HAGAR, SAMMY voa 28AP2899

The Red Rocker’s Defining Moment: Sammy Hagar’s ‘VOA’ (28AP 2899)

Today’s entry highlights the album that launched one of rock’s most enduring anthems and set the stage for a major shift in rock history. We are examining the 1984 Japanese pressing of VOA (Voice of America) by Sammy Hagar, released on Geffen Records with the catalog number 28AP 2899.

“I Can’t Drive 55”

Released on September 21, 1984, VOA is best known for its opening track, “I Can’t Drive 55,” a song that became Hagar’s signature hit and a staple of American rock radio. Produced by Ted Templeman (who was famously producing Van Halen at the same time), the album features a polished, punchy sound. This would be Hagar’s final solo album before joining Van Halen the following year. Backed by his longtime band (often called The Waboritas) featuring David Lauser, Bill Church, Gary Pihl, and Jesse Harms, the album delivers high-energy melodic hard rock on tracks like “Two Sides Of Love” and the title track “VOA.”

Japanese “Hard N Heavy” Series

Manufactured by CBS/Sony Inc., this release was part of the “Hard N Heavy” series, a marketing line dedicated to promoting hard rock in Japan. Japanese pressings from this era are renowned for their silent surfaces and dynamic range.

- Price: The original retail price was ¥2,800.

Deluxe Inclusions

This Japanese edition originally came with a wealth of inserts, making it a treat for collectors:

- Lyric Insert: A 4-page black and white insert featuring liner notes by Japanese critics Hideki Masubuchi and Tsuneo O’Mori, along with translated lyrics by Goro Nakagawa.
- Photo Insert: A 2-sided color insert featuring a photo of Sammy on one side and band credits on the reverse.
- Extras: Complete copies originally included a sticker and a postcard, though these are often missing in used copies. Your copy includes the essential lyric insert.

It is a crucial piece of 80s rock history, capturing the moment just before Hagar became the voice of Van Halen.