| Open Fire | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by Ronnie Montrose | ||||
| Released | 1978 | |||
| Genre | Instrumental Rock, Jazz Fusion | |||
| Length | 35:27 | |||
| Label | Warner Bros. | |||
| Producer | Edgar Winter | |||
| Ronnie Montrose chronology | ||||
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| Allmusic [1] | |
Open Fire was the first instrumental album from Ronnie Montrose which explored jazz, rock and acoustic concepts in the vein of Blow by Blow by Jeff Beck. Ronnie dropped hints in previous Montrose albums that he was heading in this direction. Songs like "Whaler" and "One And a Half" from Warner Brothers Presents... Montrose! and "Tuft-Sedge" and "Merry-Go-Round" from Jump On It contained various acoustic, synthesizer and string elements that showed Ronnie was looking to branch out from his hard rock persona.
Ronnie reunited with friend Edgar Winter who produced the album and played piano and keyboards as well. Ronnie welcomed Montrose alumni Jim Alcivar on keyboards and Alan Fitzgerald on bass and were joined by drummer Rick Shlosser who appeared with Ronnie on Van Morrison's Tupelo Honey.
The album begins with "Openers," an orchestration piece which sounds like the beginning of an Indiana Jones flick. It bleeds into "Open Fire," the closest thing to a straight-ahead rocker on this disc with an unmistakable Ronnie Montrose lead guitar sound. "Mandolinia" starts off with a pulsating Moog sequencer bass followed by layers of mandolin sounds and guitars. "Town Without Pity" is a slick cover that replaces Gene Pitney's vocals with a blistering lead guitar by Ronnie and backed by fine piano work by Edgar and more orchestration by Bob Alcivar. "Leo Rising" is an excellent acoustic guitar piece. "Heads Up" and "Rocky Road" are two great examples of the jazz fusion on this disc. "My Little Mystery" features more acoustic guitar with Edgar manning the harpsichord and another excellent use of Bob Alcivar's orchestra. The album ends fittingly with a song titled "No Beginning/No End." Starting off with Moogish special effects by Jim Alcivar, Ronnie coasts in with some smooth acoustic guitar work and follows this by incorporating another soaring lead and leading to a rousing finish.
On the strength of this effort, Ronnie was invited to tour Japan with accomplished jazz and jazz fusion drummer Tony Williams. In July 1978, Ronnie joined Tony, Brian Auger (keyboards), Mario Cipollina (bass) and special guest Billy Cobham also on drums for a series of concerts touring as the "Tony Willimas All Stars". "Open Fire," "Rocky Road" and "Heads Up" were part of the set list. A recording of "Open Fire" from one of the shows appears on The Joy of Flying by Tony Williams (1978).
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