Customer Reviews

Hallelujah

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This Sammy Live disc is long overdue. Sammy has been cranking out great rock tunes for over 25 years and it shows on this record. The disc is recorded live from several shows, including St. Louis (always a Sammy favorite) and Tampa. The disc also includes the studio version of Hallelujah! (from Not 4 Sale)so that Sammy could release this song as a single for Sanctuary records. The cd quite simply rocks, that's the best way to put it. On "Heavy Metal", Waborita's Mona and Jesse trade verses along with Sammy, sending a chill down your spine at how much fun this music is. The versions of "Little White Lie", "Rock Candy" and "Three Lock Box" are exceptional, making you feel like you are right there. Much of this disc was recorded on the Sammy/Dave tour, as such, there are a number of Van Halen songs included here as well, including the best version of "Why can't this be love" and "Dreams" ever recorded. This band (not just Sammy) is outstanding live, making each track tight and remarkably accurate, while at the same time being loose enough to improvise and make each track unique. Another thing making this disc worthy of five stars is the inclusion of the version of When its Love from a Boston show with Gary Cherone sharing the vocals. Even if you did not like Van Halen with Cherone (I did), this is an awesome track and a cool novelty for Van Halen fans at the very least. Sammy promises in the liner notes to release a double or triple live cd in the future if this disc sells well. So buy one for all your friends. You (and they) will not be disappointed.

Sammy and the Waborita's at their best. Seeing and hearing them live is always better than their studio stuff. Sammy covers his whole career here, from Montrose, to solo, to Van Halen, and back to solo stuff with the Waboritas. Nice touch to include Michael Anthony on a few tracks. Very obvious that Sammy and his band are having a blast. You will not be disappointed with this purchase.

With live albums, it's a gamble. A lot of great bands put out sub-par live albums that have inferior versions of songs because they sound thin. However, Sammy Hagar has always put out great live albums, such as, "All Night Long" and "Live 1980." The new live disc, "Hallelujah" is another great live album and is best played LOUD. The album sounds as though you are actually at one of his concerts; no overdubs, it sounds real. I would have to argue that the live versions on this disc sound better than the original versions on the studio albums. The band sounds tight and does justice to all the classics. Sure Vic Johnson isn't Eddie Van Halen, but Vic Johnson can hold his own and doesn't try to be. The song selection is great--it follows Sammy's career from Montrose, to his pre-VH solo years, to VH, to his post VH stuff. The album has a nice flow and is the type of disc that you want to play over and over again. Michael Anthony plays on a couple of songs and lends his background vocals, which is cool. Also, Gary Cherone (Hagar's replacement in VH) sings a duet with Sam on "When it's Love." That's especially cool for me, because I was there at the concert when they did it (8/28/'02). If your a fan of Sammy and of VH, then I suggest you buy this album. "Hallelujah" will be in my CD player for a long time to come.

and this is where I make my judgement: I kept this CD in my office, along with other CDs, to listen to while working on projects late at night. It seems that ALOT of people in my office, mostly older guys into the Dixie Tricks or other lame "young country" [stuff], were borrowing this ONE cd ALOT. their reason is all the same: its a great rock album! and this is! Hagar, after releasing a number of his own live albums over the years, has put together a great collection of songs from EVERY corner of his career, with the best band he has EVER put together. Guitarist Vic Johnson does not try to emulate Ed Van Halen or Ronnie Montrose; indeed, he gives both a run for their money by taking those great songs (from Montrose and Van Halen) and making them his own.... and does so AMAZINGLY! Classics include "I Cant Drive 55", "3 Lock Box", and "Heavy Metal" (probably the ONLY movie soundtrack song that has lasted so many years!). To make this CD more fun and interesting, and to put aside any hard feelings between Gary Cherone (Sammy's replacement in Van Halen), Hagar brings on stage Cherone to sing "When Its Love" with him, and also has Michael Anthony (VH bassist) on stage as well, PLUS the band Boston sings back-up on this tune also! (Ironically, this is all while touring with David Lee Roth, all though he makes no appearance on this album)Amazing!

Alot was said when Hagar released Marching To Mars shortly after leaving VH, as if he was washed up or something. Well, that was 6 years ago, and Hagar has released three studio CDs since leaving and this Live album, and judging by this CD Sammy isnt slowing down by any means.

Do we really need yet another live Hagar record? If this set is any indication, then the answer is yes. This record is a pleasant surprise and has live energy all over it, unlike a lot of so-called "live" records. Culling material from pre Van Halen; "Rock Candy," Van Halen hits; "Right Now" and "Dreams" and lesser known post-Halen material; "Little White Lie" and "Mas Tequila"; Sammy Hagar proves age means nothing and he can still rock 'em to the rafters. Whether he's playing solo acoustic on "Eagles Fly" or the stuttering riffs of "Three Lock Box," there's a party going on and everyone's invited. Despite what one might think, even slightly goofy songs like "Heavy Metal" and the staple "I Can't Drive 55," sound sincere and fresh going on twenty years old, proving that rock won't die as long as Sammy's around.

Alright Redheads!!! We know Sammy can put on one heck of a fun live show and this CD certainly packs a whallop! This has some great live renditions of the Waborita's newer material and some of the best classics including "Rock Candy" from the Montrose days. I was lucky enough to catch this tour when it came to DC in the summer of 2002 and this is a great representation of the songs we all partied with that night. Sammy himself states in the liner notes that he would like to release a full 2 (or 3!!) CD set of the live shows and I certainly hope that happens. I for one will be front and center for the 2003 tour to hear the great new material off Not-4-Sale....it will be my 5th Hagar (including a VanHagar) show since 1983. I'll be spinning this disc for some time!

HALLELUJAH is a great live album from Sammy Hagar. It features some of his best solo stuff, plus some recast Van Halen and Montrose favorites. Michael Anthony of Van Halen and former Van Halen singer Gary Cherone make guest appearances on this album, and I think the regular bassist, Mona, sings a bit on the song "Heavy Metal." This is one of the first Sammy Hagar albums to buy if you're new to the Red Rocker.

Sammy gives a great live performance. Anyone who likes his live shows will really enjoy this. Solo stuff is great. Michael Anthony joins in on bass and background vocals, to give some VH touch to those classics. Vic Johnson does fine on guitar, doesn't try to copy the solos. Obviously, VH tunes miss the VH brothers, but still have Sammy's energy. Gary Cherone, VH's 3rd lead singer, helps on vocals on "When It's Love". Nice, classy touch by Sammy. Proves Sammy is a true singer, not a performer aka David Lee. Crack open the Cabo, whip up a waborita, turn up, and ENJOY! Cheers!

This cd runs the gammet of Sammy's career, from Montrose to solo to Van Halen and back to his work with the Waborita's. Every track simply rocks and it is quite obvious that the band is having a blast. Nice touch that Michael Anthony plays bass at a few of the shows and shows up on some tracks and Gary Cherone sings on one VH song. Anyone still wonder who the difficult band members in Van Halen were to work with? Try anybody with Van Halen as their last name. Sammy is about rock and roll and fun......isn't that what it's all about

I just can't get into this DVD for one reason. The audio is lacking something, its hollow sounding, with no bottom end. I was expecting awesome sound from Dolby Digial 5.1, it didn't happen. I really like Sammy, but who ever mixed this DVD, didn't do a very good job.