May 29, 2023

1974 - December: Montrose “Paper Money”

41 minutes

Montrose was considered to be America's answer to Led Zeppelin in the early 70's. Founder Ronnie Montrose had played with a number of musicians including Van Morrison, Boz Scaggs, and with Edgar Winter on the hit singles “Frankenstein” and “Free Ride.” He formed the band bearing his name with bassist/keyboardist Alan Fitzgerald, drummer Denny Carmassi, and front man Sammy Hagar. Paper Money is the group's second album, and was the band's highest-charting release, reaching number 65 on the Billboard 200 chart.

This follow-up to their self-titled debut album took on a broader style, with a stronger range of rhythm and dynamics while downplaying the heavy metal feel of the first album. Ronnie Montrose thought that the heavier music was a passing thing. However Montrose was just ahead of its time, and heavy metal was about to explode. Ronnie Montrose had a strict no-drug use policy for concerts, as he wanted all the members to be in top shape on their instruments and vocals for the show.

The sessions for Paper Money were often marred by the deteriorating relationship between Montrose and Hagar. Soon after this album release, Sammy Hagar would leave the band for a solo career and eventual duties as the front man for Van Halen. Fitzgerald would go on to play for Night Ranger, and as an offstage keyboard player for Van Halen in the 90's. Carmassi would play for a number of artists including Heart, Whitesnake, Al Stewart, Kim Carnes, and Joe Walsh, as well as his own solo work, placing him on more recorded albums than Sammy Hagar.

Wayne features this rocking album for today's podcast.

Starliner

We start this podcast with an instrumental with a space theme — prior to Star Wars. This song is the final track for side 1 of the album.

Spaceage Sacrifice

Another space themed song, this one was written by Hagar and Montrose. Although considered “sci-fi rock,” the song itself is a bit critical of the effort and money spent to go to the moon when troubles remained unsolved on Earth. "Don't think twice spaceage sacrifice. Well, let's go back when it all was starting. A man on the moon and people were starving."

Paper Money

This track is a critique of the monetary system in a time of inflation. “Take away all my silver, take away my gold, and hand me a stack of paper, paper money don't hold.” This one is the first single from the album, and the concluding track.

I've Got the Fire

Wayne saves his favorite track for last. It is a hard-driving song with explosive energy. This one may benefit from the concealed tension between Montrose's edgy tone and Hagar's vocal virtuosity. It would be the last one the band recorded before Hagar left the band to pursue a solo career.

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

Puttin' On the Ritz by (from the motion picture “Young Frankenstein”)

Mel Brooks' black and white comedy classic featured Dr. Frankenstein (pronounced FRAHNK-en-steen) and the monster in Broadway-styled number.

STAFF PICKS:

You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet by Bachman Turner Overdrive

Rob get's the staff picks rolling with a Canadian band's number 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was intended as a joke for Randy Bachman's brother Gary, who had a stutter. It was used as a “work track” to set up the mics and amps in the studio, but it wound up being a hit after it was included on their “Not Fragile” album.

Killer Queen by Queen

Bruce's staff pick is the first U.S. hit from Queen. It went to number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100, and is off their third album “Sheer Heart Attack.” It is the first Queen song to incorporate the cabaret-style and harmonies that we know today as the quintessentially Queen sound. The lyrics are about a high class call girl.

Longfellow Serenade by Neil Diamond

Lynch brings us a song inspired by an incident in school where Diamond used the poetry of Henry W. Longfellow to woo a girl. It went to number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 on the Adult Contemporary charts. It is off Diamond's ninth studio album, "Serenade."

I've Got the Music In Me by Kiki Dee and the Kiki Dee Band

Wayne wraps up the staff picks on a positive note. The lyrics describe how the singer will not be deterred because they have the music in them. Kiki Dee is best known in the U.S. for her duet with Elton John, but is better known in England as a singer of "blue eyed soul." She was the first white British artist to be signed by Motown.

NOVELTY TRACK:

Kung Fu Fighting by Carl Douglas

Interest in martial arts in the early 70's inspired this song which would go to number 1 on the US, UK, Canadian, and Australian charts.

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**NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.

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By Rob Marbury, Wayne Rowan, Bruce Fricks, John Lynch

4.9

4747 ratings