Customer Reviews

Mountain

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Fresh from the split-up of Cream, whom he produced (and for whom he did co-write but two songs, "Strange Brew" and "World of Pain"), Felix Pappalardi spotted Leslie West fronting a semi-legendary garage band (the Vagrants, who actually charted with an absolutely glorious, grungy version of "Respect") and thought to cut a solo album on him. With Pappalardi joining in the fun on bass and keyboards, this was the result. And a damn good one.

As a guitarist, West's calling card was chunky power chords, smooth distorted riffing, and precise, lyrical solos (he was never a speed merchant but he didn't have to be); as a singer, his rasping yelp was immediately recognizable and - as "Blind Man" and (especially) "Southbound Train" revealed - he was a passable blues singer as well. The heavy riff style and Pappalardi's presence (never mind his bass style) got only too obvious a round of comparisons to Cream, but West's first solo album stood up in its own right - maybe not a genre giant, but not exactly a pretender, either.

He unfurled about the best cover of "This Wheel's On Fire" outside the Dylan/Band axis of them all; "Blood of the Sun" and "Dreams of Milk and Honey" still acquit themselves very well as riff-and-rollers. Of course, in early 1969, who knew he had anything as transcendent as "Mississippi Queen" in his immediate future? For its own time and place, this was a surprising - and pleasing - solo debut. West, Pappalardi, and drummer N.D. Smart added organist Steve Knight, dubbed the band the same name as the album, went to Woodstock, and became stars, albeit not for very long...

Well, there he is, the fat kid from Long island who finally gets a record deal and gets his first record produced by the powerful (Cream) and brilliant (just listen to later Mountain in the studio!) Felix Pappalardi. This is no crack back-up band as some have said---while the drummer wasn't the best, and would be replaced by the Hard Rockin' Corky Laing on the first true Mountain album, 1970s 'Climbing!'---the bass player is one to listen to: none other than Felix himself!

Just listen to the grinding unison riff of Blood of the Sun----what you are hearing is the beginning of one of the most ferocious, hard rock bands ever---their signature 'heavy', driving sound, as in Mississippi Queen and Never In My Life. The fact is, ONLY Mountain sounded like that...They were clearly one of the great American Hard Rock bands of that era (as were Grand Funk Railroad, though constantly maligned by the press), and could be outstanding Live on a good night.

This is a raw, in your face example of a young talent and experienced producer, and the result was very good. Some of the highlights are the gutsy blues 'Blindman', 'Southbound Train', and 'Dreams of Milk and Honey'---the last one a song which would later become part of the band's long, improvisational jam piece live: the 'Dream Sequence' which can be heard played flawlessly on 1971's 'Flowers of Evil' album.

So while it is not Leslie West at his best---Felix had yet to hone his skills as a guitarist---it is some of his most freewheeling, let it hang-out there playing, a very good first record, and would lead to much BIGGER and better things! I would say that for all of us hard rockers of the late 60s and early 70s, this record is a classic, and a must have, especially for any youngsters who are interested in what good hard guitar driven rock sounded like in 1969. American style. And the record stands the test of time.

'The Lorp'

This album is truly smokin! This is the record Leslie put out before officially naming the group "Mountain", although that is the albums name. This album, along with Climbing & Nantucket Sleighride are all you need. Any other Leslie West/Mountain albums are for true fans only! Believe me this album is very excellent!

I first heard this album in the late 6o's when it was originally released. Starting with the first track, "Blood of the Sun", I was hooked. Leslie West was and has been a vastly unnoticed guitarist treasure. His throaty singing and driving band, featuring Felix Pappalardi, made this band one that should be placed on the list of "great ones". Probably due to the many other better publicized bands, like Led Zeppelin and the like, Leslie West and Mountain seemed to get shoved away into the closet. Open the closet, you guitarists out there, and give this CD a try. I don't think you will be anything but delighted

It's amazing the gems you'll find when you search for obscure albums by then-unknown artists on then-low budget record labels. This is defintely one of them! Leslie West was a desperate man in those days--out to prove to the world that he was among the best and needed to be heard on a large scale. Even before Mountain officially got off the ground, he hounded Felix Pappalardi for almost a year to produce him, got himself a spot on the Woodstock bill when Led Zeppelin couldn't, and when he finally got Felix to produce this album for him, played such balls-to-the-wall, fired-up, heavy metal guitar that made Felix never regret his decision to produce him and guarantee him an eventual contract with a major label. Never mind the low-budget sound quality here. Never mind the fact that Leslie was surrounded by a crack garage band with a keyboardist that sounds badly out of place competing with Leslie's guitar. In spite of all those limitations, this was Leslie's best guitar EVER on record from start-to-finish, from a man making the most of a bad situation for one shot at fame. His best riffs ever are on "Blood of the Sun", "Dreams of Milk and Honey", and "Southbound Train". And like Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page, he likes to show his diversity as well with the acoustic number, "Because You Are My Friend". The weakest track here is "Long Red"--why this one ever made this album is beyond me! For one thing, it's a cheesy, keyboard driven song performed by that crack garage band backing Leslie up, with almost no lead guitar from Leslie--just his vocals. If the attempt was to get a "hit single" for the top 40 charts, it doesn't even have upbeat or catchy-enough lyrics. Not to mention the song is out of place for a guitar prodigy introducing himself to the world. As for Leslie as a singer, like Steven Tyler from Aerosmith, he was a little less-raspy in his early days, and his vocals sound better here than on later albums where he probably hurt his vocal chords from excessive screaming. As a matter of fact, his singing on this album is some of the best white blues singing I've ever heard! You could tell he had conviction, and was truly singing from his heart. Not bad for a boy from Long Island!
Overall, this is one of the all-time greatest debut guitarist solo albums despite the limitations. But with Leslie's Gibson guitar hooked up to those Sunn amps, you won't find many albums in 1969 as loud or as heavy as this one was--almost pre-figuring the sound of Tony Iommi's guitar in Black Sabbath by almost a year! Of course, Felix would soon bring in a louder, John Bonham-like drummer in Corky Laing, and Felix himself would soon join in on bass to form Mountain, as a replacement for the weak rhythm section surrounding Leslie on this album. However, desperate men will do desperate things, and this one paid off for Leslie's career.

This is the album that put Leslie West on the charts and for my money is the overall best album he ever made.
Good heavy blues/rock tunes, great guitar by Leslie and bass/keyboards by Felix Pappalardi.
Pappalardi was also the producer of a couple of albums by the fabled group Cream, and as producer of this album, you can see that influence.
A must-have CD for heavy rock fans!

Actually a solo-album called "Mountain" "by the then virtually unknown Leslie West, who played with a local band which was seen by Creamproducer Felix Pappalardi, this has unmistakenly the sound of the latterday group named after that album, carrying its flag with it. With the help of Pappalardi on bassguitar and shared songwriting this is a reliable source of livestaples, like the formidable "Long Red" (a live rendition can be found on "Live/The Road Goes Ever On") and the magnificent "Blood of the Sun" (check also the version on the double live "Twin Peaks") or the awesome "Dreams of Milk and Honey", contrary to its title a heavy rocksong . Always considered an overdriveladen leadguitarist West is a true great singer, with a rainbow voice, ranging from soft to raw, a gifted songwriter and also a subtle acoustic fingerpicking guitarplayer as ample demonstrated on the beautiful "Because You are My Friend" (or "To My Friend" from the "Climbing!" album). So this album is not only fine on itself but also a historical document which cast its light forward.

After trying to put this thing away several times, I've decided that I can't live without it. Like Frisbees and yo-yos it just Is. Fun all the way through. Not arty or pretentious in any way--straight up and sailing. Might need a trip through the digital magicalizer machine sound-wise though. And check the hair! A real interview doo, eh? If West fans can imagine a pre-Mississippi Queen time, this is it. Pappalardi and West had good beginning here. Every song a keeper. Look to the Wind has always been a particular favorite. "I know my childhood is behind me and it won't come back no more, but today I am tomorrow's child--just open up the door. Look to the Wind--I was made to shine as bright as the Sun." See?

While everyone was into Woodstock, I was into this music. Leslie has tremendous talent and did receive a lot of help from Pappalardi (producer of Cream's Wheels of Fire LP). It is a classic and led Mountain on to several great LPs. Listen to Mountain Climbing for Mississippi Queen and Roll Over Beethoven live . Tremendous . This is their starter lp and pretty damn good for 69.

I actually bought this after "Climbing" as that was my introduction to the great Leslie West but "Mountain" has stood the test of time nonetheless.

Standout tracks include Dreams of Milk and Honey,Blood of the Sun and Blind Man but all the songs are good. When I was 15 in '72 Leslie West inspired me to actually play guitar instead of doing the airguitar thing with my plastic Les Paul copy and apparently I was in good company.

Michael Schenker (another fave) has mentioned Leslie as an influence (maybe inspired by the stuck wah tone of Blind Man to incorporate a wah as a tone necessity himself), Eddie Van Halen dug Leslie as a kid (even sending 2 full Peavey 5150 stacks and a Peavey Wolfgang guitar to Leslie's house as gifts!) and Randy Rhoads called Leslie's playing "powerful and moody" in a Guitar Player magazine interview shortly before his untimely death.
Warren Haynes, Ace Frehley and Chris Poland ('80s Megadeth) have mentioned Leslie as an influence as well.

Heck, Hendrix even sold (gave?) Mountain the Sunn amps they used at Woodstock (that's their gear on the cover of Woodstock Two; "Blood..." and "Theme..." totally K.A.).

I usually suggest Leslie West as required listening to anyone asking for advice on learning how to play lead. His tone, phrasing and feel have always been outstanding. As a 50 year old bedroom jammer/ex band member I still get worked into a frenzy jamming with the tunes mentioned earlier.

I know,the drummer N.D. Smart II isn't as strong as the awesome Corky Laing (I read ND was 17 at the time), the production could be better (the vocals while killer could have been pulled back a hair in the mix) and "Climbing" is probably the bands alltime greatest release, but "Mountain" is still highly recommended.