While I was out West this last weekend attending my daughter’s wedding, Sammy Hagar released a live album with performances culled from his Las Vegas residency, creatively titled The Residency. Sammy shares co-billing on the album cover (pictured above) with the Best Of Both World Band featuring Joe Satriani (guitar), his erstwhile bandmate in VH Michael Anthony (bass), Kenny Arnonoff (drums) who has played with Mellencamp, John Fogerty, and the Smashing Pumpkins. The band is augmented with multi-instrumentalist Rai Thistlewayte (guitar/vocals/keyboards). I don’t know if Rai is British, but is there a more British name than “Thistlewayte”? We’re going out to my country estate, Thistlewayte Manor, this weekend… Of course, Sammy has played with Satriani before in Chickenfoot and he and Anthony have played together since they both left or were summarily dismissed from Van Halen.

I read that Sammy didn’t really want to do a live album. And admittedly, when I heard he had a live album coming out I was left thinking that Sammy was one of those artists who had never released a live album. He certainly wasn’t on my radar for my “Essential Live LPs” list. Clearly, I was wrong about that – his first live album came out in ’78 – and he even recently dropped a live album entitled At Your Service recorded with the band known as Sammy Hagar And the Circle which featured Anthony (VH) on bass, Jason Bonham  (John Bonham of Led Zeppelin’s son) on drums and Vic Johnson (Waboritas) on guitar. I had completely forgotten about that one which is perhaps telling in terms of why Hagar wasn’t terribly interested in doing another live album. That album featured tunes from Hagar’s solo record, his time in Van Halen or Van Hagar if you prefer that name, and tunes from Zeppelin and even Montrose. It seemed to celebrate each band member’s past career.

Sammy apparently sent some of the recordings to producer Chris Lord Alge and he mixed it so the audience is almost a part of the show and after hearing it, Sammy was all in. He has compared this album to Frampton Comes Alive. While I support Sammy’s enthusiasm, I’m not sold on that particular comparison. The whole “Best Of Both Worlds” residency, and band name, was a nod to Sammy’s days in Van Halen. I think he got the idea after the passing of his old bandmate, Eddie Van Halen. I had expected this album to be exclusively Van Hagar tunes but it also features Sammy solo tunes. Hence the “both worlds” part of the title. Sammy’s actually put out a couple of great singles this year, one with Joe Bonamassa, “Fortune Tellers Blues,” which is sadly not here, and the tribute to Eddie Van Halen, “Encore, Thank You, Goodnight.”

While I don’t consider this live album to be up there with Frampton Comes Alive, it is a fun, high energy rock n roll live album. Sammy couldn’t have found a better guitar player to play Eddie Van Halen riffs than Joe Satriani. You could close your eyes and think this was Eddie playing these great VH tunes. The album starts with Sammy’s latest single, the aforementioned “Encore, Thank You, Goodnight,” that Sammy says he co wrote with Eddie in a dream where the late guitarist appeared to him. It starts off with snatches of “Eruption” and Satriani nails it. I saw VH on the 5150 and the For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge tours and Satriani really recaptures that sound. Anthony provides his great harmony/background vocals and I suspect those are augmented by Rai who provides vocals as well. Rai also nails all the Eddie keyboard parts. Aronoff is a bit of a pounder, but it works. This is a great celebration of Sammy’s time with that seminal band and his solo career.

After opening with “Encore, Thank You, Goodnight” the band launches into one of my favorites, “Top Of The World.” It was also great to hear “Summer Nights” which is our our Playlist: Summer/Sun 2.0. Satriani does some nice solo’ing to kick off “There’s Only One Way To Rock.” The crowd does seem very into this and you can hear them through out and that certainly elevates the energy. Other highlights include the soundtrack song “Humans Being,” which I always dug, “Right Now,” who doesn’t remember that video, and deeptrack “5150.” They even do a Roth-era song in “Ain’t Talkin’ Bout Love.” I think Sammy did that one on his lone live LP with the band. “Best Of Both Worlds” is one of my favorite songs but it’s marred by Sammy dropping into Kool & the Gang’s “Celebrate Good Times.” Sigh.

“Why Can’t This Be Love” brings out a huge scream from the crowd. I was delighted to see them veer into Sammy’s very early career with a Montrose song, “Rock Candy.” I’d have loved to have also heard them do “Bad Motor Scooter” but I think they did that one on his last live LP. From Sammy’s best album, Standing Hampton, they do the song that was also used as one of the title tracks for the animated film Heavy Metal, entitled of course, “Heavy Metal.” I’ve always loved the part where Sammy sings, “It’s a one way ticket to midnight, heavy metal…” Oh, yes. After a rousing “I Can’t Drive 55” he brings it down for “Love Walks In.” They keep the mellow vibe through the last song with “When It’s Love.” For a record that starts so high energy it was a surprise to have two ballads at the end, but then I’m splitting hairs.

Again, this isn’t a live album that’s going to change anybody’s life, but it’s a fun rocking hour and a half. It’s a wonderful, upbeat mental escape. This is an album I could play at a party! It’s certainly better than most the music I heard at the reception I just attended, no offense to these kids. If you like Sammy or his era in Van Halen, this is a live album, played very well, that you’re gonna love. Turn this one up loud…

Although… I think Sammy was wrong… I think there are more than one way to rock, but maybe that’s just me.

Take care of each other out there! Cheers!