Formed around the talents of guitarist extraordinaire Leslie West and multi-instrumentalist and producer Felix Pappalardi, Mountain were dubbed America’s answer to Cream when they first burst on the scene in 1969.

Based in New York the band’s oeuvre mixed West’s cranium crunching  blues based rock with Pappalardi’s classically influenced and more reflective folksy approach. Pappalardi had already made a name for himself having produced and arranged Cream’s later works and was aware of West’s formative work with The Vagrants – which was pitched somewhere between Vanilla Fudge and the Blues Magoos – and played a major part in having them sign with Atlantic Records in 1968.

Despite East Coast popularity, The Vagrants raw sound didn’t meet with wider success and a disillusioned West decided to jump ship and go solo enlisting Pappalardi to sit in the producer’s chair. Leslie West’s debut ‘Mountain’ was impressive and saw West incorporate Eric Clapton’s style into his own. Having gained both critical acclaim and promising sales West and Pappalardi were inspired to join forces and go on the road. After just a handful of gigs, now billed as Mountain, they landed a spot at the Woodstock Festival where their set went down a storm.

Although West’s first record was a solo album it was essentially a blueprint of what was to come and included a handful of songs that would be a staple of their live set for much of their career. A live version of ‘Long Red’ taken from the album ‘The Road Goes On Forever’ proved to be a nice little earner for the band in later years, its drum break having been embraced by the hip-hop community it has been the staple of over 700 versions!

For an 18 month period Mountain were one of the hottest bands in America. Each release saw more and more acclaim with the likes of Jeff Beck and Pete Townsend citing Leslie West as one of the greatest guitarists alive. Their first album proper released in 1970 – ‘Climbing’ – saw the addition of drummer Corky Laing and Steve Knight on keys to fill out their sound as they hit the Top 20. It showcased a growing songwriting maturity with towering contributions from all concerned. The belligerent Top 30 boogie that was ‘Mississippi Queen’ opened the album and was followed by a sublime version of ‘Theme For An Imaginary Western’ which demonstrated subtlety and lightness of touch.

By 1971 the arrival of their masterpiece ‘Nantucket Sleighride’ showed a band hitting their stride and sounding like no other. Still blues based Pappalardi shadowed West’s powerful guitars with his imaginative jazz tinged bass playing and arrangements. Backed by the powerful drumming of Corky Laing and the Hammond organ embellishment of Steve Knight it elevated the band to new heights and captured their undoubted brilliance. The title track of the album told the grisly tale of cannibalism on a stricken whaling ship and thanks to its inclusion as the theme tune to a weekend current affairs TV show it became the band’s best known tune. But the album was no one trick pony, this was the original ‘all killer no filler’ trip.

Interviewed at the time Felix Pappalardi said : “I think every album will be a kind of turning point for the band and if it isn’t, I think it’s a waste of studio time. ‘Nantucket’ is different from ‘Climbing!’ and the next is going to be different from all of those, and that’s what I mean by ‘innovative.’”

Sadly, Pappalardi’s aspirations came to nought thanks to internal power wrangles and substance abuse. The prophetically titled ‘Flowers Of Evil’  album that followed saw the beginning of the end for Mountain. Chaotic lifestyles and constant touring took their toll and indications that the band was fragmenting were all too evident on the half studio half live platter.

Alongside the studio albums from their heyday – including their last hurrah, the desultory ‘Avalanche’ –  there are 3 discs of live material here that gives the listener a true picture of their live prowess. Call it what you will these performances were truly monumental and none more so than on the shattering ‘Twin Peaks’ album – though 33 minutes of ‘Nantucket Sleighride’ was perhaps a touch indulgent.

With Cherry Red’s usual top notch packaging and liner notes and including their 1969 Woodstock performance this is the last word for Mountain fans and a case of what might have been. Playing loud is compulsory.

Lyndon Noon

www.cherryred.co.uk