Album of the Day

Born on this day in 1947, Ronnie Montrose had paid his dues as a session musician and a member of the Edgar Winter Group before forming a band under his own name in 1973. With bassist Bill Church, drummer Denny Carmassi and then-unknown vocalist Sammy Hagar rounding out the quartet, debut MONTROSE roared out of the gate later in the year. Produced by Ted Templeman, the Warner Bros. collection is highlighted by such fist-pumpers as “Rock the Nation,” “Bad Motor Scooter” and “Space Station #5.” The set sold slowly but steadily, eventually reaching Platinum status, and MONTROSE has been hailed by both Kerrang! and Hit Parader magazines as one of the greatest heavy metal albums of all time.