If you're a hard rock/classic rock fan, then you should get this album cause it rocks.

I've heard better RATT albums...
Albums like "Hair of the Dog" by Nazareth represent the reason so many have complained about marginal 70's rock and roll. These guys sound like RATT, except they take themselves seriously and they don't exude as much flair or excitement. Somehow, they get played on classic rock stations all over the country because of the two overplayed hits on this album, "Love Hurts" and the title track. From the cheesy album artwork to even cheesier titles like "Rose in the Heather," "Whiskey Drinkin' Woman," and "Please Don't Judas Me," this is a mundane album at best. I only heard it after stumbling on it from a friend at work who owned it and wanted me to hear it. My first thought was the guy sounded like a combination of Axl Rose, Stephen Pearcy of RATT, with a slight mix of Rob Halford of Judas Priest. The inevitable flashy guitar solos somewhat save this record, but mostly it's just half-baked Led Zeppelin, standard tunes that sound cliched even by 1975 standards.

Arguably Nazareth's Best, But....
Opt for the import version with the 6 bonus tracks instead of this release. A much better "bang for the buck" and the bonus tracks are pretty decent (compared to Judas Priest, Blue Oyster Cult, & Motorhead releases where the bonus tracks are virtually unlistenable). But man, can ya get much better on a intro than the title track, "Hair Of The Dog"? "The Dog" is a bonified classic, right up there with Montrose's "Rock The Nation" for top hard rock intro of the 70's.
This album is a must have for any fan of 70's hard rock. So if you ain't got it yet, add to cart.

A Landmark Recording For the Hard Rock Genre
If there were a museum that showcased the most essential albums in hard rock, Nazareth's "Hair of the Dog" would surely be behind a glass display case. It streamlined all of the important aspects that characterized the genre; gritty, riff-driven rock and a great level of accessibility. The album is full of talking-guitar techniques, powerhouse structures, and most importantly, a flexibility that is rarely found in most heavy metal albums: ballads that meant something and rockers that meant even more. Nazareth was one of the few bands that could pull off an equal balance of driving rock and power ballads that didn't sound overdone and empty. For instance, it's hard to find a band that could execute the anthemic title track, then craft a ballad such as the rendition of 'Love Hurts.' (It's a shame however that the power-ballad category would be turned into nothing more than a musical joke in the next decade, due to acts like Poison, Whitesnake, or Warrant.) Some more interesting moments are found in 'Rose in the Heather,' the doom of 'Miss Misery,' and the paranoid closer 'Please Don't Judas Me,' one of the songs that shows that not all songs associated with the word 'experiment' are wastes of time. All told, "Hair of the Dog" is an essential piece of rock music, the blueprint for many acts to follow.

THE WILD BOYS FROM SCOTLAND DO IT AGAIN!
This was Nazareth's most famous album, but not their best. Few fans are even aware that they released five albums BEFORE this one! I'm not a big fan of the title track and "Love Hurts", simply because they're overplayed on the radio. However, the latter is painfully emotional with some heartfelt, gorgeous slide guitar. But the real defining moment on here is the monstrous "Miss Misery". This is undoubtedly one of the heaviest, most aggressive songs ever recorded. Those of you who thought that Black Sabbath were the heaviest band of that era better listen long and hard to this song. It sounds angry enough to kill, and Dan wails out the vocals over a POUNDING beat from the rest of the band. This is just heavy metal glory! Add to this some excellent jams like "Changin' Times", the funky "Beggar's Day" and "Please Don't Judas Me", and you have one awesome album. And then there's "Rose In The Heather", a beautiful guitar instrumental that few people seem to like for some reason. Personally, I love it. Oh, and I almost forgot about "Whiskey Drinkin' Woman", which is also fantastic. And this is the only song on the album in which Dan does not use his 'screechy' voice. The guy could sing in about four or five different vocal styles, and was really an overlooked vocalist. So yes, this album is definitely a killer but if you want to hear Nazareth at their best and most raw, get "Razamanaz" or the debut album, both of which are almost impossible to find, thanks to the record companies.
By the way, Nazareth puts Black Sabbath to shame any day of the week.