Showing some love for Van Hagar...

I love Van Hagar. I know that most Van Halen fans will choose DLR over Hagar on a regular basis, I just find that I enjoy the Hagar years more. The 4 albums of the Van Hagar era, to me, represent some of the finest American Hard Rock ever! The musicianship and the melodic hooks are, to me, top notch.

I was just on a Van Hagar binge today and wanted to post something on it.

Some of my favorite songs:

Why Can't This Be Love
Dreams
Summer Nights
Best Of Both Worlds
"5150"
Cabo Wabo
Feels So Good
Mine All Mine
When It's Love
A.F.U. (Naturally Wired)
Poundcake
Judgement Day
Runaround
The Dream Is Over
Right Now
Top Of The World
The Seventh Seal
Don't Tell Me (What Love Can Do)
Aftershock
Take Me Back (Deja Vu)
Humans Being

Yea, well, I personally prefer the Roth era, but I enjoyed the Hagar era as well, they had some great songs, I have always liked "Finish What You Started" and "Right Now".

Man, I hate Van Hagar.

Take the worst elements of Sammy's solo career (sappy ballads) and couple it with the worst elements of Van Halen (repetitive bass/drum section plus Eddie's obligatory wanky solo) and you have Van Haqar.

I will take anything else from Sammy's career, DLR's solo stuff and especially the REAL Van Halen with DLR over the Van Hagar drivel.

I don't mind the Van Hagar stuff. There are some songs I really enjoy by that version of the band. But my preference is for the DLR-era of the band.

I like Van Halen with Sammy Hagar and did not think it was horrible but when David Lee Roth walked out the door IMO he took its sense of adventure and humor out the door with him

I really don't like the albums (aside from a couple tracks here or there), but the 5150 tour was alot of fun. Most of those songs came off better live...and hearing them do Led Zeppelin's Rock N Roll was the highlight of the night.

Well, I too love the Van Hagar era, IMO is was the best era of VH.

Shawn I am 150% with you!

Always a Hagar fan and rather see a reunion with Sammy!

I took me a very long time to warm-up to the Van Hagar-era, but since I have, I found the music to be very enjoyable. I still prefer the DLR-era, but I don't have a problem with Sammy's version. Just depends on the mood I'm in as to which ones I play.

I saw Van Halen with Sammy once in the 80's (headliner Texas Jam 86') 5150 tour and again in 2004 in Sacramento. Watched both from backstage as somebody's hangabout freeloader friend.

I won't change the radio station if a Van Hagar tune comes on.
I dig alot of Sammy's solo stuff
love the Montrose stuff

but.....still have no Van Halen cds with Sammy.

Guess that over the top So. Calif insanity of the original line up is enough for me.


Laterz

Awesome!!! I am a fan of both eras of Van Halen. While I prefer Diamond Dave behind the mic, they released some damn good music during Sammy's tenure in the band.

BTW - just added my review of Balance to the Van Halen thread.

Sammy has a great voice but i still think the early stuff with DLR is the best.

Both eras are quality, different and David is a more showy frontman but great songs from both.

I have said it before but it is hard to believe this two men fronted the same band, the two different eras of Van Halen are so different.

I much prefer the DLR but some of the Hagar stuff is good. I just dont listen very often to Hagar anymore..

I love the Van Hagar stuff too. Sammy is one of the most amazing rock singers ever. Love his (drunken) performance on "Live Without a Net".

Nice to see some Van Hagar love!

Getizzyback wrote:

Yea, well, I personally prefer the Roth era, but I enjoyed the Hagar era as well, they had some great songs, I have always liked "Finish What You Started" and "Right Now".

I agree. I grew up listening to Sammy & Montrose as well as Van Halen. I probably love the 70's-'82 era VH the best. As far as Sammy goes, I actually prefer his music apart from Van Halen than with them.

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

Nice to see some Van Hagar love!

I'm a Hagar fanboy, I have everything he's been a part of.

Forget 'em both! Give me Gary Cherone!!!!



j/k



I like both Hagar and Roth, but to be honest, I haven't listened to either in a really long time.

It's difficult to even compare the different eras of VH, DLR is a more flamboyant showman but Sammy can sing rings around him. I think the early years with DLR were more about attitude and putting on a big show, while the Sammy era was more about the musicianship and writing more mature songs.

I have thought about this all day and come to this conclusion.....Coming of age in So. California, both as a musician and teenager in the late 70's and early 80's....Van Halen was the $hit, period ! INMHO Can't call if it is a demographic thing or being a kid with long hair in a band at the time ?

Sammy took the band smeplace else with help and the Van Halen vibe I grew up with and loved was gone. Sure there was Sabbath, Priest, Scorps, KISS, Zeppelin, Rush, Nugent, Lizzy, Aerosmith, and UFO in the 70's and all that but VH was OUR band.

tohostudios wrote:

Man, I hate Van Hagar.

Take the worst elements of Sammy's solo career (sappy ballads) and couple it with the worst elements of Van Halen (repetitive bass/drum section plus Eddie's obligatory wanky solo) and you have Van Haqar.

I will take anything else from Sammy's career, DLR's solo stuff and especially the REAL Van Halen with DLR over the Van Hagar drivel.

Agree 100%

The music quality really seemed to take a back seat when Hagar was in.

bassman wrote:

It's difficult to even compare the different eras of VH, DLR is a more flamboyant showman but Sammy can sing rings around him. I think the early years with DLR were more about attitude and putting on a big show, while the Sammy era was more about the musicianship and writing more mature songs.

I agree with this statement.

I prefer the Roth-era. I liked the rawer, heavier sound of the first four or five albums. However, I don't dislike the Sammy stuff. How's that for love?