by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

After releasing several competent but more or less undistinguished albums on Capitol, Sammy Hagar switched to Geffen in 1981 and released Standing Hampton, a polished but tough record that showed a surprising amount of pop songcraft. The added production gloss and improved melodic sense proved commercially successful -- the album was his first million-seller and it cracked the Top 30 -- and artistically successful as well; the record was the most consistent and memorable album he had recorded to date, featuring the singles "I'll Fall in Love Again," "Baby's on Fire," and "There's Only One Way to Rock."