The late, great Ronnie Montrose formed Gamma a few years after Montrose spilt. Gamma released three albums in reasonably short order between 1979 and 1982 without unfortunately achieving too much success.
The three albums, imaginatively titled Gamma 1, Gamma 2 and Gamma 3, were each slightly different in style to each other and each excellent classic rock in their own right. Now we have all three of them in a nice box set via Cherry Red who do this sort of stuff so well.
Gamma 1 came first in 1979. Perhaps a little experimental in style with a mixture of hard, heavy somewhat bluesy rock blending in Ronnie’s scorching guitar work, stabbings of synths and powerful vocals from Davey Pattison.
Thunder and Lightning is just that – a thumping hard rocker. The slashing Razor King majestic especially the mid-section with the synths coming in. Ronnie cuts lose on the instrumental Solar Heat which leads in to Ready for Action which is fast and heavy and the closer of Fight to the Finish is epic.
Gamma 2 is generally harder and heavier overall with Ronnie’s guitar interplaying with Jim Alcivar’s synths. Denny Carmassi came in in drums to drive things along.
Mean Streak, Four Horsemen and Dirty City a trio of hard hitting rockers progged up a bit with the synths. Voyager an atmospheric, brooding slow burner, Cat on a Leash and Skin and Bone hit hard with the riotous Mayday bringing the album to a thunderous close.
Have a listen to Mean Streak:
Gamma 3 sees the band moving towards a Foreigner style sound bringing in more melodic and elements though it is a fine album. What’s Gone is Gone gallops along in catchy style and a nice hook. Mobile Devotion a tidy rocker with the guitar/synths complimenting each other nicely.
Stranger short and catchy. The instrumental of Condition Yellow gives more of the guitar/synth interaction. Modern Girl so catchy and Third Degree a chunky rocker to shut it out.
Three excellent albums from a band led by one of rock’s finest yet most under-rated (in my opinion) guitarists.
I was lucky enough to catch them live a couple of times. The old Manchester Free Trade Hall which I think was 1980 or 1981 with Praying Mantis supporting then again a year or so later at the Birmingham NEC supporting Foreigner. I only went to see Gamma – though Foreigner were in their prime touring Foreigner 4 and it was a fine show by both bands.
There would be a fourth album from Gamma in 2000 though that’s not up to much.
The first three albums are more than worthy with this box set a fine opportunity to snag all three and enjoy them as example of first rate heavy/classic rock.