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

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)