Customer Reviews

The Best of Gamma

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Gamma never reached the same commercial success that Ronnie Montrose's other band, Montrose, did. Still, I love this band!

Maybe it's because they were never considered a progressive rock band or a hard rock band. Actually, I really liked their version or hard-edged rock and roll with heavy guitars but a strong dose of synthesizers.

Besides, Davey Pattison, the vocalist for Gamma, was a great, great, hard rock vocalist. He has since moved onto blues, but he and Ronnie Montrose have left a legacy of unique, sophisticated progressive rock in the form of Gamma.

I just wish that all three Gamma records were available on CD!

Gamma fans: there is an english import called 'Gamma-Concert Classics'. This disc has live versions of many of the cuts off Gamma1!

I've enjoyed Ronnie since his days with Edgar Winter. He was part of that group when they did "Frankenstein." His work with Gamma started off great and only got better with time. I was saddened to see Gamma break up, but the only thing predictable about Ronnie Montrose is that he is unpredictable. His post-Gamma instrumental projects were all interesting enough to make me listen time and time again. The only tracks I wish had been included on this CD that didn't make the cut are Mayday and Moving Violation. But otherwise, this is a great representation of what Gamma did. Now, stop reading and buy it!

If you're looking for something real:

Ronnie Montrose is one of those eclectic artist that was always ahead of his time, and with such commitment to music that only those are aware that music must feel your mind, your soul, your life, will be shure that listening Ronnie Montrose music can enrich their lives.

Not many artist were able to feature such a powerful sound,
this is a collection that you will sure like if Hard 6 Progressive sounds, this is a record to listen over and over again.

For those this record is a most.

I can remember being back stage sat at a Gamma Concert with Y&T. Waiting to meet the man that brought me to tears everytime he picked up a guitar. Beholden to me I met my idol who made my teen heart beat faster than I ever imagined. He was my ROCK GOD! This CD holds every moment of what Ronnie Montrose is and stood for..Progressive Rock for the times. His imagination produced music that never was heard before and when Ronnie took off he went straight to the moon. My favorite Voyager, takes you away on a melodic trip and never lets you down...Fight to the Finish another fav, only does one better....and I'm alive, well that one makes me feel like "I'M ALIVE! Get it Right the First Time and spend your $ here...

...its just TOO bad that Ronnie Montrose was a bit more experimental and a mighty risk-taker. Granted, this band had some commercial success to a degree, and Gamma's music is WELL worth hearing if you are into guitar rock, but had the band been a bit less experimental, Gamma might have become something HUGE. This CD has the best of the best by the band, and should please both Rock fans and fans of Montrose' experimental sides. Davie Pattison does a GREAT job on vocals here, and the band is tight and songs are well crafted, although a bit "thick" at times. Sadly, Montrose went though some hard times financially due to his pursuit to experiment, and Pattison has since been seen playing pubs that my band gigs at.

Check it out

This "best of" collection from Gamma's three albums truly rocks! Why this band, for the most part, wallowed in obscurity is beyond me. The components are there for superstardom (great guitarist, solid vocalist, and good mix of synths). Perhaps Ronnie Montross, one of the top rock guitarists of all-time, is always ahead of his time. Anyhow, if you want to hear some mesmerizing rock n' roll, purchase this CD. While some tracks may require repeated listening to realize it, everything on here is good. Favorites are: Wish I Was, Razor King, Voyager, and the epic Fight To The Finish. It is a shame that the original albums are not (yet) available on CD, as there are some other Gamma gems out there that (currently) are only on vinyl.

I can remember buying all three Gamma albums when they were originally released on Elektra. They sound great still, although I wish the original discs would make it all to digital. Gamma had no weaknesses, other than they could only tolerate each other for 3 releases. Gamma is the perfect mix of vocals[Davey Patteson], great guitar[Ronnie Montrose], drums, bass, and keyboards. The synthesizer work is exceptional! Precision seemed to be the driving force behind Gamma and it shows on every track.

As with virtually every greatest hits or anthology there are going to be good songs that don't make the cut. Gamma had no bad songs, so, there are plenty of songs to fill Volume 2[hint, hint]. Working with what is here, I would have to say my favorite is a bluesy number, "Wish I Was". Another big favorite is a song that sounds somewhat like Robin Trower, "Voyager". There is actually no filler on this BEST OF period! Other songs I like quite well are: "Right the First Time", "I'm Alive", "Stranger", "Condition Yellow", "What's Gone is Gone", and "Mean Streak".

Gamma makes me wonder what a band has to do to make that turn towards popularity. I mean it is great to play something hot for a friend, something they've never heard, that totally rocks! Gamma will leave you wanting more, so, you'll have to hope someone will release it. You can't go wrong with BEST OF GAMMA! It's 16 songs that you will want to hear again.

This is a really good collection of songs by a band most people have never heard of, even though they've probably heard of its founder, Ronnie Montrose. It covers all three of the Gamma albums (though most of the songs are from the first two albums) and contains some of the best songs by this group. If you like hard rockin', blazing guitar music, you will very likely enjoy this collection of songs by this relatively unknown band.

Great band, great music. I give it a 4 out of 5 only because it doesn't have "Solar Heat"/"Ready for Action" on this compilation. Not sure who made the brain-dead decision to not put this killer one-two punch off of their first album. Sort of like making a Van Halen best of and omitting "Eruption"/"You Really Got Me". Montrose rocks and this CD will allow you to rock as well. Get out the air guitar and wail. But make sure and buy their first album which has now been re-released on CD.

This is an excellent collection of Gamma material. The only thing I can fault with it is that Mayday, Skin and Bone, Ready for Action, and Moving Violation should have been put on here. Having said that, however there aren't any weak tracks on the cd. My Favorites here are Mean Streak, Condition Yellow, Stanger, Figth to the finish, Thunder and Ligthening, and I wish I was. All in all a great package but since the first three cd's have been released you might want to consider picking up all three to get the tracks that aren't on this cd because they are worth the extra money, but if your just trying out Gamma for the first time you won't be disappointed with this cd.