SAMMY HAGGAR & FRIENDS
''SAMMY HAGGAR & FRIENDS''
SEPTEMBER 11 2013
36:09
1 /Winding Down
Sammy Hagar/2:29
2 /Not Going Down
Jay Buchanan/4:57
3 /Personal Jesus
Martin Gore/4:50
4 /Father Sun
Sammy Hagar/3:40
5 /Knockdown Dragout
Kevin Baldes / Stephen Garvy / Sammy Hagar / Dennis Hill / Kyle Homme / Ken Livingston/2:17
6 /Ramblin' Gamblin' Man
Bob Seger/2:36
7 /Bad on Fords and Chevrolets
Ronnie Dunn / Ray Wylie Hubbard/3:20
8 /Margaritaville
Jimmy Buffett/4:53
9 /All We Need Is an Island
Sammy Hagar/2:42
10 /Not Going Down [Live-In-Studio, Take 1]
Don Nix/4:25
Michael Anthony /Bass
Denny Carmassi /Drums, Percussion, Vocals (Background)
Bill Church /Bass
Erica Cuniberti /Vocals (Background)
John Cuniberti /Percussion, Vocals (Background)
Ruth Davies /Bass (Upright)
Susie Davis /Organ
Austin DeLone /Accordion, Piano, Piano (Electric)
James DePrato /Mandolin
Ronnie Dunn /Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Mona Gnader /Bass, Vocals (Background)
Sandy Griffith /Vocals (Background)
Aaron Hagar /Vocals (Background)
Sammy Hagar /Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Lap Steel Guitar, Soloist, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Mickey Hart /Drums
Vic Johnson /Guitar, Vocals (Background)
Toby Keith /Vocals
Kid Rock /Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Bill Kirchen /Guitar
David Lauser /Drums
Caroline De Lone /Vocals (Background)
Taj Mahal /Vocals
Karl Perazza /Percussion
Omega Rae /Vocals (Background)
Paul Revelli /Drums
Claytoven Richardson /Vocals (Background)
Joe Satriani /Guitar, Soloist, Vocals (Background)
Neal Schon /Guitar
Chad Smith /Drums
Andre Thiery /Accordion
Nancy Wilson /Vocals (Background)
Dave Zirbel /Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Lap Steel Guitar, Pedal Steel
REVIEW
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Sammy Hagar has worked hard to make his name synonymous with parties, so cutting a party record like Sammy Hagar & Friends makes perfect sense. This is all about good times with good friends, and many of the guys -- and, with the exception of Heart's Nancy Wilson, they're all guys -- helping out the Red Rocker have been in Sammy's circle for years. There's Michael Anthony, Hagar's brother from another mother, but also San Francisco rockers Neal Schon and Mickey Hart, Chickenfoot drummer Chad Smith, and guitarist Joe Satriani, plus Toby Keith, Ronnie Dunn, and Kid Rock, who never turns down a chance to party. Kid does not tear it up on a cover of Bob Seger's "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man" -- he's brought in to kick up some dust on "Knockdown Dragout," a macho stomp that struts to a Gary Glitter beat -- but that's the only surprise here. Sammy simply serves up the goods, turning Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus" into a grinding blues-rock showcase for Schon, hammering through Ray Wylie Hubbard's "Bad on Fords and Chevrolets" with the assistance of Dunn, spending time to wind down before he protests that he's "Not Going Down." This is all high-octane rock & roll, the good old-fashioned kind they made in the days before MTV, the kind that isn't diluted by the sweet Caribbean breeze that blows in toward the end of the record, when a too-slow take on "Margaritaville" and the Wilson duet "All We Need Is an Island" surface. It's not going to change anybody's mind about Hagar, but if Sammy has ever soundtracked your parties -- or if you've ever thought of Cabo Wabo as a vacation destination -- Sammy Hagar & Friends will feel as comfortable as an old pair of flip-flops.
BIOGRAPHY
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
After spending several years as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for the mid-'70s hard rock band Montrose, Sammy Hagar began a solo career that produced several hits and made him an album rock favorite. Hagar became a true star once he joined Van Halen in 1985, but he was a popular hard rocker ever since his first album with Montrose.
After giving up a boxing career, Hagar began singing in the late '60s, performing with various California bands including Skinny, the Fabulous Catillas, Justice Brothers, and Dust Cloud. During this time, he built up a solid reputation in the California hard rock scene. Former Edgar Winter guitarist Ronnie Montrose asked Hagar to join his band, Montrose, in 1973. Hagar recorded two albums with Montrose before going solo in 1976, taking the group's bassist, Bill Church. Montrose's drummer Denny Carmassi later joined Hagar's band, along with keyboardist Geoff Workman.
Hagar's self-titled "red album" was his first chart entry; it eventually went gold. In 1979, he created a new supporting band featuring Workman, Church, guitarist Gary Pihl, and drummer Chuck Ruff. This lineup played on Hagar's most popular solo album, 1981's platinum Standing Hampton, plus 1982's gold Three Lock Box with only one member missing -- drummer Ruff was replaced by David Lauser. After Three Lock Box and its number 13 hit single "Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy," Hagar played several shows with guitarist Neal Schon, bassist Kenny Aaronson, and drummer Mike Shrieve; the group recorded a live album under the name Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve (HSAS), as well as a studio version of Procol Harum's "A Whiter Shade of Pale." His 1984 album VOA contained the hit single "I Can't Drive 55," which peaked at number 26.
In 1985, Hagar replaced David Lee Roth in Van Halen; his first album with the group was 1986's 5150. Hagar released his last solo album in 1987; the record was coined I Never Said Goodbye in an MTV contest. Hagar stayed with Van Halen through the remainder of the '80s and half of the '90s. During that time, the band had four other multi-platinum albums -- OU812 (1988), For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (1991), Live: Right Here, Right Now (1993), Balance (1995) -- before tensions began to surface between Hagar and the rest of the band.
In the summer of 1996, Hagar either quit Van Halen or was fired; the band had Roth return to sing two tracks on Best of Van Halen, Vol. 1 before hiring former Extreme vocalist Gary Cherone as Hagar's replacement. The entire incident became a media sensation, ensuring that Hagar's 1997 solo album Marching to Mars -- his first in ten years -- would be greeted with much media-generated fanfare. It sold surprisingly well, peaking in the Top 20 and re-establishing Hagar as a viable solo act. With a backing band called the Waboritas in tow (consisting of guitarist Vic Johnson, keyboardist Jesse Harms, bassist Mona, and drummer David Lauser), Hagar followed the success with Red Voodoo two years later; it too sold very respectably on the strength of the single "Mas Tequila," just missing the Top 20.
Hagar's resurgence continued with 2000's Ten 13. Not 4 Sale arrived in 2003, followed by his first live album in 20 years, Live: Hallelujah. Livin' It Up! was released in 2006, while VOA was reissued the following year in deluxe format, courtesy of the newly launched American Beat Records. In 2008 Hagar released Cosmic Universal Fashion, his 11th solo album and first for Roadrunner imprint Loud & Proud Records. That same year, he debuted a new band, Chickenfoot, after jamming with Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony, guitarist Joe Satriani, and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith. The supergroup released its self-titled debut album in 2009. The debut went gold, which was good enough to guarantee a 2011 sequel called Chickenfoot III (despite its joking title, this was indeed their sophomore set). Hagar didn't abandon his Chickenfoot brothers for the 2013 album Sammy Hagar & Friends; each member, along with several other kindred spirits, showed up on this party-hearty 2013 LP.
''SAMMY HAGGAR & FRIENDS''
SEPTEMBER 11 2013
36:09
1 /Winding Down
Sammy Hagar/2:29
2 /Not Going Down
Jay Buchanan/4:57
3 /Personal Jesus
Martin Gore/4:50
4 /Father Sun
Sammy Hagar/3:40
5 /Knockdown Dragout
Kevin Baldes / Stephen Garvy / Sammy Hagar / Dennis Hill / Kyle Homme / Ken Livingston/2:17
6 /Ramblin' Gamblin' Man
Bob Seger/2:36
7 /Bad on Fords and Chevrolets
Ronnie Dunn / Ray Wylie Hubbard/3:20
8 /Margaritaville
Jimmy Buffett/4:53
9 /All We Need Is an Island
Sammy Hagar/2:42
10 /Not Going Down [Live-In-Studio, Take 1]
Don Nix/4:25
Michael Anthony /Bass
Denny Carmassi /Drums, Percussion, Vocals (Background)
Bill Church /Bass
Erica Cuniberti /Vocals (Background)
John Cuniberti /Percussion, Vocals (Background)
Ruth Davies /Bass (Upright)
Susie Davis /Organ
Austin DeLone /Accordion, Piano, Piano (Electric)
James DePrato /Mandolin
Ronnie Dunn /Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Mona Gnader /Bass, Vocals (Background)
Sandy Griffith /Vocals (Background)
Aaron Hagar /Vocals (Background)
Sammy Hagar /Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Lap Steel Guitar, Soloist, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Mickey Hart /Drums
Vic Johnson /Guitar, Vocals (Background)
Toby Keith /Vocals
Kid Rock /Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Bill Kirchen /Guitar
David Lauser /Drums
Caroline De Lone /Vocals (Background)
Taj Mahal /Vocals
Karl Perazza /Percussion
Omega Rae /Vocals (Background)
Paul Revelli /Drums
Claytoven Richardson /Vocals (Background)
Joe Satriani /Guitar, Soloist, Vocals (Background)
Neal Schon /Guitar
Chad Smith /Drums
Andre Thiery /Accordion
Nancy Wilson /Vocals (Background)
Dave Zirbel /Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Lap Steel Guitar, Pedal Steel
REVIEW
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Sammy Hagar has worked hard to make his name synonymous with parties, so cutting a party record like Sammy Hagar & Friends makes perfect sense. This is all about good times with good friends, and many of the guys -- and, with the exception of Heart's Nancy Wilson, they're all guys -- helping out the Red Rocker have been in Sammy's circle for years. There's Michael Anthony, Hagar's brother from another mother, but also San Francisco rockers Neal Schon and Mickey Hart, Chickenfoot drummer Chad Smith, and guitarist Joe Satriani, plus Toby Keith, Ronnie Dunn, and Kid Rock, who never turns down a chance to party. Kid does not tear it up on a cover of Bob Seger's "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man" -- he's brought in to kick up some dust on "Knockdown Dragout," a macho stomp that struts to a Gary Glitter beat -- but that's the only surprise here. Sammy simply serves up the goods, turning Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus" into a grinding blues-rock showcase for Schon, hammering through Ray Wylie Hubbard's "Bad on Fords and Chevrolets" with the assistance of Dunn, spending time to wind down before he protests that he's "Not Going Down." This is all high-octane rock & roll, the good old-fashioned kind they made in the days before MTV, the kind that isn't diluted by the sweet Caribbean breeze that blows in toward the end of the record, when a too-slow take on "Margaritaville" and the Wilson duet "All We Need Is an Island" surface. It's not going to change anybody's mind about Hagar, but if Sammy has ever soundtracked your parties -- or if you've ever thought of Cabo Wabo as a vacation destination -- Sammy Hagar & Friends will feel as comfortable as an old pair of flip-flops.
BIOGRAPHY
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
After spending several years as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for the mid-'70s hard rock band Montrose, Sammy Hagar began a solo career that produced several hits and made him an album rock favorite. Hagar became a true star once he joined Van Halen in 1985, but he was a popular hard rocker ever since his first album with Montrose.
After giving up a boxing career, Hagar began singing in the late '60s, performing with various California bands including Skinny, the Fabulous Catillas, Justice Brothers, and Dust Cloud. During this time, he built up a solid reputation in the California hard rock scene. Former Edgar Winter guitarist Ronnie Montrose asked Hagar to join his band, Montrose, in 1973. Hagar recorded two albums with Montrose before going solo in 1976, taking the group's bassist, Bill Church. Montrose's drummer Denny Carmassi later joined Hagar's band, along with keyboardist Geoff Workman.
Hagar's self-titled "red album" was his first chart entry; it eventually went gold. In 1979, he created a new supporting band featuring Workman, Church, guitarist Gary Pihl, and drummer Chuck Ruff. This lineup played on Hagar's most popular solo album, 1981's platinum Standing Hampton, plus 1982's gold Three Lock Box with only one member missing -- drummer Ruff was replaced by David Lauser. After Three Lock Box and its number 13 hit single "Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy," Hagar played several shows with guitarist Neal Schon, bassist Kenny Aaronson, and drummer Mike Shrieve; the group recorded a live album under the name Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve (HSAS), as well as a studio version of Procol Harum's "A Whiter Shade of Pale." His 1984 album VOA contained the hit single "I Can't Drive 55," which peaked at number 26.
In 1985, Hagar replaced David Lee Roth in Van Halen; his first album with the group was 1986's 5150. Hagar released his last solo album in 1987; the record was coined I Never Said Goodbye in an MTV contest. Hagar stayed with Van Halen through the remainder of the '80s and half of the '90s. During that time, the band had four other multi-platinum albums -- OU812 (1988), For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (1991), Live: Right Here, Right Now (1993), Balance (1995) -- before tensions began to surface between Hagar and the rest of the band.
In the summer of 1996, Hagar either quit Van Halen or was fired; the band had Roth return to sing two tracks on Best of Van Halen, Vol. 1 before hiring former Extreme vocalist Gary Cherone as Hagar's replacement. The entire incident became a media sensation, ensuring that Hagar's 1997 solo album Marching to Mars -- his first in ten years -- would be greeted with much media-generated fanfare. It sold surprisingly well, peaking in the Top 20 and re-establishing Hagar as a viable solo act. With a backing band called the Waboritas in tow (consisting of guitarist Vic Johnson, keyboardist Jesse Harms, bassist Mona, and drummer David Lauser), Hagar followed the success with Red Voodoo two years later; it too sold very respectably on the strength of the single "Mas Tequila," just missing the Top 20.
Hagar's resurgence continued with 2000's Ten 13. Not 4 Sale arrived in 2003, followed by his first live album in 20 years, Live: Hallelujah. Livin' It Up! was released in 2006, while VOA was reissued the following year in deluxe format, courtesy of the newly launched American Beat Records. In 2008 Hagar released Cosmic Universal Fashion, his 11th solo album and first for Roadrunner imprint Loud & Proud Records. That same year, he debuted a new band, Chickenfoot, after jamming with Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony, guitarist Joe Satriani, and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith. The supergroup released its self-titled debut album in 2009. The debut went gold, which was good enough to guarantee a 2011 sequel called Chickenfoot III (despite its joking title, this was indeed their sophomore set). Hagar didn't abandon his Chickenfoot brothers for the 2013 album Sammy Hagar & Friends; each member, along with several other kindred spirits, showed up on this party-hearty 2013 LP.
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