Standing Hampton
CD 1982 Solo

Liner Notes

Standing Hampton is a Sammy Hagar solo album, his first after moving from Capitol Records to Geffen. Five of its singles charted in either the mainstream rock or pop singles charts. Sammy has said that he was originally going to title this album "One Way To Rock". It was a British fan who told him of the term that came to be the title. In Cockney rhyming slang, a "Hampton" is a term for a penis. One that is "Standing", of course, would be a reference to an erection. This led to the cover art that shows a gentleman greeting a woman in various states of undress.

 12 Redhead Comments

Rocky5150's picture

“Baby it’s you” is right up with his best songs ever. It gives you goosebumps. The whole album is his benchmark solo album.

Wilson_Alexandre's picture

Standing Hampton is another Sammy Hagar album that was never released in Brazil by record labels or radio stations here, but which I launched at my rock club in 1982. By that time, Sammy Hagar was very famous among the guys that went to our rock club, and Sammy Hagar's songs from all the albums until Standing Hampton's release were played every weekend there. Standing Hampton, like all Sammy Hagar records, brings great memories to Brazilian fans. In 1982 it was easier to buy vinyl records imported in Brazil although we are at the end of the military government that censored and prohibited everything foreign. It was from this time that other rock houses emerged in Brazil and the rocker public could buy imported records after listening to them at these nightclubs, especially the Hagar records, because my sound team and I did a work in Brazil that should be the responsibility of the mainstream media, but unfortunately neither radio stations nor record labels nor TV did not do this work. This has happened to several rock bands that have not had their albums released in Brazil or that were released up to 6 years late here, such as: Aerosmith, AC / DC, Queen, Foghat, Ted Nugent, Scorpions, UFO, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, among other bands. Only me and my team played imported rock records from bands previously unknown to Brazilian audiences in our little pub where we played mechanical music (vinyl records) for years and years (3 decades), doing gigantic outreach work after all. . At that time Sammy Hagar was already well known by Brazilian rock fans because the success of his songs spread like fever among lovers of rock music. So many fans still prefer Sammy's solo albums more than Hagar's albums he later released with Van Halen. In 1982 the Britsh Heavy Metal wave invaded the planet, including Brazil, but we still had to import records from good bands.
Imported vinyl records were expensive and kept like pearls by DJs and collectors like me. Getting a simple picture of our rock heroes was almost impossible, but from the 1980s onwards this began to change with the arrival of the Heavy Metal wave and the WEB worldwide. Sammy Hagar's songs played a pivotal role for rock fans around the world because undoubtedly Sammy Hagar and his band have acted as a bridge between generations, different eras and music waves. Sammy Hagar was the bridge between 1970s music and the new wave of the coming 80s, just as Sammy Hagar has been another bridge between the 1990s and 2000s after Van Halen.
I would say that Sammy Hagar's music speaks exactly the language of youth in every decade and reflects everything young people want to hear.
There's Only One Way to Rock, translates this feeling and was one of the songs I promoted in Brazil along with Baby, It's You, Heavy Metal and Piece of My Heart from this album. Great album by Sammy Hagar.

Wilson_Alexandre's picture

I will comment tomorrow about this album that was never released in Brazil but that I promoted in my country when I was a Dj. Rock and about the other albums released later night. It's late and I have to sleep because I'm still on cancer treatment. Talking about music is a great terapy for me.

I will comment tomorrow about this great Sammy Hagar's album.

Tor33rpm's picture

I waited years for Sammy to sign this record. I kept it in a plastic sleeve since it was released and it was in PERFECT condition. 1998......Finally met Sammy and passed it off to him with a red sharpie.. Some dude rips it out of his hands before he inked it. Security then escorts him away. I picked up the record off of the ground. It was trampled and bent, but the vinyl was not trashed......thank God. I could tell he felt bad as he looked back at me while security basically picked him up and whisked him away. Still play that record to this day.

Germanator's picture

My first Sammy show. Quarter flash was the opening band. Sammy rocked the house.

lubeguy121's picture

I got this an tape when I was at college and it was on most of time but I have just got it on cd and I love it but I miss the extra tracks only on the tape in the UK . Sweet hitchhiker and can't get loose are my fav traks and I saw Sammy when he played in Manchester Uk with Deff Leppard backing him up , and they both are just getting better all the time .

krlindbeck's picture

although the first Sammy album I owned was VOA (2nd was "i'll never say goodbye") this album is what really broke Sammy into the radios. I love this album and "Baby's On Fire" is my favorite Sammy jam of all time (seen Sammy 4 times live and he has yet to play it).

SGrepo71's picture

This is the album that i bought in sound city records in Nyc at 10yrs old...got me hook line and sinker ....30 yrs later....Still rockin.........thanks Sammy.......

brettc020's picture

Some of Sammys best written songs ever on this album. "Baby its you" and "Cant get loose" are amazing lyrics......I love Sammys rendition of "Piece of my heart" too, with the sax solo. This is Sammys best album solo wise, very well balanced and under-rated in the rock world.

baldredhead's picture

BABY'S ON FIRE is the shiznet!!!

benisme_123's picture

My Fav SH solo album from the 80's. The definition of classic hard rock, every song is killer!

Personal Fav's are "Baby It's You", " Inside Lookin' In", "Can't Get Loose" and "Heavy Metal".

The whole album is great and i'm new to it so i'll probably keep changing my favs, guess thats what great albums do!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!!........to anyone who likes to RRRROOOCCCKKK!!!!!!!!!!

The Rocker Chic's picture

Standing Hampton changed my life!! I recieved this cassett and concert tickets for my birthday. The gift was from my first love. A long haired, guitar playin guy who loved Sammy Hagar!! He also interducted me to "Montrose". This gift of music couldn't have came at a better time in my life! My father unexpectedly past away, suddenly just days before my 16th birthday. Being young and easly influenced, looked for easy emotional fixes in the wrong places, people & devises. I was expectedly sad.I found myself gathering my thoughts, listening to hours of Sammy. Without knowing it, had found a Happy place within his music.Thats all i wanted was my quiet time and Sammy. Shortly after, We had went to see Sammys Concert. It blew me away! The energy, lights, larger than life and I knew pretty much all the words. Like nothing I had ever experienced! I was excited, happy and enjoying this music, my life. That changed my world, the way i was inspired, woke me up! I knew rock music was my calling.I owe it all to Sammy Hagar. Thanks Sammy!!