ALBUM OF THE WEEK # 39 MONTROSE - MONTROSE (1973)

[RJhog (Admin)]

                                                    ***click album cover to listen***

1. Rock The Nation

2. Bad Motor Scooter

3. Space Station # 5

4. I Don't Want It

5. Good Rockin' Tonight

6. Rock Candy

7. One Thing On My Mind

8. Make It Last

 

I must admit that I've never been much of a Sammy Hagar fan.  But I do think he's talented, and with a new book due out on March 15th, I thought it was a perfect time to feature something from him.  Of course, Sammy's first big band was Montrose.  He was the vocalist for the first 2 albums, and the debut from 1973 is this week's album of the week.  I just bought this CD a few months back at a used CD store and had never heard it until now.  I did a little (nothing major) research and found out that track 2 (Bad Motor Scooter) is the first song Sammy every wrote.  And it's a fine song if I say so myself.  He also wrote the final track on the album (Make It Last), and co-wrote four of the other tracks on the album.  The song that kicks off the record (written by Ronnie Montrose), Rock The Nation, has a killer riff.  I wish I'd have known it before we did the song tournament because it would have definitely been included.   Two other songs on the album are very good, in my opinion.  Those would be Space Station # 5 and Rock Candy.  One other note, I get a strong Van Halen vibe during the song Good Rockin' Tonight.  Of course, Van Halen was still 5 years away from their debut, and from what I've read, they were influenced by Montrose. 

 

Overall, I think this is a very capable album.  Hagar's vocals are good, but not what I'd call great.  I definitely think he matured vocally over the years, but that's not to say that he doesn't do a good job here.  Montrose can still be found on Amazon for 5 bucks used.  I'm pretty sure Rock Candy Records reissued this album recently, but I can't get on their site right now so I'm not sure how much it's running or if it has any extras.   

 

Best Songs: Rock The Nation/Bad Motor Scooter/Space Station # 5/Rock Candy

 

Hidden Gem Award: Rock The Nation

 

Most Likely To Skip: One Thing On My Mind

[Scott]

Interesting post...  I lead off SHT #20 with Space Station #5 and if I recall correctly most didnt really care for them at that time.  I am glad you went back and got an appreciation for this album though. its a great one from top to bottom.

 

I thought I heard that it was getting a proper remastering treatment in 2010 but cant find where I read that now..  I hope it does cause I will repurchase that if its done right.

[Niels (Mod)]

I've got to admit, that it's the first time, I've heard this album. I've heard a few minutes of the album on YouTube, but not the whole album untill now. I've allways been interested in the album, but it's not so easy to get here, where I live, and I've never been THAT interested, because a bit like RJhog, I don't really care for Sammy Hagar, especially in Van Halen. But he seems to be a pretty decent guy, and he's got an okay voice.

The album sounds very good. I will probably get that remastered version, when it get's out. A few remarks: "Space station #5" sounds TOO much like "Communication Breakdown".

"Rock the Nation" could easily have been a Van Halen-number. Did they ever play that live, I mean Van Halen? 

My favorite tracks are "Rock Candy" and "Make it Last".

Who was it, that did a cover-version of "Make it last"??????????? I remember that cool riff, from somwhere else!!!

 

 

[RJhog (Admin)]

Rock Candy Records released a remastered version in 2009.  This label concentrated on remasters of 70's rock music that is hard to find these days.  However, it seems as though they may now be defunct.  I'm not sure, but I can't find the website any more.  Supposedly this remaster did not have any extra tracks, but a 16 page booklet and photos and an essay on the making of the album.  The only thing I can find right now is this:

 

http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=8006426

[Jon]

I actually have this sitting in a pile of CD's my better half found at a garage sale a couple years ago and still haven't listened to it. It's been a long time since I heard it so what should I do? Listen to it here? Help me! 

 

Rock Candy is here:

 

http://www.rockcandyrecords.co.uk/

 

Or if you take the time to go over my new release list which I slave over:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Montrose/dp/B002N1AESC/ref=sr_1_5?s=music&...

 

 

[RJhog (Admin)]

Maybe it's just the computer I'm on, but I still can't get on Rock Candy Records...

[Jon]

Interesting. Maybe because it's a UK site? I dunno, just seems odd.

[RJhog (Admin)]

Yep, it works perfectly fine at home.

[Gordon Williams]

I remember the first time I ever saw Sammy Hagar. He was "on his own" back then, after Montrose, and before Van Halen. Anyway, he opened up for Boston, who was touring in support of their huge, smash debut.

 

Sammy was great that night, and one thing I clearly remember is him sitting on the front edge of the stage, legs dangling off, and playing a long slide guitar intro by himself, before his band launched into "Bad Motor Scooter". Just a killer concert moment, I still remember from like 1977 or 78! This album is definitely a classic!

[Scandal 2000]

I have argued for years that the self-titled "Montrose" album is the best release of Sammy Hagar's career and that includes all of his solo stuff and his years with Van Halen. This is probably on my Top 20 hard rock albums of all-time list.

 

By the way, Rock Candy Records is still active. They have put out a ton of great rereleases. They also do an excellent job. I have purchased the first Badlands album on CD from them and also the album by Cats N Boots. I have been thinking about buying the self-titled Quiet Riot album (the one where Paul Shortino was on vocals)