Mountain/Leslie West

Leslie West was a guest on the Howard Stern Show yesterday promoting Mountain's new album, Masters of War. The 1st single has Ozzy on vocals and sounded pretty cool, which got me looking into Mountain's/Leslie West's back catalog. I was surprised to see that West has put out quite a few solo albums, a few of which are blues albums, akin to Gary Moore's blues period.

Is anyone familiar with Mountain (aside from Mississippi Queen) or West's solo works? Any recommendations?

I saw Mountain in concert in the 80's opening for Triumph. Great show. When they played Mississippi Queen they brought this giant cowbell out on the stage.

As for hearing their music, I have heard some of it but I don't really own anything by them anymore. It's been a long while.

The only album I have is The Best of Mountain (2003) with bonus tracks. It is fantastic and it's cheap and readily available. As an introduction to the band I suggest this album.

Ya, we kind of bought the criticism that they were just the poor man's Cream at the time; but I think their music holds up better now than many of those ancient bands. They are one of the first vintage bands that I'd recommend to fans of retro-rock.

The two essential Mountain albums to have is:

Mountain - Climbing! (1970)
Mountain - Nantucket Sleighride (1971)

Heavier than you think, as heavy as say Black Sabbath's first 2 albums just not as dark. Get them on vinyl and wonder at the brilliant cover paintings. Sammy Hagar called Mountain the first American Heavy Metal band.

I might invest in their Greatest Hits. I'm a little more intrigued in the Leslie West blues stuff, but I guess a hits disk is as good as any place to start.

Some of Mountains/Leslie West later material is blues orientated good stuff if you like blues? I DO!

Wargod48

Bump.

rattpoison wrote:

Heavier than you think, as heavy as say Black Sabbath's first 2 albums just not as dark.

this has tickled my fancy, i'll check em out when I have the chance.

Leslie West has put out 3 Blues albums in the 2000's! Blues To Die For 2003, Got Blooze 2005 and Blue Me 2006! All are on Shrapnel Records' Blue Bureau International imprint! They are mostly his heavy take on old Blues standards and some 60's and 70's Blues and Rock covers and all are EXCELLANT!!!
My personal fav is Blues To Die For but a good way to decide where to start would be to check the track lists as any Blues fan will recognise many of these songs and pick a fav set list! I've heard there maybe a 4th one out but I do not know/have not heard it yet! I will check into it and get back to you! I hope that helps!!!

When I was putting myself through college I worked at my cousin's gas station. There was a dude workin' there named Tom who said he saw mountain in concert in the 70's and someone lit Leslie West's beard on fire when he was high fivin' the crowd. I guess he had one of those Billy Gibbons/Dusty Hill beards. Pretty mean if you ask me.

criss3o wrote:

Leslie West has put out 3 Blues albums in the 2000's! Blues To Die For 2003, Got Blooze 2005 and Blue Me 2006! All are on Shrapnel Records' Blue Bureau International imprint! They are mostly his heavy take on old Blues standards and some 60's and 70's Blues and Rock covers and all are EXCELLANT!!!
My personal fav is Blues To Die For but a good way to decide where to start would be to check the track lists as any Blues fan will recognise many of these songs and pick a fav set list! I've heard there maybe a 4th one out but I do not know/have not heard it yet! I will check into it and get back to you! I hope that helps!!!

That helps allot!! Thanks for the info.

You are very welcome MetalGuy!

Picked up Mountain's Greatest Hits over the weekend. Pretty cool stuff. Nice thick guitar sound.

Right On Bro!!!

Check out Leslie's Blues albums and let me know what you think! OK?!!!

I've only got a handful of tracks, but they are some great pieces of music.

I was glad to see a thread on Mountain, Leslie West was one of Randy Rhoads biggest influences along with Glenn Buxton (of Alice Cooper) and Bill Nelson (of Be Bop Deluxe). One of the heaviest band of the late 60's/early 70's with Cream producer Felix Pappalardi on bass/co songwriter and co-lead vocalist. Pure 100% American metal who played so loud it turned pure air into cottage cheese. Made vh1 list of greatest hard rock bands at #98 which put them below Meatloaf . Shows that vh1 are almost as clueless as the aging hippies at Rolling Stone. Bonus points for the proper use of a cowbell at the intro to " Mississpi Queeen."'

I got my first gig with a band (age 12) cause I could play "mississippi queen" and "hair of the dog" on the drums. In reality, the singer does cow bell on "hair" which gives the drummer that hand to do those killer accents on the ride, the
thing that gives that song the drive right out the gate.

I saw Leslie last year playing with Elvin Bishop of all people. Some sweet traditional and electric blues by both acts. I was only one of about tewnty folks in the place. A lil town in the foothills between sacramento and reno.

I've got Climbing!. Definately worth picking up. RP's right, alot heavier than you'd expect.

manny wrote:

I was glad to see a thread on Mountain, Leslie West was one of Randy Rhoads biggest influences along with Glenn Buxton (of Alice Cooper) and Bill Nelson (of Be Bop Deluxe).

Throw in Mick Ronson as well.

criss3o wrote:

Leslie West has put out 3 Blues albums in the 2000's! Blues To Die For 2003, Got Blooze 2005 and Blue Me 2006! All are on Shrapnel Records' Blue Bureau International imprint! They are mostly his heavy take on old Blues standards and some 60's and 70's Blues and Rock covers and all are EXCELLANT!!!
My personal fav is Blues To Die For but a good way to decide where to start would be to check the track lists as any Blues fan will recognise many of these songs and pick a fav set list! I've heard there maybe a 4th one out but I do not know/have not heard it yet! I will check into it and get back to you! I hope that helps!!!

I picked up Leslie West's Collection, which I'm guessing is a best of/compilation of the blues albums he's released. Found it in a used bin for $4 bucks. It's all blues standards and some oldies, although his version of Crossroads is definatley a tribute to Cream. Pretty cool if you're into that sort of thing. He's not really re-inventing the wheel here, just putting his own spin on some classics. The man plays a mean gee-tar.

Check out Nantucket Sleighride,Climbing!,Flowers Of Evil,The Great Fatsby and all 3 West,Bruce, and Laing albums.

Just got my first Mountain record today at Walmart. It's their newest one "Masters of War". It is really good and heavy in a retro 70's way. I only knew their (Missisippi Queen) song prior to getting this. Ozzy sings a few lines on the title track and Warren Haynes of Govn't Mule plays some slide guitar on a track. I'm gonna look into their back catalog now.

rattpoison wrote:

The two essential Mountain albums to have is:

Mountain - Climbing! (1970)
Mountain - Nantucket Sleighride (1971)

Heavier than you think, as heavy as say Black Sabbath's first 2 albums just not as dark. Get them on vinyl and wonder at the brilliant cover paintings. Sammy Hagar called Mountain the first American Heavy Metal band.

TZ check these albums next, rattpoison is right on target recommending these two essential Mountain releases.

manny wrote:

rattpoison wrote:

The two essential Mountain albums to have is:

Mountain - Climbing! (1970)
Mountain - Nantucket Sleighride (1971)

Heavier than you think, as heavy as say Black Sabbath's first 2 albums just not as dark. Get them on vinyl and wonder at the brilliant cover paintings. Sammy Hagar called Mountain the first American Heavy Metal band.

TZ check these albums next, rattpoison is right on target recommending these two essential Mountain releases.

Will do.