Classic Rock Bottom

ROCKOLLECTIONS: MAKING A MOUNTAIN OUT OF...PT.1

We’ll begin a multi-part exploration of the music of Leslie West and Mountain.
If you are a fan of guitar playing wizardry, you should enjoy this.
Though not having anything on the charts in years, Mountain remains popular in this section of the East Coast.
And to his credit, Mr. West has lost considerable weight in the years since his heyday!
Mountain played hard rock, and were forerunners of Heavy Metal Music.
In the beginning there was no group called Mountain- that was simply the name of Leslie West’s 1969 solo album.
I leave it up to you as to why it was called that- but in my opinion it had much to do with his size.
The group name came AFTER its release.
Felix Pappalardi played bass on the LP, and produced it- and he had gained fame and fortune producing the legendary group Cream’s albums.
West was a premiere guitar player who could always get down with the blues.
He was born in New York City, raised on Long Island, and started out as a member of the Vagrants.
Interestingly, Mountain played at the original Woodstock before they were formally were known as Mountain!
They were not in the movie.
At any rate, I will be playing mostly things from that 1st technically solo West album.
Some songs perhaps never heard by you, or at least not in long while.
This series is about a band well ahead of its time.
Here are a couple of links through Mountainous terrain, to Mike Pell Rockollections:
 
At Podomatic
 
 
 
At Soundcloud
 
Mike

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Comment by Mike Pell on July 25, 2012 at 11:29am

Oh, an unrelated thing, but it may be the COOLEST thing anyone has ever written to me about the show.

I just got this from a guy named Van, check this out.

Hey, Mike! Just thought I'd let you know that I was "talking" about your
show on another internet group - one that ostensibly deals with old comics -
and one of the guys down in New Mexico says that your show has become the
thing to listen to at his Saturday night poker games. They apparently have
a great time guessing what you will play for any particular theme and
talking about the songs you do play.

Van

Comment by Mike Pell on July 25, 2012 at 11:26am

Great title for an album.

Wow, and it got some terrific reviews.

Thanks for that, it's nice to know he is still hanging in there and making good music.

I'll have to get that Unusual Suspects.

Comment by RJhog (Admin) on July 25, 2012 at 11:07am

Yep, check it out on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Comment by Mike Pell on July 25, 2012 at 10:34am
Jon,
Actually I recently got a haircut.
I just like to keep you guys off-balance as to what I am going to play.
I see some ballbusting in here, lol!
Did I have trouble saying  "garage"?
I know I had some problems with words that day, me and Ken always did doubleheaders- and Ken is NOT a figment, the only way people could hear him clearly would be if he sat next to me.
Never wanted THAT...but you can hear him sometimes through the glass or my headphones.
CREAM...it's good in coffee, lol!
Damn, I looked it up, West did have a leg amputated, from diabetes.
That's sad.
And RJ, a new album?
Hadn't heard about that either- I am alone in my fortress.
Thanks for the listen and writing, and ragging me, lol,
Mike
Comment by Mike Pell on July 25, 2012 at 10:22am
RJ,
Alright, a doubleheader, lol!
Yeah, I know you love great guitar work, and as for plenty of that, Part Two will be here later tonight.
When I listen to the playback before I put these shows up, I give a quick thought to which may be the Golden Pell now.
I don't dwell on it, just a brief thought.
And I am correct again, with Long Red- that's the one I would have picked myself, just like Wind from the last show.
I hadn't thought about an Allmans vibe...but now that you mention it...!
Top 5 Lead Guitarists Who Double As Lead Vocalist, first one that jumps into my sleep-addled brain is George Thorogood with the Delaware Destroyers- don't know why, but I can't change it, lol!
Thanks for the listen and writing, and I guessed another Golden Pell,
Mike
Comment by RJhog (Admin) on July 24, 2012 at 5:16pm

New album last year too.

Comment by Jon on July 24, 2012 at 5:01pm

Mike, you grow some hair? Gee, you went with some rocking stuff here!

Nice job on the word "garage". Good job!

I thought you said that Mountain added keyboards so they wouldn't sound like QUEEN. I was thinking, "What the HELL is he talking about?' then figured you meant CREAM since you were talking about them before.

And nice for Ken to just nod his head. Still think it's a figment!

Didn't Leslie West recently have a leg amputated?

Comment by RJhog (Admin) on July 24, 2012 at 2:50pm

So I'm catching up today.  How 'bout that? 

 

I really enjoyed this.  The only song I can recall hearing by Mountain is Mississippi Queen, which you took care of right off the bat.  As you probably know by now, I love great guitar work, and there's plenty of that here.

 

And I'm giving the Golden Pell to the second track you played, Long Red.  It really reminds me of something like the Allman Brothers.  And I don't think Miss. Queen sounds anything like the Allmans, so this was a pleasant surprise to me.

 

The rest was enjoyable as well, again, with me getting that Allmans vibe.  It looks like he does a lot of the vocals as well, so that gave me a great idea.  We've been putting up a lot of Top 5 lists here on CRB, and a Top 5 Lead Guitarists Who Double As Lead Vocalist would be a fantastic conversation.  Who do you think you would put on that list?

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