SAMMY HAGAR – Sammy Hagar & Friends (full)

Released by Frontiers Records, “SAMMY HAGAR & Friends” was Sammy Hagar’s first solo album in this decade and as title makes clear, features a colorful array of guest talents, including Journey guitarist Neal Schon, Chickenfoot bandmates Michael Anthony, Joe Satriani & Chad Smith, and Heart’s belter Nancy Wilson among others, brighten up the Red Rocker’s first collaborations album.

Hagar has had an amazing career when you look back at it from Montrose, through to Van Halen, coupled with a successful solo career and more recently super-group Chickenfoot.

“Sammy Hagar & Friends” with all its guests could sound disjointed, especially given some of the unusual cover versions but it all works surprisingly well. The only shame is that the Van Halen brothers rejected the idea Sammy Hagar had to re-record some Van Halen tunes and maybe write one new song with them.
Too bad neither Ed nor Alex could not have buried the hatchet, as this fun collection would have been a good way for them to jam once again.

Highlights? Kid Rock is always good value and has a blast on “Knockdown Angel” with Joe Satriani ripping it up on guitar.
Two of the best covers are Bob Seger’s “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man” (Hagar’s long time drummer David Lauser plays on this one), which Sammy Hagar makes his own with some killer rock and roll grooves, and the eyebrow raising version of “Personal Jesus” by Depeche Mode (!).

Gone are the synths and instead the Chickenfoot rhythm section of Michael Anthony and Chad Smith drive the beat along, with Journey’s Neal Schon guesting on guitar.
Nice touch having his son Aaron duet with him on “Father Sun”, and speaking of duets “All We Need Is An Island” is another lovely song, where Heart’s Nancy Wilson combines really well with Hagar’s throat.

Ronnie Montrose stylings get a look in “Not Going Down”, where Hagar is joined by fellow Montrose members Bill Church and Danny Carmassi and Vic Johnson spreads some great licks. The tune was written for Sammy by Jay Buchanan, lead singer of one of the best new classic rock bands on the scene, Rival Sons.
The Americana side is met by “Margaritaville” – a surprising success with country-man Toby Keith, while the album closes on a monster, “Going Down (Live In Studio – Take-1)”, a massive headbanger with Neal Schon and Anthony & Smith again. This was the first take and they nailed it – all this brio and energy makes just impossible not to air-guitar to.

Sammy Hagar has been around forever he has made some great albums, and I would say this “Sammy Hagar & Friends” ranks up there with his better work.
An enjoyable listen from beginning to end, as you get swept along in the undoubted joy and fun the musicians had in recording these songs.
Highly Recommended

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: Chad Smith
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, Sandy Griffith & 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

9. All We Need Is An Island (written by Sammy Hagar)
Vocals: Sammy Hagar & Nancy Wilson
Acoustic guitar: Sammy Hagar
Pedal Steel & Tahitian Ukulele: 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: Chad Smith

BUY IT !
www.amazon.com/Sammy-Hagar-Friends/dp/B00DOQK3EA
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