I Never Said Goodbye

I Never Said Goodbye is a record on which Sammy Hagar’s high, breaking-through voice and a hard-rock frame stripped of the excess join straightforwardly. The songs are short and positive, and the guitar riffs and choruses stay in the ear at once. It is a spirited solo record released after he joined Van Halen. The light drive of “Give to Live” and the expansive melody of “Eagles Fly” well express the bright energy in his solo work, while the strength of “Hands and Knees” and the lyricism of “Returning Home” give the album dynamics. His good rapport with producer Ted Templeman also shows in the tightened sound. Unforced yet powerful in its playing throughout, it lets you fully savor a 1980s rock-and-roll briskness. A stance of winning on clear hooks and the drive of the singing rather than flashy experiment feels good. It is a fulfilling record that concentrates the appeal of Sammy Hagar as a solo artist in compact form.