Frontiers Records release the new Sammy Hagar album, aptly named “Sammy Hagar & Friends” in Europe on 27th September (24th in N America). The album contains a mix of brand new tracks and some covers that are given the Sammy Hagar treatment. Throughout he is very ably supported by some of the biggest names in the rock music scene. The end result is a great album that features 11 tracks covering a wide range of musical influences from rock, through country to blues. The “friends” referred to in the album title include Kid Rock, Nancy Wilson, Michael Anthony, Neal Schon, Chad Smith and Joe Satriani.

My favourite tracks include “Winding Down”, “Not Going Down”, “Knockdown Dragout” and “Bad on Fords and Chevrolets”, but I thought it was worth including the full track listing.

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: ChadSmith
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

10. “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

11. “Going Down” (Live in Studio-Take 1) written by Don Nix
Lead Vocal: Sammy Hagar 
Guitar: Neal Schon
Bass: Michael Anthony
Drums: Chad Smith

For more information - http://www.frontiers.it/album/5162/

About “NI Rocks Recommends”

I'm not a reviewer but wanted to acknowledge some of the great music being submitted to Rock Radio NI by artists, promoters and labels both within and outside of N Ireland. That was the idea behind “NI Rocks Recommends”. I'm not giving marks or ratings, trying to categorise bands or compare artists. The albums that I’ll be recommending would be those I’d buy myself, so there’ll be a strong focus on “classic rock” sounds; however you wish to define that! What you won’t get is death metal or similar genres. Each to his own, but that ain’t what I choose to listen to!

To be honest I’m not really a big fan of the whole idea of “Reviews” as they’re simply one person’s opinion!!  “NI Rocks Recommends” is therefore just my personal recommendation. Let's just say that if I've went to the bother of writing this, I think it's worth taking a listen to and you’ll be hearing it played on my shows on Rock Radio NI!!

 

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