Paper Money
Paper Money, the second studio album by Montrose, landed on the 11th of October 1974, on Warner Bros. Records. It arrived at a turning point for the American hard rock band. Two significant personnel changes framed this record: Alan Fitzgerald stepped in as the new bass player, taking the place of original bassist Bill Church, and the album stands as the last time original vocalist Sammy Hagar would record with the group. What happened between the first note laid down and the moment Hagar walked out the door tells us something about the volatile chemistry inside one of hard rock's sharpest outfits of the era.
Paper Money reached No. 65 on the Billboard 200, making it the highest-charting release in Montrose's catalog at that point. To push the album to a wider audience, the band took their music to The Midnight Special television show. They performed two tracks live: "Paper Money" and "I Got the Fire." Television exposure of that kind was a key promotional tool in 1974, putting the band's sound in front of viewers who might never have caught them on the road.
A 1974-75 European tour to promote Paper Money became the breaking point for Ronnie Montrose and Sammy Hagar. Acrimony between the two had been building for some time, and the pressures of the road brought it to a peak. Hagar parted ways with the band in early February 1975. His replacement was vocalist Bob James, who stepped into a band still in motion with a new album to promote.
The liner notes for the CD edition of Paper Money contain a claim that Ronnie Montrose was offered the lead guitar slot in Mott the Hoople when he left the Edgar Winter Group. Montrose himself disputed this. He stated that the offer never actually happened, making it one of the more unusual footnotes attached to the album's release history. The liner notes preserve a story the central figure actively contradicted.
On the 13th of October 2017, Rhino Entertainment released a Deluxe Edition of Paper Money, adding a bonus disc to the original album. The extra material came from a session recorded at KSAN radio at the Record Plant in Sausalito, California on the 26th of December 1974. That date places the session just weeks after the album's October release, capturing the band in the midst of the tour that would soon end Hagar's tenure with Montrose. The bonus tracks offer a live document of the band before the split that reshaped them.
Common questions
When was Paper Money by Montrose released?
Paper Money was released on the 11th of October 1974, by Warner Bros. Records. It was the band's second studio album.
Who produced the Paper Money album by Montrose?
Paper Money was produced by Ted Templeman, with Donn Landee serving as engineer.
Why did Sammy Hagar leave Montrose after Paper Money?
Hagar left Montrose in early February 1975 after acrimony between him and Ronnie Montrose reached a peak during the band's 1974-75 European tour to promote Paper Money. He was replaced by vocalist Bob James.
How did Paper Money perform on the charts?
Paper Money reached No. 65 on the Billboard 200, making it Montrose's highest-charting release.
What is on the 2017 Deluxe Edition of Paper Money by Montrose?
Rhino Entertainment released the Deluxe Edition on the 13th of October 2017. The bonus disc contains tracks from a KSAN radio session recorded at the Record Plant in Sausalito, California on the 26th of December 1974.
Who replaced Bill Church as bassist on Paper Money by Montrose?
Alan Fitzgerald replaced original bassist Bill Church on Paper Money, also contributing synthesizer to the recording.