Released in 1979 Street Machine is Sammy Hagar's fifth solo studio release for Capitol Records, The recording is tight, thanks to essential backup members Bill Church (bass), Chuck Ruff (drums), and, last but, certainly not least, Gary Pihl on guitar, and for the first time Sammy had control over the whole production. "Street Machine" is filled with good songs like the fantastic "Child To A Man", the first single "Plain Jane", "Growing Pains", "Feel Like Love", the rocker Planets On Fire with the classic guitar-riff and the lovely ballad "Falling In Love". (And then I havent mentioned the bonus track "Ive Done Everything For You" which is awesome AOR.) But I must admit that there are also material on "Street Machine" that doesn't sit on the same high level in the songwriting that Hagar spoiled us with during his Capitol-era. Perhaps some of you readers will "kill" me for this, but I think it's a pity to hear boring tunes like "Trans Am (Higway Wonderland)", "Woman In Love" and the boogie woogie-track "Straight To The Top" on the album. They don't give me nothing. But Sammy sings as good as always and that means world class and the main part of the songs on the album are more or less awesome, so don't get me wrong here... The album is of course worth buying because Hagar was unique back then combining AOR with the more classic early 70's rock-sound.
The collection contains extensive liner notes, photos and bonus tracks from a 1979 non-album single, "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay" and "I've Done Everything For You". And The track "Falling In Love" features backing vocals by Brad Delp, Barry Goudreau, and Sib Hashian of the group Boston.
