lap Steel: Dave Zirbel
Drums: Denny Carmassi
Backing Vocals: Claytoven Richardson, Sandy Griffith & Omega Rae
3. Personal Jesus
written by Martin Gore
Lead Vocal: Sammy Hagar
Guitar: Neal Schon
Bass: Michael Anthony
Drums: ChadSmith
Backing Vocals: Claytoven Richardson, Sandy Griffith & Omega Rae
4. Father Sun
written by Sammy Hagar
Lead Vocal: Sammy Hagar
Guitars: Vic Johnson & Sammy Hagar
Lap Steel: Sammy Hagar
Bass: Mona Gnader
Accordion: Andre Thiery
Mandolin: James DePrato
Drums & percussion: Denny Carmassi
Backing Vocals: Sammy & Aaron Hagar, John and Erica Cuniberti
5. Knockdown Dragout
written by Dennis Hill, Ken Livingston, Kyle Homme, Stephen
Garvy, Kevin Baldes, Sammy Hagar
Lead Vocals: Sammy Hagar & Kid Rock
Guitars: Vic Johnson & Sammy Hagar
Solo guitar: Joe Satriani
Drums: Denny Carmassi
Bass: Mona Gnader
Percussion: John Cuniberti
Lead Vocals: Sammy Hagar & Kid Rock
Backing Vocals: Everybody
6. Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man
written by Bob Seger
Lead Vocals: Sammy Hagar
Guitars: Vic Johnson & Sammy Hagar
Solo guitar: Sammy Hagar
Drums: David Lauser
Bass: Mona Gnader
Organ: Susie Davis
Percussion: John Cuniberti
Lead Vocals: Sammy Hagar
Backing Vocals: Mona Gnader, Vic Johnson,
Claytoven Richardson, SandyGriffith & Omega Rae
7. Bad On Fords and Chevrolets
written by Ronnie Dunn, Ray Wylie Hubbard
Lead Vocals: Sammy Hagar & Ronnie Dunn
Guitars: Vic Johnson & Sammy Hagar
Lap Steel: Dave Zirbel
Drums: David Lauser
Bass: Mona Gnader
Piano: Audie Delone
Backing Vocals: Mona Gnader & Vic Johnson
8. Margaritaville
written by Jimmy Buffett
Lead vocal: Sammy Hagar & Toby Keith
Percussion:Karl Perazza
Upright Bass:Ruth Davies
Drums: Paul Revelli
Guitar:William Kirchen
Electric Piano & accordion: Austin de Lone
Background vocals: Mona Gnader & Caroline de Lone
10. All We Need Is An Island
written by Sammy Hagar
Vocals: Sammy Hagar & Nancy Wilson
Acoustic guitar: Sammy Hagar
Pedal Steel & TahitianUkulele: Dave Zirbel
Drums: Mickey Hart
10. Going Down(Live in Studio-Take 1)
written by Don Nix
Lead Vocal: Sammy Hagar
Guitar: Neal Schon
Bass: Michael Anthony
Drums: ChadSmith |
