Gamma – Gamma 1 (1979) (USA, Melodic Hard Rock, AOR

Gamma – Gamma 1 (1979) (USA, Melodic Hard Rock, AOR)

The band formed in San Francisco, California, in the fall of 1979, but most of its members already had considerable creative experience and a solid reputation in show business. Founding guitarist, songwriter (and occasionally singer and producer) Ronnie Montrose was born in Denver, Colorado, and learned the basics of guitar playing on Jimi Hendrix Experience and Cream records. In the summer of 1973, he formed a band under his own name, which recorded four albums of solid hard rock over the next four years. However, in late 1977, as public attention began to shift increasingly toward new wave, he was forced to disband Montrose and left the scene for a time. In September 1979, he began recruiting musicians for Gamma. Unsurprisingly, the first to receive the invitation were his former Montrose bandmates Alan "Fitz" Fitzgerald (bass) and Jim Alcivar (keyboards). Both had also accompanied Ronnie on his first solo album in 1978. Montrose drummer Denny Carmassi, whom the guitarist had also considered for the new band, was busy promoting his own band, St. Paradise, at the time and declined the offer, leaving Skip Gillette to take over. Focusing on collaborative work and more straightforward songwriting, Gamma signed with Elektra and began work on their debut album. However, it soon became clear that Ronnie's vocal abilities weren't up to the task, and the band urgently needed a singer. This was Davey Pattison, who debuted in Scottish club bands in the late 1960s and recorded on the only album by the British pop-psychedelic group Kid Gloves in 1972. The debut album, which was simply titled "Gamma 1," was produced by Ken Scott.

Tracks:

01. Thunder And Lightning - 0:00

02. I'm Alive - 4:36

03. Razor King - 7:55

04. No Tears - 13:50

05. Solar Heat - 18:44

06. Ready For Action - 21:55

07. Wish I Was - 25:33

08. Fight To The Finish - 30:51


Personnel:

Davey Pattison - vocals
Ronnie Montrose (Ronald Douglas Montrose) – guitars
Jim Alcivar - synthesizers
Alan Fitzgerald - bass
Skip Gillette - drums, percussion
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Ken Scott – producer

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