Anyone know what this is exactly? This album rules beyond belief. I know there was an Audio Fidelity remaster back around 2005 (I didn't get it), but I'm curious what the source is here. I saw this in Goldmine and then went to Amazon.com for info. Maybe it's a Japanese import?



Product Description
Digitally remastered edition of one of the greatest, if not the greatest, Hard Rock albums of all time. Released in early 1974, it introduced both a sound and a swagger that single-handedly dragged Heavy Rock kicking and screaming from its turgid proto-Metal roots into a modern streamlined era, opening up a brave new world of possibilities. For guitarist Ronnie Montrose and frontman Sammy Hagar, this was indeed history in the making. It has been rightfully said that there is not a weak track on this album. Every guitar riff, drum break and ball-squeezing vocal rings out with a pristine clarity that sounds as astounding now as it did when it was first released. Essential to their monumental sound is the creative axis of Hagar and Montrose, who provide the classic guitar/vocalist foil, in a tradition set by Plant/Page, Jagger/Richards and Tyler/Perry.

1. Rock the Nation
2. Bad Motor Scooter
3. Space Station No. 5
4. I Don't Want It
5. Good Rockin' Tonight
6. Rock Candy
7. One Thing on My Mind
8. Make It Last

Amazon USA:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002N1AESC/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002N1AESC/?tag=imwan-21

Rhino remastered some tracks for the best of some time back (they sounded good). I don't think there will be a huge demand for this however.

Pete,

This is a newly remastered version of the album on the Rock Candy reissue label out of the UK. (I've updated your post's details accordingly.)

Most of the Rock Candy reissues are unlistenable! Loud, bright and compressed.... like Hughes/Thrall, Holy Diver.

The Audio Fidelity or Rhino pressing are the best!

I bought the Audio Fidelity gold disc a few years back -- this is when they were very reasonably priced and defect free -- and it sounds great to me.

I thought Rock Candy's remaster of Dio's Holy Diver sounded great.

Chris I agree-nothing wrong with the Dio remaster at all, except the lame interview as a bonus track. There were live cuts they easily could've used.
I think I might seek out the AF remaster of "Montrose" which is one of the most God-like of all Hard Rock albums.

After hearing it a few years ago for the very first time, I realized where Motley Crue stole their "revving" intro to "Kickstart My Heart" from.

I really like Rock Candy's "Baby's reissues as well as Danny Joe Brown's solo cd.

Rick A.

I doubt it... the Crue song uses an actual motorcycle sound effect while the "Bad Motor Scooter" intro is actually done with Montrose's guitar.

I have the AF version of this CD and really like it. I bought the album about 4 weeks after it came out in '73 and wore it out in under 3 months. As good as this album was, the followup, Paper Money was a big disappointment. It had several really good songs, but overall it paled in comparison to the first one. Hagar left after Paper Money and next few albums were average at best. Ronnie Montrose though is talented guitarist. Saw him in Dallas supporting his Open Fire album back in the late 70's and it was a good show.

Agree with yorr comments of "Paper Money" Smokin Joe. I actaully got into "Gamma" more than Ronne's other stuff but "Montrose" is the best. Of course is stuff with Edgar Winter isn't shabby either. :}

Rick A.

Not quite, calijawn. You're probably thinking of the Crue's Girls Girls Girls, which uses a real Harley (not a sound effect) at the beginning. Kickstart My Heart does in fact have a guitar mimicking the sound of a motorcycle, but Ronnie Montrose did it with a slide and Mick Mars does it with a whammy bar. I guess you can tell I'm a guitarist. lol

Yes, you're right, I was thinking of "Girls Girls Girls". Mea culpa.

I am a guitar player too, and Ronnie Montrose slays Mick Mars-it's not even close! Montrose is such a good player. And, I love the 3 Gamma albums-great, and at times, very weird stuff. They did OK, but should've been bigger.