On this day June 23, 1987, Sammy Hagar released his ninth solo album I Never Said Goodbye. The album was recorded during his time with Van Halen and is sometimes viewed as a bridge between his solo career and his role as the band’s frontman. It was originally untitled, but Hagar named it I Never Said Goodbye after a fan contest.
The album reached number 14 on the Billboard charts and featured the hit single Give to Live, which became one of Hagar’s most recognized solo tracks. With a mix of heartfelt ballads and hard hitting rock, the album showed that Hagar still had plenty to say as a solo artist even while fronting one of the biggest rock bands in the world.
80s insight: I Never Said Goodbye captured a rare moment where a major artist balanced life in a supergroup with the soul of a solo rocker, offering fans a deeper look into Sammy Hagar’s evolving sound during the height of 80s rock.