Track Listing

1. Whats Gone Is Gone
2. Right The First Time
3. Moving Violation
4. Mobile Devotion
5. Stranger
6. Condition Yellow
7. Modern Girl
8. No Way Out
9. Third Degree

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7340 in Music
• Released on: 2002-10-15
• Number of discs: 1

Album Description
Gamma was the group that Ronnie Montrose started after his group Montrose broke up. They released three albums on Elektra Records between 1979 and 1982. Gamma 3 hit the Billboard charts in 1982 and rose to #72. Wounded Bird. 2002.

Customer Reviews

"Right the First Time" Gamma's High Watermark
Guitarist Ronnie Montrose formed Gamma after the 1976 breakup of Montrose, whose original line-up included drummer Denny Carmassi, bassist Bill Church, and, of course, singer Sammy Hagar. Hagar and Church left the band in 1975, while Carmassi continued with Montrose and Gamma until 1983, when he joined the revamped Heart. (Carmassi and Hagar reunited to write two songs for Heart's 1990 album Brigade.) The familiar voice on "Right the First Time" belongs to Davey Pattison, a respected vocalist who has worked with countless rock artists, most notably Robin Trower.

The Best Gamma Album
This is what you call a breakout album, Gamma really came into their own on this one. These songs were more polished and melodic. If this is your first venture into the Gamma realm, I highly recommend Gamma3, then go get Gamma2, and Gamma1. And let's not even talk about Gamma4, do go there.
But Gamma3 was perfect for the times (early 1980's) This band rocked it, and yet had such a great synth sounds from Mitchell Froom he brought a thicker meaner rock synth to the band and gave them a more progressive edge. Mitchell's synth work compliments Ronnie's guitar riffs perfectly, many bands later in the 80's took note of Mitchell and Ronnie's melodic trade-offs and worked them into their music as well.
The first track "Whats Gone is Gone" kicks off the album in a rock anthem eargasm, one of my favorites! "Right the First Time" is the more commercial sounding track and quite good, I remember hearing it on the radio when this album came out. 'Condition Yellow' is where the synths shine as a very Saga-like haunting up beat instrumental piece that reminded me a bit like the song 'Starliner' from the old Paper Money album.
Although I agree this is the more progressive Gamma album (not that there is anything wrong with that) it really is Gamma at its best and on top of their game. This album certainly did not get the full recognition that it deserved at the time.
I am puzzled as to why there are some bad reviews of the album, maybe they are just metalheads afraid of change, or not quite polished in music theory, or just sat to close to the Marshal stack? But I do know that if you were not born early enough to live the glory days of Ronnie Montrose & Gamma from the very begining, then you do not have a very good frame of reference about this band or this album.

Mitchell froom sinks Gamma, Mach 1
"Gamma 3" was a failure for the same reason that Joe Satriani's "Engines Of Creation" was a failure.

People don't buy Ronnie Montrose albums...whether they're under the banner of "Montrose" or "Gamma"...to hear artificial, cold, computerized synth riffs.

People don't buy Ronnie Montrose albums to hear Mitchell Froom. They didn't buy Satriani's "Engines of Creation" to hear Eric Caudieux.

Gamma 3 failed for two reasons: First, the extreme amount of control that Ronnie handed over to Mitchell Froom. Second, there are no memorable songs. NONE.

I really can't understand why some people gave this turkey five stars.