Standing Hampton is the sixth studio album by American rock vocalist Sammy Hagar, released on January 6, 1982,[2] by Geffen. This is his first album after moving from Capitol Records to Geffen. It was his first album to achieve RIAA certification, eventually going platinum,[3] and five of its singles charted in either the mainstream rock or pop singles charts.

Standing Hampton
Studio album by
ReleasedJanuary 6, 1982[1]
RecordedSpring–Summer 1981
StudioGoodnight L.A. Studios, Los Angeles
GenreHard rock
Length42:06
LabelGeffen
ProducerKeith Olsen
Sammy Hagar chronology
Danger Zone
(1980)
Standing Hampton
(1982)
Three Lock Box
(1982)

The British version of the album was released with a bonus interview 45 rpm called Conversations with Sammy Hagar (Geffen XPS 133).

Critical reception edit

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [4]
Record Mirror     [5]

Kerrang! reviewer Dante Bonutto praised the album opener "There's Only One Way to Rock" (in British editions it was a first track) and complained that the rest of the songs on the album could not match its energy and originality.[6]

Title and artwork edit

Hagar has said that he was originally going to call 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 substitution for penis (Hampton Wick rhymes with "Dick"). One that is "standing" would be a reference to an erection.[7] This led to the cover art that shows a gentleman greeting a woman in various states of undress. The liner notes on the inner sleeve state that the cover graphics were inspired by the work of Surrealist painter Paul Delvaux.

Song information edit

  • "I'll Fall in Love Again" was used in the soundtrack to the film Vision Quest.
  • A couple of non-album tracks, "Don't Get Hooked" and "Satisfied", appeared as B-sides and have not been released in any other format since.
  • "There's Only One Way to Rock" went on to be one of Hagar's biggest solo hits and a signature tune. This song, along with "I Can't Drive 55", were the two Hagar songs that Van Halen consistently played when he joined the band.
  • A different version of the song "Heavy Metal" was used for the soundtrack and the animated movie Heavy Metal.
  • The lyrics to the song "Inside Lookin' In" refers to "ringin' just like one UXB". UXB is an acronym for an "unexploded bomb".
  • The lyrics to "Sweet Hitchhiker" refers to "Blaupunkt blastin' my favorite song". Blaupunkt refers to a popular brand of car stereo.
  • "Piece of My Heart" is a cover of the song originally recorded by Erma Franklin and made famous by Janis Joplin.

Track listing edit

All songs written by Sammy Hagar, except where noted.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I'll Fall in Love Again" 4:15
2."There's Only One Way to Rock" 4:15
3."Baby's on Fire" 3:34
4."Can't Get Loose" 5:39
5."Heavy Metal"Hagar, Jim Peterik3:51
6."Baby, It's You" 4:46
7."Surrender"Chas Sandford3:15
8."Inside Lookin' In" 4:26
9."Sweet Hitchhiker"Hagar, David Lauser4:10
10."Piece of My Heart"Bert Berns, Jerry Ragovoy3:55
Total length:42:06

Charts edit

Charting Singles edit

Year Single Chart Position
1982 "Baby's on Fire" Billboard Mainstream Rock 35
1982 "Can't Get Loose" Billboard Mainstream Rock 49
1982 "I'll Fall in Love Again" Billboard Mainstream Rock 2
1982 "I'll Fall in Love Again" Billboard Pop Singles 43
1982 "Piece of My Heart" Billboard Pop Singles 73
1982 "Piece of My Heart" UK Singles[12] 67
1982 "There's Only One Way to Rock" Billboard Mainstream Rock 31

Certifications edit

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[13] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Personnel edit

Musicians edit

Production edit

Releases edit

  • Geffen Records (Japan): 25AP 2247
  • Geffen Records (Japan): MVCG 21004
  • Geffen Records (UK): GEF 85456
  • Geffen Records (Holland): GEF 45456
  • Geffen Records (Germany): GEFD 02006

References edit

  1. ^ Strong, Martin (1998). The Great Metal Discography. Canongate Books Ltd. p. 135. ISBN 0-86241-727-9.
  2. ^ "Standing Hampton". December 4, 2018.
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2006). The Billboard Albums. Joel Whitburn. p. 438. ISBN 0-89820-166-7.
  4. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Sammy Hagar — Standing Hampton review". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  5. ^ Smith, Robin (January 9, 1982). "Review: Sammy Hagar — Standing Hampton" (PDF). Record Mirror. p. 15. ISSN 0144-5804. Retrieved April 21, 2021 – via American Radio History.
  6. ^ Bonutto, Dante (1982). "Review: Sammy Hagar — Standing Hampton". Kerrang!. No. 10. London: Spotlight Publications Inc. p. 21. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  7. ^ Hagar, Sammy, In the Studio, show #305, original airdate: April 25, 1994
  8. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0487". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  9. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  10. ^ "Sammy Hagar Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  11. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1982". Billboard. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  12. ^ "Sammy Hagar > Artists > Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  13. ^ "American album certifications – Sammy Hagar – Standing Hampton". Recording Industry Association of America.

External links edit

Lyrics from Sammy's official site link