Warner Bros Presents Montrose [Original recording reissued]

Montrose | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 17, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued
• Label: Wounded Bird Records
• ASIN: B00006JNGY
• Also Available in: Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #261,491 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. All I Need

2. Whaler

3. O Lucky Man

4. Clown Woman

Editorial Reviews

The band's 1975 & third album for Warner Brothers. Features nine tracks, including covers of 'Twenty Flight Rock', 'O Lucky Man' and 'Black Train'. Wounded Bird Records. 2002.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sadly overlooked, November 6, 2003

By 

Daniel Maltzman (Arlington, MA, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Warner Bros Presents Montrose (Audio CD)

In a just world, "Warner Bros. Presents Montrose" would be on every critics list of essential albums of the 1970s. As it is, this album was received with a cool reception when it was released, and has been out-of-print for years. While Montrose's debut album is largely regarded as a classic, this album has been, for the most part, entirely forgotten. All of this is a real shame, because, "Warner Brothers Presents Montrose" is the bands finest album.

The band on this album is slightly different from the bands two previous ones. Bass player Bill Church, who played on the classic debut, had already left the band. His replacement, Alan Fitzgerald, who was on board for 1974s "Paper Money" is on hand for this album. Most importantly, however, vocalist Sammy Hagar, who had sang on the first two albums was gone. His replicant was newcomer Bob James. James has a different singing style than Hagar. Hagar is far more of a showman and his delivery more flashy. James, by contrast, is much more low-key. He is more of the type of singer from a bar-room band. Both singers have an excellent range, however. Ronnie Montrose, the lead guitar player, sounds better than ever. His solo's throughout the album are pure ear-candy. This album may feature his finest playing that he has ever recorded. Drummer Denny Carmassi plays well and gels with Montrose as always. Also important to this band was the addition of keyboard player Jim Alcivar. He peppers the album with keyboards that add a new element to the Montrose sound. His playing, however, is not overdone. In fact, it enhances the scope and sound of the band.

Every song on this album is well-written, and overall sounds a little Deep Purple-ish. This albums has a real gritty, earthy sound to it. It doesn't sound dated, but it does sound very 70s-ish. Most of the songs on this album are blues-tinged hard-rockers, and there are a few ballads thrown in. The best song on the album is probably the opener "Matriarch," which features a really cool guitar solo. The balled "whaler" is also excellent and features a really cool keyboard solo. Other standouts for me are the rockers "O Lucy Man" and "Dancin' Feet."

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars #1 ALBUM OF MY YOUTH!!!, January 18, 2006

By 

F. Rosalez (Beaverton OR) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Warner Bros Presents Montrose (Audio CD)

Back in West Chicago when I was 13 or 14 I worked as a janitor and busboy for my albums and cheapo guitar and piece of crap amp. This older dude handed me some recorded cassettes, and this was one was one of them. I immediately went out and bought the album. Wow, this one blew me away totally. At that time in my life I was starting to get into tasty fast lead guitar playing (ala Trower, Carlos and Montrose). "Warner Brothers Presents" is one of those rare gems that is a virtually "Unknown" album. It seemed that nobody had this album except me, all my friends had Montrose Montrose...
Anyhows, this album gave me an eye opener on how to make a good variety of rock songs on an album: Metal(Black Train), softer good tunes (Whaler), kick ass instrumental guitar songs (One and A Half), and everyday basic good rocking songs (Dancin Feet).

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Back on track, January 20, 2003

By 

Nicole Emery "purpletemple" (Brussels Belgium) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Warner Bros Presents Montrose (Audio CD)

Sammy Hagar is gone replaced by young BOB JAMES.A very different type of voice, much lighter and softer.But the album rocks solid!
If the previous album Paper Money suffers of tensions and a lack of inspiration, WARNER BROS PRESENTS shows an enthousiast band alternating classic HARD songs with exquisite mid tempos or even ballads(good ones, no lullabies).
Ronnie MONTROSE proves again he's one of the most talented rock guitarist of the 70's, backed-up by Dennis CARMASSI on drums.
So...yes I miss HAGAR on vocals, no it doesn't have the full energy of the first album but it is much better than Paper Money(where only a few songs are performed by Hagar, the rest is credited to Carmassi) and light years away from the following JUMP ON IT where the band turns mellow and sweet.
Warner Bros Presents the second best Montrose album!