Open Fire (Ronnie Montrose album)

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.

The album also features Montrose alumni Jim Alcivar on keyboards, Alan Fitzgerald on bass and drummer Rick Shlosser, who worked with Ronnie on Van Morrison's Tupelo Honey.

The album begins with "Openers," an orchestral piece very similar in style to The Planets by Gustav Holst, which blends into "Open Fire," the closest thing to a straight-ahead rocker on this disc with an unmistakable Ronnie Montrose lead guitar sound.

"Town Without Pity" is a cover that replaces Gene Pitney's vocals with lead guitar work by Ronnie and backed by piano from Edgar Winter; Bob Alcivar handles the orchestral arrangements.

"My Little Mystery" features more acoustic guitar with Edgar Winter manning the harpsichord and further use of Bob Alcivar's orchestra, resulting in a Baroque ending.