Sammy Hagar: Four Decades of Rock

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Top 10 Sammy Hagar ’80s Songs
by Matthew Wilkening

As our list of the top Sammy Hagar ’80s songs demonstrates very clearly, it was a pretty great time for the Red Rocker. After spending most of the ’70s slowly climbing his way up the music-business ladder, he became a bona fide solo star early in the decade. But that was just the beginning. Hagar shocked the world by taking over as Van Halen’s singer and somehow managed to help take what was already one of the biggest rock bands in the world to new levels of popularity. This quick tour through some of his finest songwriting, singing and guitar-playing moments shows exactly how he did it. Enjoy the second part of our Sammy Hagar: Four Decades of Rock series — Top 10 Sammy Hagar Songs of the ’80s.

10 ‘Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy’
From: ‘Three Lock Box’ (1982)

A couple of years before his soon-to-be bandmates in Van Halen brought keyboards to the front and center of their sound with the massive hit ‘Jump,’ Hagar had his own greatest chart success with this similarly infectious, unabashedly poppy love song. He shied away from the song in later years, leaving it off best-of compilations and such, but it remains his only solo Top 20 hit and helped introduce him to a larger audience.

9 ‘Eagles Fly’
From: ‘I Never Said Goodbye’ (1987)

When the time came to record (what he thought was) his last solo album, Hagar revisited this track, which his new Van Halen bandmates nixed for inclusion on ’5150.’ The song, which builds tension by alternating between airy keyboards and dramatic drum hits, culminates in a triumphant, sustained and extremely high-pitched “oh yeaahh” scream. That moment serves as the perfect litmus test for Hagar fandom: You’ll either love or hate his earnestness.

8 ‘Animation / Valley of the Kings / Giza’
From: ‘Through the Fire’ (1984)

After touring in support of ‘Three Lock Box,’ Hagar took a three-month safari in Africa. When he returned, he teamed up with Journey guitarist Neal Schon to record a one-off supergroup album. This lumbering, progressive rock-influenced 10-minute mini-suite was clearly influenced by his travels. It rocks to high heaven, earning it an unlikely but deserved spot on our list of the Top 10 Sammy Hagar ’80s Songs. Just please don’t ask us to explain exactly what he’s talking about.

7 ‘Heavy Metal’
From: ‘Standing Hampton’ (1981)

OK, granted, neither this song nor Hagar would be considered true heavy metal by anybody but your grandparents. But it packs a dynamite riff, and captures the excitement of going to see your favorite band in concert as well as any track we’ve ever heard. It also proves that Hagar — as much as he understandably defers to his virtuoso bandmates — is far from a slouch when it comes to playing lead guitar.

6 ‘Why Can’t This Be Love?’
From: ’5150′ (1986)

David Lee Roth famously fought the introduction of keyboards into Van Halen’s sound. But as his replacement, Hagar had no such qualms, gleefully “doot doot do”-ing right along with Eddie Van Halen’s synthesizers. Some Roth loyalists scoffed when the band used this poppy little number to introduce their new lineup to the world. But far more fans bought in, and the song helped give the band its first No. 1 album.

5 ‘I’ll Fall in Love Again’
From: ‘Standing Hampton’ (1981)

While not as obviously pop-oriented as ‘Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy,’ this surprisingly touching and bittersweet breakup song from Hagar’s breakthrough solo album shows just how strong his melodic sensibilities can be. The lyrics also demonstrate once again just how supernaturally upbeat this guy is, as he promises himself a brighter future even in the wake of a nasty split.

4 ‘There’s Only One Way to Rock’
From: ‘Standing Hampton’ (1981)

If not for the song immediately following it on this list, this prototypical Hagar rocker would serve quite nicely as the defining anthem for his solo career. Over a hard-to-deny riff — the Beastie Boys sure seemed to like it — Hagar defends the rock ‘n’ roll nation from all those nefarious fiends who would dare mock or deride it. The only way this track could be any better is if you added a guitar duel between Sammy and Eddie Van Halen — which is exactly what happened a few years later.

3 ‘I Can’t Drive 55′
From: ‘VOA’ (1984)

You didn’t think we were getting through this list of the Top 10 Sammy Hagar ’80s Songs without this one, did you? Apparently, both the title and inspiration struck the long-time speeding enthusiast right in the middle of him getting yet another ticket. Hagar scrambled for something to write on, and wound up with the enduring anthem that made him an arena headliner around the country. It didn’t seem that the Red Rocker could get any more popular, but an even bigger opportunity would soon come his way.

2 ‘Cabo Wabo’
From: ‘OU812′ (1988)

It’s the song that launched an empire. With a title inspired by a drunk he saw wobbling down the beach, Hagar wrote an ode to his beloved resort town of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Eddie Van Halen contributes one of his most Zeppelin-inspired riffs, and it proves to be the perfect playground for the high-harmony dream team of Sammy and his new best buddy, Michael Anthony. The song runs more than seven minutes, one of the band’s longest, and by the end you feel like you’re saying goodbye to the best summer of your life.

1 ‘Best of Both Worlds’
From: ’5150′ (1986)

Our vote for the best Sammy Hagar ’80s Song demonstrates everything his version of Van Halen could be — maintaining the creativity and coolness of the original lineup while adding new levels of sincerity and maturity. As the band flips between rough and smooth takes on the same driving riff, Hagar tries to figure out exactly what we’re here on this planet to accomplish. Ultimately, he declares the only thing to do is stop wondering and just make the best of it.

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Top 10 Sammy Hagar ’00s + Beyond Songs
by Matthew Wilkening

Top 10 Sammy Hagar Sammy Hagar ’00s + Beyond Songs demonstrate quite clearly that the Red Rocker is now aware there is indeed more than ‘One Way to Rock.’ Although he was supposedly fired from Van Halen for a lack of work ethic, and even though he was now one of the richest rock stars in the world thanks to his tequila empire, Hagar toured constantly and released four solo albums and two records with his new group Chickenfoot during this time. (Meanwhile his former bandmates managed just one studio album and a greatest-hits compilation featuring three new songs — sung by none other than Hagar, who had temporarily reunited with the group.) As you’ll see on the fourth and final part of our Sammy Hagar: Four Decades of Rock series, there’s more to admire here than just quantity here — to this day, the Red Rocker continues to explore new genres and textures, often with highly rewarding results.

10 ‘Come Closer’
From: ‘Chickenfoot III’ (2011)

We’re not knocking the mellower, beach-party vibe that turned up on many of the Red Rocker’s solo albums during this decade, but as a classic rock-oriented website, our list of the top Sammy Hagar songs from this era is dominated by more rock-orientated efforts. Still, respect must be paid to the continually expanded range he demonstrated on songs like ‘Come Closer,’ a delightfully smooth and warm ballad featuring a gorgeous Joe Satriani guitar figure.

9 ‘Serious Juju’
From: ‘Ten 13′ (2000)

On his third post-Van Halen solo album — named after his birthday — Hagar proves he can still get serious swing with the big boys, unleashing a dramatic fire and brimstone warning about the dangers of environmental abuse over a nasty Morse code guitar riff.

8 ‘Different Devil’
From: ‘Chickenfoot III’ (2011)

Understandably, the first album by Hagar’s new supergroup Chickenfoot was a tentative “let’s meet on common ground” affair. Two years and a big tour later, the group confidently pushed its sound in several new directions on the second effort. One of the most rewarding results was this textured, rootsy song featuring a mature, restrained vocal performance.

7 ‘Peephole’
From: ‘Cosmic Universal Fashion’ (2008)

In the early ’00s, Hagar and his former bandmate Michael Anthony announced plans to form a new group named Planet Us, which was also to feature Journey guitarist Neal Schon. Soon after, the duo decided to (temporarily) rejoin Van Halen instead, scuttling the project. But two songs from those sessions — including this surprisingly heavy, dark and twisting number — popped up on Hagar’s grab-bag of a 2008 solo album.

6 ‘Down the Drain’
From: ‘Chickenfoot’ (2009)

The loose, instinctual vibe of Chickenfoot’s first album is best demonstrated on this shambling six-minute song, which finds Hagar and company eagerly following along after Satriani unleashes a stomping brontosaurus of a guitar riff. As Anthony told us, “We basically wrote that one as we played it.”

5 ‘Let Sally Drive’
From: ‘Ten 13′ (2000)

Don’t get us wrong, we respect the hell out of the creative growth demonstrated by many of the Top 10 Sammy Hagar ’00s + Beyond Songs. But it was also nice to see him spend a good chunk of ‘Ten 13′ cranking out straight-ahead throwback rockers like this one — and ‘Shaka Doobie’ and ’3 in the Middle’ — all of which could have fit on the mighty ‘Standing Hampton.’ Remind us again why he doesn’t play rhythm guitar in his various band projects?

4 ‘Big Foot’
From: ‘ Chickenfoot III’ (2011)

Two car songs in a row, what a shocker! With Joe Satriani, Michael Anthony and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith risking an overheated engine behind him, Hagar hits the road in search of some love. A true man on a mission, he pauses just long enough to buy gas and sing the praises of Led Zeppelin’s ‘Houses of the Holy.’

3 ‘Future in the Past’
From: ‘Chickenfoot’ (2009)

While much of Chickenfoot’s debut album focuses on lighthearted party anthems or love songs, they close out with this tension-building epic that tackles big topics such as science, religion and the importance of standing naked on a mountaintop at least once in the short life we’re each granted. (Hang on, we’ll be right back … )

2 ‘The Message’
From: ‘Ten 13′ (2000)

This might be the most under-appreciated song of Hagar’s entire career. Over a background of chiming piano and dramatic drum breaks, Hagar testifies about the importance of recognizing and heeding the lessons being sent out by the universe. He’s in fine voice, of course — but it’s the contrasting bursts of raw, soaring guitar that really catch the ear.

1 ‘Dubai Blues’
From: ‘ Chickenfoot III’ (2011)

As Joe Satriani stacks up layer upon layer of guitars, Hagar has his cake and eats it too, hitting every important rock-singer mark while not-so gently poking fun at financial excess. Initially, he displays a mischievous sense of humor by pretending to be an oil baron — probably about the only person richer than he is in real life — trying to buy the affections of the one girl who said “no” to him. But soon enough the jokes fade away and our hero gets serious and shows why he’s one of the most successful and beloved frontmen of the past four decades.