Just "discovered" them this weekend. That fat Les Paul tone of Leslie West's guitar is wondrous. Felix Pappalardi and Corky Laing make a quality rhythm section too. nice addition to my collection, wish I had the vinyl to spin. :music:

Any Mountain Fans?Absolutely.

:wave:

Check out Nantucket Sleighride.

:wave:

Check out Nantucket Sleighride.

the song by that title is awesome. I just have the best of mountain on CD right now. CD is my only input source, and through a computer at that. :tears:

:wave:

Leslie West has at a couple of excellent solo titles too. :thmbsp:

Yes, indeed. Mountain :music:

Don't forget West, Bruce, and Laing.

You bet :thmbsp:

Great stuff!
Even better on Vinyl.........

is the best they recorded. "Flowers of Evil" is good to,has Crossroader. The live side is great but poor sound Quality.
I'm a crossroader
driving
just a taste
outside the law:music:

Yes! Been a fan a long time. "Climbing!" is another top notch LP of theirs IMO, very cool. There's also a few good live cuts on the Woodstock Soundtrack LP no. 2.

Missisippi Queen my fav track of theirs....

Got to see them a couple a years ago at an Easy Rider Rodeo in Fowlerville, MI.
They put on a great show.
West is the man and can still belt out the jams.
He had 500+ bikers screaming for more.

Me included.....


John

One of my friends in high school was a big Mountain fan. Took a little too much acid one afternoon while listening to them and had to be trucked to the ER and brought down with Thorazine.

I still like Mountain...................R1:music::yes:...FWIW:D

Hey Roadie1,
I see you're down there in Chillicothe.
You mean to tell me you missed Mountain when they came through with the Rodeo?
Oh man....
They put on a hell of a show.
:)

their live album is just incredible... i second the nantucket sleighride, a masterpiece!!

LOVE MOUNTAIN : Man Leslie West was always great and I was lucky enough to have seen them in concert once,in thier hayday oops (I`m dating myself again). Nantucket sleigh ride & Mississippi Queen & Nantucket sleigh ride are GREAT!!! Have seen them a couple of times since in different venues and still like em.

Mountain has always been in my all time favorite list. Good tunes!
-Tony

Great stuff!
Even better on Vinyl.........

I love 'em, too.

I wish I had them on vinyl. :yes:

Mountain has been one of my top 5 bands since 1970. I believe I have every studio release, boot, video (boot and studio.) Also have every Leslie West CD, and he continues to produce, write and play. West, Bruce and Laing, too.

Did you know that Leslie uses only his index and middle fingers on the fret board?

Check out Big Phat Ass Guitar ~ DVD. Leslie demonstrates how he plays, which equipment he uses, techniques, and some of the guitars he uses.

He is quoted as saying "Fenders are for cars"

Long Red is an all time fave of mine. Much sampled in Hip Hop tracks too. Funky like a train...

Oh yeah! I missed them at Summerfest this year, they played on a Sunday night which gets in the way of work.

I saw that Leslie West lost a lot of weight. He used to be known as the Great Fatsby.

I can hear that riff from Mississippi Queen now ....

their live album is just incredible... i second the nantucket sleighride, a masterpiece!!

I third Nantucket Sleighride. Great LP and great song.

Hi,

Nantucket Sleighride on the Advents cranked is killer good. Climbing is also a superb experience in a nice pressing. Rock on! :tresbon:

:thmbsp:'Theme From An Imaginary Western' one of all time favorites!

If you like Leslie West's playing and are into strange collaborations, check out one of/all of, (?)the remastered versions of 'Who's Next'.

Leslie is all over the bonus tracks. Recorded in NYC in '69/70. Very, very good stuff. :smoke:

Leslie appears, sometimes without credit, on a bunch of records. One is Billy Joels' A New York State of Mind.

The (not so big anymore) man also appears on Night of the Guitar, Vol.1, and plays a very good rendition of "Theme" which was written by Jack Bruce and Pete Brown.

And the mid 80's solo release, 'Alligator' is most definitely worth seeking out. It's more of an EP than an LP. But Leslie's playing is on fire. Definitely worth owning if your a fan.

Alligator has 9 songs, all very good. I forgot that Stanley Clark plays bass on this cd. Another good song from this is I Put a Spell on You. The prices for some of the 80's, early 90's releases are close to $30-40 bux for the CD, which is preferable to me.

Hell, all of Leslies' stuff is great!

Hey Roadie1,
I see you're down there in Chillicothe.
You mean to tell me you missed Mountain when they came through with the Rodeo?
Oh man....
They put on a hell of a show.
:)

How the hell did I miss that? Hard to tell where I was or what I was doing.:scratch2: Somehow got by me.

.................R1:music::yes:

Hi,

Nantucket Sleighride on the Advents cranked is killer good. Climbing is also a superb experience in a nice pressing. Rock on! :tresbon:

Snagged primo copies of both last weekend; have to give them a spin...

For what it's worth, the live album is the night they warmed up for another band at The Fillmore East, who would ultimately release a live album from that night themselves. The Allman Brothers.

Any Mountain Fans?

Hell Yes!

Just "discovered" them this weekend.

You have made an excellent discovery, sir: Mountain were lots of fun to hear and see, and as several have mentioned above, you can find Leslie in lots of places 'sides Mountain LPs (or CDs, as the case may be). As Senior Slacker St Johnny pointed out, Leslie is featured in the Bonus Material portion of "Who's Next"; I know for certain that he's the lead guitar on the Who's "live in studio" recording of the Marvin Gaye classic "Baby Don't You Do It" on the MFSL UDCD released in 1995.

Felix Pappalardi and Corky Laing

Felix (especially) was underrated as a musician throughout his career. He got his props as a producer, not so much as a player.


That fat Les Paul tone of Leslie West's guitar is wondrous.

Les Paul tone, yes, but I don't know if I'd call it "fat" (tempting as that is, given, um, Leslie's own physical dimensions in the 60s and 70s). Leslie West's main instrument throughout the 60s and 70s was an unmolested/unaltered/unmodified Les Paul Junior, an instrument equipped with just one single-coil PU (a P-90, by name). The P-90 tone was not nearly as "fat" as that of a humbucker, but it had a biting, honking nasal sound quality that made it very popular with blues players, Leslie West, Keith Richards, and for some odd reason Ariel Bender (aka Luther Grosvenor) of Mott The Hoople.

Les Paul tone, yes, but I don't know if I'd call it "fat" (tempting as that is, given, um, Leslie's own physical dimensions in the 60s and 70s). Leslie West's main instrument throughout the 60s and 70s was an unmolested/unaltered/unmodified Les Paul Junior, an instrument equipped with just one single-coil PU (a P-90, by name). The P-90 tone was not nearly as "fat" as that of a humbucker, but it had a biting, honking nasal sound quality that made it very popular with blues players, Leslie West, Keith Richards, and for some odd reason Ariel Bender (aka Luther Grosvenor) of Mott The Hoople.

Senior Slacker? :dunno: I think that's a compliment? :scratch2: :D


Lord I loooove the sound of the LP Junior. There are many others, but you left out the most important Junior player, Johnny Thunders. The Saint, referred to by my SN.

Yes, I've read in many interviews where Leslie said he played Juniors almost exclusively back in those days.

I just figured most Les Pauls were known for fat tone. I don't play, but my brother does, so he'd know better. at least i can identify the guitar :thmbsp: :music: wish I could play like West. I'm listening to West Bruce & Laing right now, awesome. :yes:

Lord I loooove the sound of the LP Junior. There are many others, but you left out the most important Junior player, Johnny Thunders. The Saint, referred to by my SN.



I don't know about most important Junior player, but JT was a fabulous musician with the Dolls, the Heartbreakers and "so alone". I'd completely forgot about his blond Les Paul "TV" Junior (with shell guard, IIRC?). Quite a player he was, yep.

I could play like West.

Don't we all! West's an excellent player who is in complete command of his fretboard. I especially love his use of "artificial" harmonics, those squeaky little "honks" you'll hear throughout his playing. If you're not sure what I am referring to, think about the squeaking sounds you hear in ZZ Top's music - that's Billy Gibbons' artificial harmonics, often done to excess and often with humbuckers (LPs, Explorers and Vs) but also with Strats. I like Billy's playing a lot but I prefer Leslie's way with the artiifical harmonics - they're just more musical to my ears.

Interesting choice of screen name, BTW.

wow, mystic, you're pretty knowledgeable about guitar. who's your favorite player? I've got to go with Jimmy Page. and Jack Bruce on bass is amazing in West Bruce and Laing.

Love me sum Mountain. Nantucket Sliegh Ride is my fav with Climbing coming in close behind.

Mystic, Are you speaking of Pinch Harmonics? Some of my favorite added textures from the 80's metal players. If this is what you are talking about an excellent example of what they are and there absolute over use is Zach Wilde these days.

The P-90 equiped JR's that Mr West played had a wonderful tone. Wish I could afford one today.

Felix Pappalardi was a huge influence on me as far as playing Bass.He was a very underrated Bassist.Great and powerful band.

Interesting choice of screen name, BTW.

you like that? it's a nickname I got because I was a shutdown cornerback in pick up football games. nope, no jail time for me.:nono:

I have been known to attend anything to do with Leslie West since HS in 1970 if I had the money. :)
The show about 6 months ago? was incredible, better than the last 10 years worth although the 35th anniversary date show was a very special occasion.

I scanned info off my reissue Who's Next LP regarding the sessions.


Carl

:snip: West's an excellent player who is in complete command of his fretboard. I especially love his use of "artificial" harmonics, those squeaky little "honks" you'll hear throughout his playing.

So I had to go back and listen to "Baby Don't You Do It". :thmbsp:

I agree Leslie does getting very musical, interesting squawks and honks, out of his notes. Almost like 'chicken picking'.

And while it had never occurred to me before, I realized while listening carefully, that Bruce Springsteen, one of my favorite players also plays in a very similar way. They both get very similar sounds and harmonics out of their guitars.

Although Bruce is not known in any way, shape or form, as a great guitar player, when he does really 'play', I find his playing very moving, and exciting.
IMHO, Both Leslie and Bruce are very underrated players.

Listen to 'Adam Raised A Cain' after you listen to 'Baby Don't You Do It', and tell me your imprssions.

Who thinks that Leslie is "underrated?" Fans love his playing. Newcomers love it too.

Get the DVD, "big phat ass guitar" and see and hear how he makes all those tweaky, sharp overtones on the trailing edge.

I third Nantucket Sleighride. Great LP and great song.

Leslie once said that he never liked Nantucket Sleighride. It's funny, because this song became sort of Mountains theme song, and some versions top out at over 30 minutes. (Twin Peaks)

...Bruce Springsteen, one of my favorite players also plays in a very similar way.

...Bruce is not known in any way, shape or form, as a great guitar player, when he does really 'play', I find his playing very moving, and exciting.

Springsteen's chief asset as a player is his keen musical ear for melody imbued with emotive impact, i.e., he can summon notes that will make you cry (in a GOOD way to all you Springsteen haters out there - you know who you are). "Adam Raised A Cain" is a rave-up stance for Springsteen, much like his playing on "Cadillac Ranch", "Candy's Room" & others, and you're spot on re: his use of the artificial harmonics.

Of course the real test of any player - and the way to experience Springsteen besides - is their "live" playing. We all know who excelled (still does, I'd imagine) at that mode of playing. The emotional intensity of his fretwork is magnified 10-fold in concert, e.g., a song like "Rosalita" during which he'll stretch out the cool picking for several minutes, or a "Thunder Road" on which he'll often insert a goosebump-producing fill in that brief guitar part that immediately follows the lyric "I got this guitar and I learned how to make it talk".

Yes, he's pretty good, St J.

The show about 6 months ago? was incredible, better than the last 10 years worth although the 35th anniversary date show was a very special occasion.


So what make & model is Leslie playing these days in concert? Probably no longer touring with a late 50s Junior, I'll wager. I do hope he hasn't sunk to the headless-cum-Steinberger thing, ala Johnny Winter, etc.


I scanned info off my reissue Who's Next LP regarding the sessions.


IIRC, he's only in on the Record Plant sessions (re the live studio material alluded to earlier) and perhaps then only on a single cut, i.e., "Baby Don't You Do It". Interesting he's not "thanked" in the liner notes shown in the scan.

Geez CV, you've reached and exceeded 15,000 posts!!

Edwin

...who's your favorite player?

A really tough question to answer. I have favorites in several categories, some of which are included if only for a single performance - studio or live - but whose work otherwise leaves me cold. Some for their technical prowess but many more for their musicianship & tone (think Alan Holdsworth v. Malcom Young). Some for their rhythmic sense (that Rolling Stone comes to mind), others for their ability to craft emotionally engaging solo bits. And after all that, there's Richard Thompson, uber-master of the instrument. And on & on & on. Hell, Ike Turner's pulled off a few rhythm and lead licks that place him in pantheon.

Richard Thompson? is he a solo artist? if not, what band? one of my favorite solo bits is Alex Lifeson's solo in La Villa Strangiato on the Rush in Rio DVD.

Richard Thompson? is he a solo artist? if not, what band?

Worked in a little outfit called Fairport Convention in the late 60s & early 70s, then on to a long, long (long!) & fruitful (musically) solo career. He's still at it. You can read about him here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Thompson_(musician)

Who thinks that Leslie is "underrated?"


I do for one. :D

When you read lists of the '10 best guitarists'....blah blah.
Leslie is never in the top....whatever random number they arbitrarily choose, 5 or 10. It's always Eddie, Jimi, Jimmy, Eric, Jeff, Stevie Ray. If Leslie is even on the list he's usually in the middle of the pack. And I've never seen a 'greatest guitarist list' anywhere, ever that had Springsteen anywhere on it.

A really tough question to answer. I have favorites in several categories, some of which are included if only for a single performance - studio or live - but whose work otherwise leaves me cold. Some for their technical prowess but many more for their musicianship & tone (think Alan Holdsworth v. Malcom Young). Some for their rhythmic sense (that Rolling Stone comes to mind), others for their ability to craft emotionally engaging solo bits. And after all that, there's Richard Thompson, uber-master of the instrument. And on & on & on. Hell, Ike Turner's pulled off a few rhythm and lead licks that place him in pantheon.

I see we appreciate the same things, for mostly the same reasons. :thmbsp::D

Btw, all hail Richard Thompson!!! And besides his other-wordly guitar playing, he writes amazing songs with a biting, wicked sense of humor, all while shredding his fretboard.

So what make & model is Leslie playing these days in concert? Probably no longer touring with a late 50s Junior, I'll wager. I do hope he hasn't sunk to the headless-cum-Steinberger thing, ala Johnny Winter, etc.



IIRC, he's only in on the Record Plant sessions (re the live studio material alluded to earlier) and perhaps then only on a single cut, i.e., "Baby Don't You Do It". Interesting he's not "thanked" in the liner notes shown in the scan.

Geez CV, you've reached and exceeded 15,000 posts!!

Edwin

I've never seen Leslie or Mountain live, but the last video footage I've seen, probably 10 years ago, Leslie was indeed playing some headless contraption. :thumbsdn:

I just looked again and you are correct. It appears Leslie is only on 'Baby...'

...lists of the '10 best guitarists'...it's always Eddie, Jimi, Jimmy, Eric, Jeff, Stevie Ray.

What kills me is that Albert King is never close to the top in such lists. The sound and styles of at least two of the fellows listed above, i.e., EC and SRV, are (were) almost wholly derived from AK's approach to the instrument. And these guys even admitted it! As for JH, one thing I do know about him vis-a-vis Albert King is that Albert King was the one player Hendrix said he would not want to face in a head-cutting contest. When King invested those 300+ pounds of his into that Flying V (and out of a SS amp, thank you very much), everything - even a single note - was a wall of sound.

...last video footage I've seen, probably 10 years ago, Leslie was indeed playing some headless contraption...

I feared that'd be the case. Can't be the weight thing, no way a Steinberger is lighter than the majority of axes he played in the 60s & 70s. Smaller case though, easier to tote, store, etc., especially if you no longer enjoy the services of several roadies. ;)

What kills me is that Albert King is never close to the top in such lists. The sound and styles of at least two of the fellows listed above, i.e., EC and SRV, are (were) almost wholly derived from AK's approach to the instrument. And these guys even admitted it! As for JH, one thing I do know about him vis-a-vis Albert King is that Albert King was the one player Hendrix said he would not want to face in a head-cutting contest. When King invested those 300+ pounds of his into that Flying V (and out of a SS amp, thank you very much), everything - even a single note - was a wall of sound.
:thmbsp:
Yes, I agree you never see some of the great, 'true guitar pioneers' in those lists. Despite most of their recordings being readily available for all to hear.
Charlie Christian and Hubert Sumlin come to mind.

As for Hendrix, I just read that he was in awe of Terry Kath's playing! How's that for an endorsement?

So what make & model is Leslie playing these days in concert? Probably no longer touring with a late 50s Junior, I'll wager. I do hope he hasn't sunk to the headless-cum-Steinberger thing, ala Johnny Winter, etc.

Back in Jan he used 3 guitars, older Gibson?, the fretless one, and a Jetsons looking one with frets.
You noticed I'm not the expert here? :D
If you have not heard the Nantucket Sleighride (Redux) off the Mystic Fire album I recommend checking it out btw. At the 35th anniversary show at Slim's in 2004 along with a great many stories Lesle said it was his favorite song.
The one to hate would be Mississippi Queen I would think. Another top ten song that gives the wrong impression of what a band is all about. They still always play it, I spose because of the recognition and people want to hear it.
Anyway the Redux is awesome and one of the very few times a studio piece of theirs is the live arrangement as well. :)


Carl

...a Jetsons looking one with frets...



CV, was this Jetsons thing pulled mainly for slide playing? Kay, National, Silvertone, Supro & assorted others made some funky space-age lookin' guitars in the late 60s that suck to fret but because of the microphonic nature of their pickups make excellent slide guitars. Hound Dog Taylor's axe (Teisco?) comes to mind. (Personally, I opted for a Supro with plastic body & 2 PUs, though on occasion a coke-bottle headed Dano double-cutaway with 2 lipstick PUs, for electric slidin')

Edwin

Yep, sounds like you nailed it. He was cranking out some mean stuff with the thing. :)


Carl