Winner Takes It All (Sammy Hagar song)
"Winner Takes It All " is a 1987 rock song by Sammy Hagar, written by record producer Giorgio Moroder and Thomas Whitlock. Originally was included in the soundtrack of the Sylvester Stallone movie Over the Top, being the first track and second single from the album. It was released as a single through CBS Records. The song peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart[1] and No. 54 on their Hot 100 chart.[2] It appears in Hagar's 2004 compilation album The Essential Red Collection.
| "Winner Takes It All" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Sammy Hagar | ||||
| from the album Over the Top soundtrack | ||||
| B-side | "The Fight" | |||
| Released | February 11, 1987 | |||
| Recorded | 1987 | |||
| Studio | Sound City Studios, Los Angeles CA | |||
| Genre | Hard rock | |||
| Length | 3:59 | |||
| Label | CBS, Columbia | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Giorgio Moroder, Thomas Whitlock | |||
| Producer(s) | Edward Van Halen, Sammy Hagar | |||
| Sammy Hagar singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background
In late 1986, producer / director of the film Over the Top Menahem Golan chose prestigious Italian composer and record producer Giorgio Moroder as music supervisor of the soundtrack. Moroder was in charge of creating a concept album with a compilation of new songs in different genres and diverse artists, writing most tracks on the album himself in collaboration with Tom Whitlock.[3]
Originally, Moroder contacted John Wetton, lead singer of the rock group Asia, to sing "Winner Takes It All" for the film, but after performing the song, it was felt that his voice wasn't "mean" enough. Instead, the song was offered to, Sammy Hagar, by then the successful new singer of Van Halen, and gave him the possibility that he chose his own session musicians.
Hagar's version, featuring a bass guitar solo from Hagar's then-bandmate Edward Van Halen ended up being the one on the soundtrack. For the recording, drummer Denny Carmassi —a longtime friend of Hagar and ex-bandmate in Montrose—was also invited.
Hagar never included "Winner Takes It All" in a solo studio album and live performances, and did not appear in most of his authorized compilations, remaining one of the most underrated songs in his catalog. He said in his video commentary on the DVD The Long Road to Cabo that he was unenthusiastic about the song, by being focused on his career with Van Halen, and being used to recording his own songs.
Music video
The song's music video was made via Geffen Records – then Hagar's record label – although its director was not officially accredited.[4] It shows Sammy Hagar performs the song with his guitar, as well as a mix of some of the most vibrant scenes of the film.
The music video opens with Hagar running barefoot to the camera and playing guitar. As he sings the song, clips from the film play throughout. In the end, Hagar arm wrestles with Sylvester Stallone's character, Lincoln Hawk, and Hagar wins.
He said that Stallone gave him his black cap at the end of the shoot of the music video, both signed it, and the cap went to charity, fetching around $10,000.
Track listing
- "Winner Takes It All" – 3:58
- "The Fight" (Instrumental) – 3:55
Personnel
- Sammy Hagar – vocals, lead guitar
- Edward Van Halen – rhythm guitar, bass, backing vocals
- Denny Carmassi – drums
- Giorgio Moroder – synthesizer
- Edward Van Halen, Sammy Hagar – producers