Mountain (band)
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Mountain | |
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Background information | |
Origin | Long Island, New York, U.S. |
Genres | |
Years active |
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Spinoffs |
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Past members | Rev Jones |
Mountain was an American hard rock band formed on Long Island, New York, in 1969.[1][2] Originally consisting of vocalist-guitarist Leslie West, bassist-vocalist Felix Pappalardi, keyboardist Steve Knight, and drummer N. D. Smart (soon replaced by Corky Laing), the group disbanded in 1972, but reunited on several occasions prior to West's death in 2020.[3] They are best-known for their 1970 smash hit song "Mississippi Queen", which remains a staple of classic rock radio, as well as the heavily sampled song "Long Red", and their performance at Woodstock Festival in 1969. Mountain is one of many bands commonly credited with influencing the development of heavy metal music during the 1970s.[4][5] The group's musical style primarily consisted of hard rock, blues rock,[1] and heavy metal.[6]
The beginning of the live recording of their song "
History
1969–1972
In early 1969 Leslie West, formerly of the Long Island R&B band The Vagrants, put together a band, Leslie West Mountain, with Norman Landsberg (keyboards, bass) and Ken Janick (drums) and began playing gigs and recording demos. Right around this time, former Cream collaborator/producer Felix Pappalardi, who had previously produced the Vagrants, expressed an interest in producing West's work.[3] West, previously disgruntled and unsatisfied with the lack of success in his first project, found Cream to be a great inspiration. He began to feel disillusioned with the R&B and blues scenes of the 1960s in which he had played. He envisioned a project that would take on a rawer and much harder style which he had begun to favor, with his newly-developed guitar style inspired by hearing Cream's Eric Clapton.
Pappalardi rejected the demos by the West-Landsberg-Janick trio, but took a suggestion that he play bass on West's solo album,
Naming themselves "Mountain", after West's 1969 solo album, West, Pappalardi, Smart, and Knight played shows on the west coast before getting to play their third concert as a working band at the 1969
Soon after Woodstock, Smart was replaced by Canadian Laurence "Corky" Laing,[3] who was the drummer on Climbing!, which was released in March 1970.[1] It led off with what became the band's signature song, "Mississippi Queen", which reached No. 21 in the Billboard Hot 100, and was featured in the 1971 cult film Vanishing Point, while the album reached No. 17.[3]
Mountain began a hectic touring schedule in the middle of which they recorded a follow-up album, Nantucket Sleighride, released in January 1971.[11] This album reached No. 16 but failed to yield a hit single. The title track was used in the UK as the theme to ITV's Sunday political program Weekend World.[3] After these early releases the band continued to receive a certain measure of critical acclaim but never again achieved great commercial success.[11]
After Nantucket Sleighride, the band produced Flowers of Evil (November 1971) consisting of one side of studio material and one live side, culled from a concert at New York's Fillmore East.[11]
Mountain disbanded in February 1972 after a tour of the UK.
Pappalardi returned to studio work, while West and Laing formed
Post-1972
By August 1973, West and Pappalardi had reformed Mountain with Allan Schwartzberg on drums and
On April 17, 1983 Gail Collins Pappalardi, Pappalardi's wife and songwriting partner (she had designed many of the band's album covers and wrote many of their lyrics), shot Pappalardi in the neck in their fifth-floor East Side Manhattan apartment and he died.[3]
After pursuing separate musical paths for almost a decade, West and Laing reunited Mountain, recruiting
Mountain went dormant again until 1992, when West and Laing teamed up once again and brought in Richie Scarlet (known for his solo work and collaborations with Ace Frehley) to round out the lineup that had a live appearance in The Dennis Miller Show. Scarlet was replaced with Randy Coven in 1993 and in 1994 there was a Mountain lineup that included West, Laing, Noel Redding and occasional special guest guitarist Elvin Bishop. By 1995, the 1984–85 lineup of West, Laing and Mark Clarke was back, and recorded Man's World in 1996. In 1998 things went quiet in the Mountain camp again until 2001. That year, with Scarlet back in the lineup, the band toured, then recorded Mystic Fire,[1] released in 2002.
In 2003 West and Laing authored a book of recollections, Nantucket Sleighride and Other Mountain On-the-Road Stories, detailing their time with the band at its peak and their subsequent careers.
Mountain's video game debut came in 2007 on RedOctane's
Their final album was 2007's
The band headed out on the road during October and November 2008 on a North American tour opening for
Fellow
Beastie Boys are also noted for their use of a brief sample of "Mississippi Queen" on the track "Lookin' Down the Barrel of a Gun" from their sample-heavy 1989 album, Paul's Boutique.
Mountain continued to perform occasionally with Leslie West, Corky Laing and Rev Jones.[18] On June 20, 2011, West had his lower right leg amputated as a result of complications from diabetes.[19] Following the surgery, West performed and recorded under his own name; his concerts featured many Mountain songs. Corky Laing formed a new project, Corky Laing Plays Mountain, in 2015. This project included bassist/vocalist Joe Venti and guitarist/vocalist Phil Baker in 2015. For their 2016 United States tour, Laing and Venti were joined by Richie Scarlet, now on lead guitar, and Ken Sidotti on keyboards. They performed Mountain music in addition to songs by West, Bruce and Laing and Cream. And in 2017, Mark Mikel was playing bass with Chris Shutters and Richie Scarlet on guitar in the lineup.[20] Mikel continued until touring was ceased in 2020 due to COVID-19.[21]
Leslie West died on December 22, 2020, after suffering a heart attack. He was 75.[22]
In 2021 Corky Laing's Mountain resumed touring with a lineup of Laing (drums, vocals), Joe Venti (bass, vocals) and Richie Scarlet (guitar, keyboards).[23]
Band members
- Classic line-up
- Leslie West – guitar, vocals (1969–1972, 1973–1974, 1981–1985, 1992–1998, 2001–2010; died 2020)
- Felix Pappalardi – bass, vocals, keyboards (1969–1972, 1973–1974; died 1983)
- Steve Knight – keyboards (1969–1972; died 2013)
- percussion(1969–1972, 1973–1974, 1981–1985, 1992–1998, 2001–2010)
Discography
Studio albums
Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Certifications
| |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [24] |
CA [25] |
AUS [26] |
GE [27] |
NO [28] |
UK [29] | |||
1970 | Climbing! | 17 | 19 | — | — | — | — |
|
1971 | Nantucket Sleighride | 16 | 14 | 38 | — | — | 43 |
|
1971 | Flowers of Evil | 31 | 23 | 39 | 39 | 17 | — | |
1974 | Avalanche | 102 | 91 | — | — | — | — | |
1985 | Go for Your Life | 166 | — | — | — | — | — | |
1996 | Man's World | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
2002 | Mystic Fire | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
2007 | Masters of War | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart. |
Live albums
Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Certifications | |
---|---|---|---|---|
US [24] |
UK [29] | |||
1972 | Mountain Live: The Road Goes Ever On
|
63 | 21 | |
1974 | Twin Peaks[3] | 142 | — | |
2000/04 | Eruption | — | — | |
2013 | The Man and the Mountain (Leslie West & Mountain) [2CD] | — | — | |
2019 | Live at Woodstock | — | — | |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart. |
Compilation albums
Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Certifications | |
---|---|---|---|---|
US
[24] |
AUS [26] | |||
1973 | The Best of Mountain | 72 | 62 |
|
1995 | Over the Top[3] | 142 | — | |
2004 | The Very Best of Mountain | — | — | |
2010 | Crossroader: An Anthology 1970–1974 [2CD] | — | — | |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart. |
Singles
Year | Title | US
[24] |
---|---|---|
1969 | "Dreams of Milk and Honey" | ― |
"Long Red" | ― | |
1970 | "Mississippi Queen" | 21 |
"For Yasgur's Farm" | 107 | |
1971 | "The Animal Trainer and the Toad" | 76 |
"Silver Paper" / "Travelin' In The Dark (To E.M.P.)" | ― | |
1972 | "Roll Over Beethoven" | ― |
"Waiting to Take You Away" | ― | |
1974 | "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" | ― |
1985 | "Hard Times" | ― |
"Spark" | ― | |
1996 | "In Your Face" | ― |
References
- ^ a b c d "Biography by Bruce Eder & Steve Huey". AllMusic.com. Retrieved July 8, 2010.
- ISBN 978-1-78138-948-5.
- ^ ISBN 1-84195-017-3.
- ^ Metal – A Headbanger's Journey, DVD, ASIN B000FS9OZY (2005).
- ^ New Releases: "Eruption", by Mountain Popke, Michael. Goldmine 31.13 (July 8, 2005):56.
- ISBN 978-0-85712-117-2.
- ^ Farber, Jim (December 24, 2020). "Leslie West, 'Mississippi Queen' Rocker, Is Dead at 75". The New York Times. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
- ^ Browne, David (December 23, 2020). "Leslie West, Mountain Guitarist Who Belted Out 'Mississippi Queen,' Dead at 75". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
- ^ "Leslie West, guitarist of rock band Mountain, has died at 75". CityNews Vancouver. December 25, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
- ^ Chilton, Louis (December 24, 2020). "Leslie West, Mountain singer of 'Mississippi Queen' fame, dies aged 75". The Independent. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
- ^ ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
- ISSN 0006-2510.
- ^ "Mountain Announce US Tour". Komodorock.com. September 4, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
- ^ "Joe Satriani with Mountain – House of Blues, San Diego (CA) 11/12/08" Archived April 19, 2014, at the Wayback Machine Posted by Aaron Mayagoitia, on 411mania.com, on November 16, 2008. Retrieved 2–8–09.
- ^ "Randy Rhoads' three favourite guitar players". faroutmagazine.co.uk. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
- ^ "Interview:John McLaughlin (solo, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Miles Davis)". Hit-channel.com. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
- ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers: Tattooed Love Boys". Rolling Stone. June 15, 2006.
- ^ "Mountain Concert Setlists". setlist.fm.
- ^ "Rock guitarist Leslie West's lower leg amputated". Reuters. June 21, 2011. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
- ^ "Current Projects". Corkylaingworks.com.
- ^ "CURRENT PROJECTS". Corky Laing. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
- ^ "Mountain's Leslie West Dies at 75". Ultimate Classic Rock. December 23, 2020. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
- ^ "CURRENT PROJECTS". Corky Laing. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Mountain - Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on August 6, 2013. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
- ^ Canada, Library and Archives (July 17, 2013). "Results: RPM Weekly". www.bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
- ^ ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Suche - Offizielle Deutsche Charts". www.offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
- ^ "norwegiancharts.com - Norwegian charts portal". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
- ^ a b "MOUNTAIN | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
External links
- Mountain biography site at AllMusic.com
- Mountain discography, album releases & credits at Discogs.com
- Mountain biography, discography, album credits & user reviews at Sputnikmusic.com
- Mountain albums to be listened as stream at Play.Spotify.com