blackleatherbookshelf | Entries tagged with montrose

Crimson Intensity
4 Out Of 5 Stars

You gotta hand it to Sammy Hagar. He's jumped careers so many times that it's hard to keep up. Frontman for Montrose, Solo Act, Van Halen's second act frontman while still solo Sammy, Post VH breakup solo, Chickenfoot. And a few soundtrack hits on the side. If there was ever a case for rocker as journeyman, Hagar fits the bill. With "The Essential Red Collection," he finally gets his due as Sammy the frontman.

Other than his best song from Montose, "Bad Motor Scooter," this disc covers solo songs from soundtracks, his Capitol years, the breakout years on Geffen, and a couple since becoming as well known for his tequila as his guitar work. Like his Tequila, Sammy knows how to hook you with spiky good hooks that taste great. There's populist Sammy ("Heavy Metal," "I Can't Drive 55"), speed demon Sammy ("Eagles Fly," "Bad Motor Scooter") and pop hook singles Sammy ("I'll Fall In Love Again," "The Girl Gets Around" from Footloose). Hard rock is his forte, but he knows how to reel in radio (and in its height, MTV, which even sponsored a "name the album" contest with Hagar).

Granted, I miss a few personal faves, like "VOA," "The Iceman" or Montrose's "Space Station #5," but the disc is packed to the limit. Commercial Rock doesn't come much better, or with this much crunch.

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Current Mood: restless
Current Location: Philadelphia
Current Music: "Heavy Metal" Sammy Hagar

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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Current Mood: chipper
Current Location: Philadelphia
Current Music: "Bad Motor Scooter" Montrose

Maybe one of Rock's most underrated guitarists: his 1974 "Band" debut is an American Heavy Metal classic, and introduced the world to Sammy Hagar. Also had hits with his band "Gamma."