1984 was an anticlimax year for those who thought that George Orwell’s prediction would come through via his best-selling 1984 novel about totalitarian government. It was also a build-up year for the trashiest of 1980s commercialized keyboard music. Additionally, Ronald Reagan was re-elected yet again in the United States. Ironically, along with Van Halen’s 1984 album (of whom Sammy Hagar would soon join that band), this album is the best of rock music in that year. It defined the times and has aged very well over the years. Sammy Hagar had cut himself a successful solo career, full of great twists and turns by this point. This album is worth hunting down if you are up to it. The title of the album itself is a reference to the Voice Of America broadcast network. Without any further hesitation, let’s take a listen to this album and hear if it is any good.

I Can’t Drive 55 is based on a true story of Sammy Hagar being unable to follow the speed limits in the USA. Oddly enough, this song was immensely beneficial to him in that area of his life. It is also one of his solo career high points. It begins with a massive drum roll, with loud and heavy Rock guitars and sounds quite interesting musically. Eventually, this song launches into the verses at hand. Sammy Hagar sings gloriously here, and he sings about the issues travelling to the legal speed limits by car. “Go on and write me up for 125, post my face wanted dead or alive, take my licence and all that jive, I Can’t Drive 55!” is a brilliant chorus to sum it all up. Sammy Hagar the Red Rocker himself sings extremely well on this song, and he sounds magnificent. A cool, clever and interesting listening experience that makes perfect sense to those who drag race or regularly break the speed limits. Nonetheless, this Rock anthem is a must-listen for all 1980s Heavy Rock and Sammy Hagar fans out there. This is a really excellent and wonderful listening experience that sounds totally awesome. The guitar solo in the second half is really cool, too, quickly launching back into the verses at hand. An enjoyable and wonderful tune from start to finish. A great song, period. Worth your time and ears, without a doubt. Awesome song, all the way through to the fade out.

Swept Away begins with some unusual guitar chords being played on what is likely a Gibson Les Paul. Soon enough, this launches into a magical piece of music with wind chimes, acoustic guitar and excellent singing by Sammy Hagar. The bridge rolls along and this is a song of pure romance. It works very well. Soon enough, the chorus and electric guitar riffs enter, and this piece truly comes alive. “One night, and I’m hooked on you! One kiss, and there’s nothing I can do. First love, she had to be so far away…first time, I’ve been swept away…” are some absolutely awesome lyrics at hand. A really good piece of music to play to your girlfriend on an exotic holiday in Bali, Thailand or a similar tropical location. Sammy Hagar recorded some amazing vocals on this tune. The second half of the song is a little different, with quirky chord progressions and a different melodic section of music altogether. A cool, pleasant and enjoyable listen. If you are deeply in love with someone, this song makes perfect sense. It sounds a bit like Yes, but that is forgivable. The extended outro is absolutely fantastic, and the whole tune sounds really awesome and upbeat. A great, great song. Definitely worth your time. A top-notch song, complete with a very 1980s-sounding outro. Fantastic.

Rock Is In My Blood begins with a drum roll and launches into another decent cut from Sammy Hagar. It still sounds great and interesting, just like the songs before it. A tremendously awesome and interesting being about romance-based issues, which leads into an equally tremendously awesome chorus, this still sounds really fantastic to this day. Sammy Hagar plays and sings so well that this is one of the most definitive albums of the 1980s. Period. This tune is an interesting and animated listening experience from the Red Rocker. Sure, it is not as good as the first two tracks, but it still sounds excellent. Sammy Hagar proved himself to be a great musician throughout and is one of the definitive singing voices in Rock music to this very day. All in all, a great and anthemic Rock song that, although is not the greatest song on this album, still works incredibly well. Rock fans in particular will approve of this listen. Brilliant and awesome throughout. It ends with a soaring vocal from Sammy Hagar and crashing guitar chords.

Two Sides Of Love is about the pros and cons of love, put nicely into a Rock ballad by Sammy Hagar. The guitars sound great from the start, and this tune kicks into a glorious Pop/Rock staple of the mid-1980s. This is one of the highlights of this album, and nonetheless, sounds great. This is likely inspired by some real-life circumstances in Sammy Hagar’s own life. Nonetheless, this is a great example of Sammy Hagar’s solo career. Put simply, it sounds great and makes sense. A great listen, tinged with regrets for a lady in one’s life. The guitar solo, again, is really fantastic to listen to. A fine and sweet tune with an anthemic chorus about a lover who cries herself to sleep at night. This is genuinely awesome, all the same. It sounds fantastic, even today. Great job, Sammy Hagar and friends, this is an unforgettable song. Definitely worth your time. The long outro is excellent.

Dick In The Dirt is obviously a sexual reference. It begins with some interesting drumming and launches right into a song that is a tale about a guy who loves chasing women. An awesome and upbeat tune. Again, this isn’t the greatest song from this album, but it does kick the proverbial very nicely. The character in this song (Richard) obviously is a bit of a player with the ladies, with a lyrical twist throughout. There is a build-up to a well-played guitar solo here, and the whole tune is awesome and pulsating with Rock energy. The solo itself is really amazing sounding and excellent. A great example of the better side of the 1980s, and this tune comes nicely alive. The latter verses make this tune become even more interesting throughout. This is a great song about a man whore who likes doing it with all the ladies. Great to listen to, put simply, this sounds great. A genuinely cool song. It ends with loads of guitar soloing and a fade-out.

V.O.A. begins with more rapid-fire crashing drums, 1980s sounding organ and Heavy Rock guitars. It launches into a centrepiece tune on this album that sounds astonishingly great. Sammy Hagar delivers another good song here, and he does sound like he is in top form. The chorus is a chanted piece with some great singing. An uplifting and awesome tune to listen to. Referencing the great holiday locations of the world (namely the Middle East and the then U.S.S.R.), this is a very picturesque listen. It does sound great, all the way through. In the second half are gurgling basslines, sustained guitar chords and some other weird and unusual sounds. There is a Pink Floydian guitar solo on this as well. Eventually, guitars and crashing drums lead up to the climax of this song with a call-and-response set of vocal parts. A very catchy and upbeat tune to listen to, Sammy Hagar puts in a fantastic vocal part to surprise and dazzle all, before this song quickly wraps up. A fine listen, with a chaotic outro.

Don’t Make Me Wait is another ballad-styled tune that is rather downtempo. This has some excellent guitar parts throughout it. Sammy Hagar quickly launches into another passionate love song that sounds undeniably and totally awesome. This is a great Pop/Rock ballad to hear and play to your friends to surprise them by your musical tastes. Regardless, this does sound undeniably cool and sweet. The music on this tune is outstanding, and this is a lesser track from this album. It works very well and the chorus says it all. There is a great guitar solo in the middle, along with some brilliant vocal work from Sammy Hagar. The guitar playing here is quite insane. Nonetheless, this is an awesome sonic adventure that works incredibly well. The Red Rocker begs a lady to get closer to him, for the sake of preserving a relationship. A lively and tuneful listen, worth your ears. The outro is excellent as well.

Burnin’ Down The City begins with some muted wah-wah guitars and launches into an okay-ish sounding tune. It’s clear why this is last on the list, it isn’t as good as hoped for. Still, it is very listenable and enjoyable. The guitar riffs are quite good, driving this song along well. Sammy Hagar delivers regardless, and he does very nicely on this song, even if it is filler. A powerful and rocking statement musically, this is a good tune for Sammy Hagar to finish up his shows with, should he desire to do so. It is rather slow and lengthy, which is disappointing. Still, that is forgivable at this point. The song is powerful and interesting listening regardless. A chant inducing anthem for 1980s Heavy Rock fans. The second half changes somewhat and has some heavy guitar riffing to boot. This is followed by a Kramer guitar-style solo, with unusual and excellent musical techniques to it. This does sound dramatic, even if it is lacking at times. The outro has some neat guitar work and some decent playing by the band, with Sammy Hagar singing well over the top of it all. A good song to finish off a solo album before fate changed Sammy Hagar’s musical path. It ends after over five and a half minutes, rather lengthy.

This is a very good release by Sammy Hagar that is chock full of surprises. It is also one of the definitive albums of the 1980s. Rock rarely sounded better around this time. Shortly after this release, Sammy Hagar received a phone call from Eddie Van Halen and the rest is history. Still, this is ear candy one can enjoy. Should you listen to this album? If you want to hear a great 1980s release, then this should be one of your go-to points musically.

Very decent and consistent musically.

8/10