Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: Mountain
Company: Windfall
Catalog: 4500
Year: 1969
Grade (cover/record): VG/VG
Comments: minor ring wear on front cover; slight tears on back cover; cut out hole top right corner
Available: 1
Price: $9.00
Understandably, the title frequently confuses folks. No, it's not a late inning Mountain LP, rather it's Leslie West's first post-Vagrants solo effort ...
This one's always interested us in that even though it's credited as a West solo effort, for all intents and purposes 1969's "Mountain" comes off as a full fledged collaboration with former Cream producer Felix Pappalardi. In addition to playing bass and keyboards, Pappalardi produced the album and co-wrote 8 of the 11 tracks (most with partner Gail Collins). Given Pappalardi's credentials as Cream's producer, it probably won't come as a major shock to learn that the overarching sound is that of power trio. The big surprise may be the fact the results are actually pretty good. While not the most versatile voice you've ever heard, West's growl is quite effective on blues rockers such as "Blood of the Sun", "Better Watch Out" and "Baby, I'm Down". West's an even better guitarist, turning in some scorching runs on tracks such as "Blind Man", "This Wheel's On Fire" and "Dreams of Milk and Honey" (the last two baring an uncanny resemblance to something from the Jack Bruce catalog). Perhaps because they're a step away from the band's standard rockers, the acoustic ballads "Long Red" and "Storyteller Man" were our favorite selection. All-in-all, perhaps West's most consistent outing ...
"Mountain" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Blood of the Sun (Gail Collins - Felix Pappalardi - Leslie West) - 2:35
2.) Long Red (Leslie West - Felix Pappalardi - John Ventura - N. Landsberg) - 3:14
3.) Better Watch Out (Gail Collins - Felix Pappalardi) - 2:48
4.) Blind Man (Gail Collins - Felix Pappalardi - John Ventura - Leslie West) - 3:54
5.) Baby, I'm Down (Gail Collins - Felix Pappalardi) - 4:03
(side 2)
1.) Dreams of Milk and Honey (Leslie West - Felix Pappalardi - John Ventura - N. Landsberg) - 3:34
2.) Storyteller Man (Leslie West - Felix Pappalardi - John Ventura - N. Landsberg) -3:05
3.) This Wheel's On Fire (Rick Danko - Bob Dylan) - 3:19
4.) Look To the Wind (Leslie West - Felix Pappalardi - John Ventura) -2:42
5.) Southbound Train (Leslie West - John Ventura - N. Landsberg) -2:59
6.) Because You Are My Friend (Leslie West) - 3:12
West, Pappalardi and Smart actually briefly toured as Mountain in support of the album. Prior to dropping his solo career in favor of pursuing Mountain as an active entity, Smart quit. He was quickly replaced by Corky Laine.
In case you're interested, in 1996 Columbia/Legacy reissued the set in CD format.