Customer Reviews

Warner Bros Presents Montrose

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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."

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).

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!

For years I wanted this album on Cd and I was lucky enough to find it many years ago as an import. Montrose's finest album by far and most people don't even know it exist! If you love 70's rock give it a shot...you won't be disappointed. Killer cuts like 'Matriarch' and 'All I Need' rise to the top, but the entire album is excellent from start to finish! Check it out before it's too late!

I almost forgot about this record... Although it really is completely different from the classic first and 2nd Montrose albums, it's pretty good. Too bad Ronnie Montrose couldn't keep an early familiar band together where the fans could get used to all the members, even if it was Montrose mark 2. I think Montrose could have been a lot more famious. A reunion with Sammy and the original members would be no less than steller. I saw Montrose with this line up open for Kiss back in 1975 at the L.A. Forum. I liked em' better than Kiss. Being "LIVE" that says a ton to top Kiss... Back to this recording! It's good! Better for the ones who already had it in the 70's and forgot about it. Takes a couple of listens to like it to it's full credibility if you've never heard it before, but definitely worth having in the collection.

if there was a link missing to the great rock roll constellation this is definitely it, its been 3 decades since i have been waiting for this album to be released on conventional media and from what I read it has finally been re-issued on cd format. I've been raised on my share of Stones, Zep, Cream, Purple, Sabbath licks but i have to say Ronnie Montrose really outshines them all on this mutha. Damn great riffs and singing too from his new frontman Bob James add the kickass foot stompin' chops of master skinman Denny Carmassi, no true blooded rocker need ask more for an albums worth of music. This has certainly been missing from my

While Montrose's first album is probably the most popular, I've always been partial to Paper Money and Warner Bros. Presents. You can't really even compare Warner Bros. Presents with the other two, it's in an entirely different class. I like all three, but to me the songs on this album are the most memorable.

Awesome pure rock here yet again from Montrose. Awesome guitar work and straight up groovin rock.

Great recording,just as I remember it. Montrose comes back with a reformed band and puts out a very tasteful "hard rock" effort. In my opinon,this is one of his best. Of course it's hard to top his debut recording with Sammy Hagar on vocals. But this one has a slightly different approach. Jim Alcivar's keyboards are definately an asset to the band. What's great about this type of recording;not overplayed,i.e.on the radio. In fact never heard it on air."Matriarch": "KIller Tune".

Yeah Baby!!!!

This album was moving toward the end of Montrose, and really is more like Gamma. The sound had been cleaned up and molded into too safe of a product. Ronnie Montrose should never have left Ted Templeman- the man who produced MONTROSE- the huge record that defined the sound of hard rock guitar. With this effort, and 'jump on it' the guitar sounded like it was recorded on a small solid state 10' combo amp. Too bad. Matriarch leads off the album and is basically the best song. But then immediately we get a weak ballad... who picked the song arrangement? 20 flight rock is ok, BUT THEN Whaler starts another weak ballad- complete with lame keyboards (sounds like harpsicord...) and violins???? What the heck is that???? What record exec was behind this??? Dancin feet has some nice guitar runs, and then into a pretty cool acoustic guitar track. The album ends with Black Train - which may be one of the worst fade outs ever - I mean come on- let us listen to the lead guitar... Anyways - I had to have this in my collection - if only for the cool album cover... I have all Ronnies stuff, so this completes my collection.