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Our Top 10 Best Sammy Hagar Opening Albums Tracks presents a list of the most exciting songs that Sammy Hagar opened up his solo albums with. Back in the days when rock fans brought albums, the record’s opening track was always such an important part of the experience of enjoying a new album. Just as important for record companies, album openers were usually the first cut from an album that radio stations would listen to. If a DJ or station manager didn’t like the first track, there was always a good chance they would not listen to another.
While not every band or artist put what they believed was their best cut as the album opener, rest assured they made sure to put at least the second or third best tracks to open the album. Of course, for some bands like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, and many others, it didn’t matter what the album’s opening track was as it was guaranteed that whoever got a new album from one of those bands, was going to listen to the entire record.
One of our favorite artists here at ClassicRockHistory.com will always be Sammy Hagar. We love every single one of his solo albums. From the very first Sammy Hagar album we purchased back in 1977 up until his latest release with The Circle, there has never been a record that didn’t get tons of spins on our record player. Since Sammy Hagar has been involved with multiple bands throughout his Hall of Fame career, we are going to limit this list to just his solo albums. No Chickenfoot, Van Halen or Montrose albums will be included in this list. However, we will include the Waboritas and Circle since those are pretty much Sammy Hagar’s solo band albums.
# 10 – Turn Up The Music
We open up our Top 10 Best Sammy Hagar Opening Album Tracks list with the cranking song entitled “Turn Up the Music.” The song was released on the album entitled Musical Chairs. The album was released in 1977. The interesting thing about the band on this album was it was basically the Montrose band without Ronnie Montrose. It included Sammy Hagar of course who was the lead singer of Montrose for two albums, plus Montrose drummer Denny Carmassi, and Montrose keyboardist and bass player Alan Fitzgerald. That’s three out of four Montrose band members who played on this album.
# 9 – Devil Came To Philly
This is just one of the rock and roll songs you fall in love with instantly. The song just sounds so iconic already the first time you hear it. It’s pure rock and roll that sounded like it was given birth in the early 1900s. This is supercharged Robert Johnson style via Sammy Hagar and his incredible Circle band that features Michael Anthony on bass, Jason Bonham on drums, and Vic Johnson on guitar. The song “Devil Came To Philly,” was released on the album entitled Space Between. The album was released in 2019.
# 8 – Love Or Money
In the number eight spot on our Top 10 Best Sammy Hagar Opening Album Tracks list we present the song entitled “Love Or Money.” This is old-school Sammy Hagar. It’s written in a bit of the style of Led Zeppelin’s “Black Dog,” with its opening vocal riff, and slick guitar licks. This is the Sammy Hagar style we all fell in love with back in the 1970s. The song was released on the album entitled Danger Zone. The album was released in 1980. “Love Or Money” was composed by Sammy Hagar.
# 7 – Three Lock Box
In the number seven position on our Top 10 Best Sammy Hagar Opening Album Tracks list is the song entitled “Three Lock Box.” Released as the title track, the song and album served as the follow-up to his widely successful Standing Hampton album. The Three Lock Box album was released in 1982. The song “Three Lock Box,” was written by Sammy Hagar. The song was never released as a single, but its groove is among one of Sammy’s best ever.
# 6 – Little White Lie
Landing in the number six spot on our Top 10 Best Sammy Hagar Opening Album Tracks list is the historic song “Little White Lie.” We call this one historic because it stands as the first solo single Sammy Hagar released after he left Van Halen. The song had a bit of a “Three Lock Box,” vibe to it. The song was released on the album entitled Marching To Mars. The album was released in 1997 It was the first single released from the album. The song was a massive hit on the US Billboard Rock Charts 100 going all the way to number one. and staying in the spot for over a month. Sammy Hagar was the sole composer of the song.
# 5 – Mas Tequila
At the halfway point on our Top 10 Best Sammy Hagar Opening Album Tracks list is the ultimate party song entitled “Mas Tequilla.” This song served as the coming-of-age party for the new Sammy Hagar brand of good-time fun. It was sort of a “meet the new boss, same as the old boss” with a twist of lime and a heck of a good time. The song “Mas Tequilla,” was issued on the album entitled Red Voodoo. The album was released in 1999. “Mas Tequilla” was the first single released from the album. The song was a hit on the US Billboard Rock charts peaking at number two. “Mas Tequilla,” was composed by Gary Glitter, Sammy Hagar, and Mike Leander.
# 4 – When The Hammer Falls
Even though at the time of the release of this album, Sammy Hagar was a member of Van Halen, the red rocker still did not disappoint his longtime fans. With his buddy Eddie Van Halen playing bass on the entire album, Sammy Hagar delivered an explosive rock and roll album that opened with the killer cut “When The Hammer Falls.” The song was released on the album entitled I Never Said Goodbye. The album was released in 1987.
# 3 – I’ll Fall in Love Again
Moving along on our Top 10 Best Sammy Hagar Opening Album Tracks list we present the song entitled “I’ll Fall in Love Again.” The song was released on everyone’s favorite Sammy Hagar album entitled Standing Hampton. The album was released in 1982. The song introduced Sammy Hagar’s fans to a new chapter in Sammy Hagar’s musical career as his signing with Geffen Records really seemed to light a fire for Sammy Hagar in helping him find a much larger audience. The song “I’ll Fall in Love Again,” was written by Sammy Hagar. The song hit number two on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Charts.
# 2 – I Can’t Drive 55
Just of the top spot on our Top 10 Best Sammy Hagar Opening Album Tracks list we celebrate the song entitled “I Can’t Drive 55.” This is probably Sammy Hagar’s biggest solo hit of his career. It’s a killer opening track as well as one almighty rock and roll classic. The song was released on the album entitled VOA. The album was released in 1984. “I Can’t Drive 55” was the first single released from the album. The song “I Can’t Drive 55” was a hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 peaking at number twenty six The song “I Can’t Drive 55,” also was a hit on the US Billboard RockCharts reaching all the way up to number five. “I Can’t Drive 55,” was composed by Sammy Hagar.
# 1 – Red
We close out our Top 10 Best Sammy Hagar Opening Album Tracks list with the pulsating song “Red.” This one was the perfect 1970s-style album track opener. The song starts out with a driving beat that gets more intense with every measure. Suddenly, the guitars come slamming in like a rock and roll army invasion. If this one didn’t get you excited about a rock and roll album, you just didn’t know rock and roll. The song was released on the album entitled Sammy Hagar. Most people referred to it as the Red Album because the buildings, the streets, and the cars were all painted red. All the people in the photo including Sammy were all dressed in red. The album was released in 1977. It was Sammy Hagar’s second solo album. The song “Red,” was written by John Carter, and Sammy Hagar.
Top 10 Best Sammy Hagar Opening Album Tracks article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2023
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