Gamma was the new project put together by San Francisco guitar god Ronnie Montrose during 78/79, as a whole, this album still holds up real well after many years, a great album, and one which I refer to from time to time.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Gamma
ALBUM: Gamma 1
LABEL: Elektra
SERIAL: 6E-219
YEAR: 1979
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: Davey Pattison – vocals * Ronnie Montrose – guitars * Jim Alcivar – keyboards * Alan Fitzgerald – bass * Skip Gillette – drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 Thunder And Lightning * 02 I’m Alive * 03 Razor King * 04 No Tears * 05 Solar Heat * 06 Ready For Action * 07 Wish I Was * 08 Fight To The Finish
WEBLINKS: Site Link
Background
Gamma was the new project put together by San Francisco guitar god Ronnie Montrose during 78/79, following in the wake of his own self titled band, and jazz oriented solo projects during the late 70’s.
Not one to rest on his laurels, Ronnie was the sort of person to always push the boundaries of his creative expression with music, and his recordings have been diverse as they have been Enigmatic. However, the one catalyst throughout has been his love for melodic rock, and ever since the halcyon days of ‘Space Station No 5’ and ‘Bad Motor Scooter’ Ronnie was bound to hit back with more of the same.
With Gamma however, the melodic rock focus has returned, but perhaps with not the same amount of vim and vigour as with Montrose the band (probably because the red rocker Sammy Hagar isn’t part of the show this time around).
Recruited on vocals is Scotsman Davey Pattison, and for a little fella he sure has a powerful set of bagpipes! Ronnie manages to add some modern influences into the mix, and you can hear these throughout the album.
The Songs
There’s not much to dislike on this album, they all are great hefty slices of rock. Opening with ‘Thunder And Lightning’ (love those vocoders, just like the Centurions off Battlestar Galactica) and ending with the rollicking ‘Fight To The Finish’. Thats not to say that in-between are just fillers. Far from it.
‘Razor King’ is a bonafide classic even after all these years, while The Hollies remake of ‘Im Alive’ is remarkable for the fact that it sounds nothing like the original! The mainly guitar based ballad ‘No Tears’ is also extra catchy. Ronnie’s own personal favourite is the instrumental ‘Solar Heat’. As a whole, this album still holds up real well after many years.
In Summary
All of the Gamma albums are available on CD now. All four studio albums have since been reissued by Wounded Bird and Rock Candy. Plus there is a Greatest Hits package from 1992 and a bootleg ‘Concert Classics’ CD from 1998 which is not of good quality. A great album, and one which I refer to from time to time.
Video
Entire Album (Select Tracks)
