Album Review: Sammy Hagar - 'Livin' It Up!'

Music Reviews

By Patrick Luce Jul 20, 2006, 15:51 GMT

The “Red Rocker” Sammy Hagar is back with ‘Livin’ It Up!’ – a new studio album that captures his party energy with 11 tracks made up of new material and cover tunes.

The album was recorded by Hagar and his band The Wabos - drummer David Lauser, guitarist Vic Johnson, and bassist Mona. It perfectly matches Hagar’s life is a party attitude that led him to become a founder of Cabo Wabo tequila and a cantina in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. From start to finish, the album has a bar party feeling, and by the end, Hagar leaves you with a taste of the Mexico coast life that he loves.‘Livin’ It Up!’ mixes Hagar’s wide styles of music ranging from guitar driven original songs to new ballads from the talented songwriter and finally to rocking new covers of songs from icons like Bob Dylan (“Rainy Day Woman #12/#35) and country singers Toby Keith (“I Love This Bar”) and Kenny Chesney (“One Sip”).Hagar kicks the first half of the album off with guitar rock tunes – led by the bluesy “Sam I Am,” and traditional pop rock sounding “The Way We Live.” The first part of the album is also mixed with tropical sounding tunes like “Living on a Coastline” where the rocker seems to have taken a page from Jimmy Buffett’s songwriting book.The second half of the album features some great ballads and slower rock tunes including the country sounding “Halfway to Memphis,” and the traditional Hagar sounding ballad “Sailin.” The album finishes out with the soft song “Some Day” – which is almost like Hagar’s version of a lullaby or his way of announcing this party is now over.I have always been a fan of Sammy Hagar’s music (both his solo stuff and the stuff he did with Van Halen), but have never owned any of his albums. ‘Livin’ It Up!’ is an album that I not only enjoyed, but it makes me want to go get some of Hagar’s older stuff as well.Hagar is in perfect form on the album, and the track list is full of hit after hit. His new songs are great, and his covers songs can stand toe to toe with the original performers. The album starts off rocking, slows halfway through, and finishes perfectly. It is worth buying for singles like “Sam I Am,” “I Love This Bar,” and “Some Day,” but every song is great.If you are already a Sammy Hagar fan then you will want to get this album. If you are like me and only know him from his radio singles, ‘Living It Up!’ is worth taking a chance on buying. From start to finish Hagar delivers and the album will not disappoint.‘Living It Up!’ is now available at Amazon. Visit the music database for more information and a complete track listing.