Lighten Up

Album: Chickenfoot III (2011)
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Songfacts®:

  • The genesis of this Chickenfoot III track was a 15-second recording of vocalist Sammy Hagar in an intense mood angrily playing three chords. Guitarist Joe Satriani told MusicRadar.com: "There wasn't a lot to go on, a song written around A, G and E, but there was something about his attitude that was very unique. Basically, I wrote the song around that."
  • The recording went well but when Satriani went to lay down overdubs, he found it hard to tell where the key signature was in the verses. He recalled to MusicRadar.com: "It was very strange. I had a hard time finding my footing. I was like, 'I'm not into this.'" The next day, (co-producer) Mike Fraser must have been reading my mind that it was bugging me, because he suggested we try again. We ended up replacing the live guitar all the way through. Then I did overdubs, and everything just clicked - it sounded fantastic."

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