MONTROSE – Paper Money [Deluxe Edition remastered] (2017)

Rhino Records introduces Deluxe Editions for MONTROSE albums, starting with the band’s first two celebrated albums. This is the second from the band, “Paper Money [Deluxe Edition remastered]”, with a fresh 2017 remaster from original tapes plus a bonus disc with previously unreleased material.

There’s little doubt that the self titled debut Montrose album was an absolute game changer in the world of hard rock / metal. In fact, these days it is pretty much recognised as ground zero for all that became of the genre, with a sound and swagger that birthed many followers, including Van Halen.
In fact, Eddie Van Halen always said that the sound he had in mind for his band was inspired by Montrose.

Formed by, and named after guitarist Ronnie Montrose, the band featured then unknown vocalist Sammy Hagar who would later go on to enjoy a successful solo career and, ironically, fronting Van Halen.
This second Montrose album, craftily titled “Paper Money”, was recorded and produced once again by master of the art Ted Templeman.

Musical diversity is the driving force behind “Paper Money”, which opens with the catchy melodic rock / pop flavored and radio-friendly “Underground”, an unlikely cover of a song released the previous year by eccentric Warner Bros. labelmates Chunky, Novi & Ernie.
Featuring an organ-like guitar sound created by using a Leslie speaker cabinet instead of a conventional guitar amplifier and given a major musical makeover that obscures the song’s dark, death-obsessed lyrics, the song sets the tone for an album that is unpredictable at every turn.

Indeed, the record delivers a broad musical spectrum which includes an acoustic ballad cover (the Jagger / Richards penned “Connection”) and an upbeat, spooky instrumental in “Starliner”, plenty of crazy effects.
There’s an intriguing, grooving number in “Spaceage Sacrifice”, while the epic and eerily prophetic title track has my favorite Sammy Hagar vocals on the album.
We have as well a moving hard rocker and a highlight in “I Got The Fire”, a song that easily picks up where the debut album left off, a track effectively covered by Iron Maiden several years later.

The bonus CD feature live performances that were recorded in at the Record Plant in California and broadcast on radio station KSAN.
This Rhino remaster of “Paper Money” from the master tapes is more ‘traditional’ than the recent Rock Candy, some kind of vintage remaster akin a LP vinyl sound.
Very Recommended

Disc 1:
01 – Underground (Remastered)
02 – Connection (Remastered)
03 – The Dreamer (Remastered)
04 – Starliner (Remastered)
05 – I Got The Fire (Remastered)
06 – Spaceage Sacrifice (Remastered)
07 – We’re Going Home (Remastered)
08 – Paper Money (Remastered)

Disc 2:
Prev. Unreleased Live KSAN Radio Session, CA, 12-26-74
01 – Intro
02 – I Got The Fire
03 – Rock Candy
04 – Bad Motor Scooter
05 – Spaceage Sacrifice
06 – One And A Half
07 – Roll Over Beethoven
08 – Trouble
09 – Space Station #5

Sammy Hagar – lead vocals
Ronnie Montrose – guitar, lead vocals on 7
Alan Fitzgerald – bass guitar
Denny Carmassi – drums
Mark Jordan – piano on 2
Nick DeCaro – mellotron on 7

BUY IT !
www.amazon.com/Paper-Money-Deluxe-2CD-Montrose/dp/B074HX5F3H
.