Album review: DAVID HASSELHOFF – Open Your Eyes

Cleopatra Records [Release date 29.09.19]

David Hasselhoff, or the Hoff to his many fans, is no stranger to the recording studio having released his first album way back in 1985. He has always been big in Germany, indeed this album has already charted at number 57 in the German album charts (and he has had number one albums in Austria and Switzerland!). ‘Open Your Eyes’ is a set of covers with Hasselhoff joined by a number of musical guests, with an overriding theme of the 80’s in many of the songs.

There are some off the wall collaborations on here, the pick of which has to be the Hoff teaming up with Ministry for the Neil Diamond classic ‘Sweet Caroline’. Musical genius or madness, you decide! Nice version of Glen Campbell’s ‘Rhinestone Cowboy’ which features a guest spot from country legend Charlie Daniels.

The lead single and album title track (originally by The Lords of The New Church) and Echo & the Bunnymen’s ‘Lips Like Sugar’ (featuring 80’s haircut disasters the A Flock Of Seagulls) work very well indeed. Both successfully mix 80s sounds and a more modern production.

L.A. Guns guitarist Tracii Guns pops-up on Whitesnake’s ‘Here I Go Again’. Oh dear he is no Coverdale but the guitar solo and the fact it is a damn fine song saves the day – just.

There are however some duffers like the Sinatra classic ‘That’s Life’. A brave attempt but nobody is going to beat the David Lee Roth version for me. Also ‘Jump In My Car’ featuring Todd Rundgren falls flat. Bowie’s ‘Heroes’, despite Hasselhoff showing off his German midway through the song, doesn’t really suit him and the Archies ‘Sugar Sugar’ was bad enough first time around without the need of another version of the song.

Not the best singer but he certainly puts his heart into the songs and he must have enjoyed recording them. One for streaming and playlists rather than having the complete album methinks. ***

Review by Jason Ritchie

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