A Definitive American Hard Rock Classic. RIP Ronnie Montrose,
5 Out of 5 Stars
The 1973 debut of Ronnie Montrose's self-named band was probably not expected to be a big deal. After all, Montrose himslef was a session pro, his mates Denny Carmassi (drums) and Bill Church (bass) were unknowns, and some kid named Sam Hagar on lead vocals. Frankly, the initial response was underwhelming; the album peaked on Billboard's album charts at 133 and Hagar split after the second Montrose album, "Paper Money." In fact, Ronnie's next band, Gamma, had their second album peak at 65, the highest any Montrose album ever rose to. Who knew that, decades later, "Montrose" would become a platinum seller, Hagar a star on his own, and some upstart band called Van Halen all but ripping off the Montrose debut sound just a few years later?
Well, anyone who had "Montrose" in 1974. Ronnie, who passed away March 4, 2012 could make his guitar squeal like "Space Station #5," rev like a rocketed "Bad Motor Scooter," or spike you with hot leads like "Rock Candy." Hagar was already displaying the burning fire vocals that would eventually make him a solo headliner, and the Carmassi/Church rhythm section pounded like the wheels would fall off the truck any moment. if you think that the album was recorded in 1973 (released in December of that year) and think about most of the rock of the time like BTO, Grand Funk, The Rolling Stones' "It's Only Rock and Roll", then "Montrose seems light years beyond it's debut year. (To the credit of '73, "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath," "Billion Dollar Babies" and Deep Purple's "Who Do We think We Are" were released that year.)
"Whether I'm 12 or whether I'm 64 - I spend my time like there ain't gonna be no' more," Hagar howls in "Make It Last." "Montrose" landed like a lightning bolt and left a lasting impression on those of us who got it the first time around. RIP Ronnie. You rocked my world at 14, and still bring the "Good Rockin' Tonight."
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