SAMMY HAGAR & THE CIRCLE: Space Between (BMG)

HAGAR is a veteran, but the former Van Halen singer, 71, still sounds fresh on the first album of original material with a band initially put together to play his old hits. Assisted by drummer Jason Bonham (son of Led Zep’s John) and another Van Halen stalwart, bassist Michael Anthony, he explores heartland rock rather than the heavier sounds of old, mixing feelgood harmonies with crunching guitars on Bottom Line and semi-acoustic arena ballad Wide Open Space.