Sunday, May 10, 2009

Sammy Hagar - Three Lock Box

Eons before the formation of rock supergroup Chickenfoot, and years before joining Van Halen, Sammy Hagar had an uproarious solo career as the Red Rocker. 1982 saw the release of Three Lock Box on Geffen Records, one of the better efforts in the Sammy Hagar solo career catalog. So, is Three Lock Box worth seeking out on Ebay or Amazon to play over and over again? Let’s spin the disc and find out!

Three Lock Box opens with the title track, which is a cool rocker in typical Sammy Hagar fashion – old school, hard chord, rock and roll. A simple song that is hard to escape with a melody that is difficult to put out of your head. Three Lock Box is certainly a great song.

Remote Love is the second song on the disc and is a little slower, not quite a power ballad, but a more radio friendly song that swoons. It’s the pain filled agony of a distant lover, when once they used to be close. The love is still there, but it’s slowly drifting away.

Remember the Heroes is a meaningful song reminding us all there are people putting their lives on the line to defend our freedoms. They are taking the risks so that we have the right to choose. The meaning of this song is timeless, as poignant today as it was in 1982. Thank a veteran.

You’re Love Is Driving Me Crazy is the best song of the disc and could be one of Sammy’s best songs ever. A ballad with punch, it’s a song that gets into your head, never leaves, and consumes. You’ll be compelled to sing it over and over again after one or two listens. This is another song that stands the test of time and would be just as well received if it were released today.

Rise of the Animal is by far the heaviest track on the disc and has the feel of a red rocker song. Ballsy with heavy guitar work and screeching Sammy vocals, this is a classic deep cut that time has forgotten about.

Heavy on keyboards played by Alan Pasqua, Three Lock Box is lacking on guitar and heavy drums, opting more for the “new wave” sound of the early 80s. In certain regards, that puts this album in the very cheesy category. Released when Devo, The Stray Cats, and Flock of Seagulls were huge, Sammy may have just been trying to keep up.

In retrospect, more than 25 years after its initial release Three Lock Box is still a solid disc with a decent track selection. While most of the songs were recorded more for their time, there are a couple of stand- out tracks that have held up through the years and makes the investment (of both time and money) worthwhile.

Ryo’s Rating: 6.5 (out of 10)

Tracklisting
Three Lock Box
Remote Love
Remember the Heroes
Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy
In The Room
Rise of the Animal
I Wouldn’t Change a Thing
Growing Up
Never Give Up
I Don’t Need Love

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