In the midst of his celebrated reunion with Van Halen, Sammy Hagar rolls out
a red carpet of hits. How timely The Essential Red Collection
should come along. If anything, it proves just how valuable an asset Hagar is
as both a solo artist and band member. Ronnie Montrose, the first guitarist
who named a group after himself and hired Hagar to sing, is undoubtedly all
too aware of that. The roar of “Bad Motor Scooter” is a classic
example of early 70s hard rock, a prototype for the aforementioned Van Halen
and the fallout of tousled-haired arena filibusters. I’ve always wondered why
the original Montrose band didn’t ascend to greater heights. Apparently,
it wasn’t able to contain Hagar from stepping out on his own. Early stirrings
are earmarked by the appearance of “Thinking Of You” and “Call
My Name,” previously unreleased and practically unremarkable in their
position as a steady bridge to “Red.” Hagar’s simple anthem
about what must be his favorite color, “Red” would become a calling
card of sorts, a marketing tool employed in pushing guitars, tequila, even this
very CD. Very clever, indeed. From here on out, the golden nuggets keep booming
out of the speakers – “I’ve Done Everything For You”
(a Top Ten hit for Rick Springfield), “I’ll Fall In Love Again,“
“There’s Only One Way To Rock” and the anarchic “I Can’t
Drive 55.” The disc is rounded out by more recent material from the late
90s, including “Little White Lie” and “Marching To Mars,”
a spunky little ditty Hagar penned with Marin County neighbor/Grateful Dead
drummer Mickey Hart. Whether by design or coincidence, The Essential
Red Collection may not have all the answers, but it sure beats lip-syncing
and jigging on Saturday Night Live.
~ Shawn Perry
