Sammy Hagar: All Night Long
Sammy Hagar
All Night Long
(Capitol Records)
As live albums go, All Night Long from Sammy Hagar has always been known to be killer. Boasting no overdubs, a cracker-jack band behind the red rocker (Bill Church on bass and background vocals; Alan āFitzā Fitzgerald on keys and backing vocals; the hard pounding Denny Carmassi on drums; and Gary Pihl on guitars and backing vocals), and a blistering seven-tune collection, this is Hagar post Montrose, pre-Van Halen and giving it his all.
The remastered version of this live album, released initially in 1978, sounds wonderful.Ā The pounding āRedā opens, then Carmassi and Church begin the chunky āRock āNā Roll Weekendā and arena rocker sing-along āTurn Up the Musicā presents the band straight ahead and wailing. The Hagar live staple and later monster hit for Rick Springfield, āIāve Done Everything For You,ā is here. Itās the poppiest Hagar gets. The heaviest moment (and best tune for me personally) is the over-the-top blues rock fire of āYoung Girl Blues.ā Singing and playing lead here, this is Hagarās moment for sure.
Not forgetting his Montrose days, Hagar manages two of his ex-bandās tunes, āBad Motor Scooter,ā the second of two songs here has some killer slide work and ends this rockinā album.