AMG Review of Classic Masters

Greg Prato
All Music Guide

Although probably best known for his affiliation with Van Halen from the mid-'80s through the mid-'90s, Sammy Hagar was of course a solo artist beforehand, churning out quite a few so-so releases for Capitol, before jumping ship to Geffen and scoring the biggest hits of his career. As a result, the Sammy Hagar edition of Capitol's ongoing Classic Masters series is a bit of a misleading title, as there's no "I Can't Drive 55" or "Three Lock Box" anywhere to be found here. What you do get is a thorough overview of Hagar's solo career from early on, including such Hagar trademark hard rockers as "Red," "Trans Am," and "Bad Reputation," plus a few laid-back tracks -- a bluesy cover of "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" and "You Make Me Crazy." Also included is a fine live version of Montrose's "Bad Motor Scooter," which serves as a sort of Hagar history lesson (it was with Montrose that Hagar first burst on the scene back in the early '70s). If you're looking for a collection of strictly early Hagar tracks, Classic Masters fits the bill -- just don't be fooled into thinking that this is a thorough career overview (also sneaky is the VOA-era image of Hagar on the cover). By combining this release with 1994's Unboxed, you'll have all the solo Hagar you'll need.