Back in the mid 80s I saw the name Felix Papalardi on a list of customers of the company I then worked for. The person lived in Palm Coast, Florida. I knew the name and dialed the number. An older man answered. I explained why I was calling and then spent the next 35-40 minutes listening to a proud father talk about his son. I think it made his day and I know it made mine. I'll never forget it.
Yeah, his wife and lyricist, Gail Collins, shot him "accidentally" shot him in the neck. Pappalardi hadn't reached his prime. I saw these guys several times. They were great.
Hi Robert., I am not asking you to agree with me.I have never lost my appreciation of this kind of music.Or with Classical music either over many years.But I am someone who was consistently involved with the Modern dance music in London in the early-mid 90s.And (in my opinion) that has an incredible capacity to Uplift and inspire.Unlike the Rock music of earlier years,I met many people formally involved in that,and am still in touch with two of them even now.I have a vast archive of that,both Written and sound.So if ever you wanted info on all that I can help! But each to his own.What suits one person does not necessarily suit someone else. Best Wishes James
@robertcovara593 today they're frightened of this unholy racket, that we adore. The likes of Leslie West, Jimi, Jeff Beck, and on and on it goes, we'll never see the likes again.
I'm 70 now. I heard this live on the radio -King Biscuit - and I remember exactly where I was. I was at a Dairy Queen and I was leaving but immediately pulled over. I had a tape recorder but it got stuck. I think this is a powerful a representative of how F****ING HUGE, GREAT they were. I was 19or 20, I forget. I was learning from Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, you name it, but after I saw Leslie their first tour through the Seattle area right after their first album came out - LESLIE WEST WAS AND WILL ALWAYS BE HOME BASE FOR ME! Turn the bass up on this particular recording, treble all the way up and let 'em scream!
I loved the band when the members were Leslie West-guitar/vocals, Felix Pappalardi Jr-Bass/Vocals, Corky Laing-Drums, Steve Knight-Keyboards. The first 3 studio albums and first live album consist of my favorite period of Mountain. I still love to hear Leslie West play and sing to this day! Long Live Mountain!!!
a music genius of our times has been long forgotten........Felix was a superb producer,bass player and composer......dont forget him and vote for Mountain in R'n'R hall of fame!!!!!!!!!!
First rock concert I ever attended in the spring of 1974 at McDonough (sp ?) Arena at Georgetown University was Mountain ; also first time I ever smelled marijuana being smoked --Leslie West was a monster as this recording shows , a tone master .
Extremely under rated band, very heavy (if not metal at times) and bluesy, influenced many. Been listening to them since I was a kid. Should be in the RRHOF!
You're absolutely correct about the HOF. Add them to the list of overlooked artists. Emerson, Lake & Palmer is another powerhouse band that, for some strange reason, doesn't rank up there with Ricky Nelson, Madonna, and Blondie. SMDH.
Mountain has always been a highly rated band according to their fans, fellow musicians and critics. "Underrated" is an overrated, trendy phrase usually used by people who are unaware or too young.
An outstanding band I have been listening to since I got their albums when I was 15,now I'm 61 & still collect anything Mountian,domestic and or import.
oh my god ! It's a big surprise to listen the Mountain screams again... reminds me the real hard rock of 70.. Great Leslie West burns the stage with his explosive sound
I remember flying high on Blue Cheer acid and seeing Leslie with Jack Bruce and Corky Lange at Radio City Music Hall on November 6th, 1972, the night before Nixon creamed McGovern in the election. I was right up front and I kept cracking up because I thought Leslie looked like a hippie version of Ralph Kramden. Hominahominahomina! Bang! Zoom! He played his ass off though and you can hear the whole concert on the Sugarmegs site under W for West, Bruce and Lang. Lots of others on that site too.
I seen so many shows, at the Oklahoma City Music Hall. Never new Mountain played there. Sorry i missed that one. Elvis sold it out, in like 1956, I was two years old, never made it. LOL
Those of us who were there and fellow musicians and critics always rated Mountain very highly. They are only underrated by people who are far too young or unaware of music history.
@@ireneruthfox It's true. It seems to be a trendy and overused phrase among "younger" people to cover their ignorance. Apparently an older, aware person has to tell them first before they believe it. It's as stupid as if I said Louis Armstrong and Miles Davis were "underrated".
gary moore,alvin lee,lelsie west,johny, robin trower, winter are any of these guys in the rock and roll hall of fame if not its a damn shame the all were great great players
@@louismcbride5623 that's the truth f*** 'em ! I could give a rat's ass about their opinion they can pound sand all these award shows and award groups it's all b******* .....
First saw Mountain At the Capitol Theater in Passaic NJ had to be 1974 I was 16. Pure Rock and Roll Leslie West's Guitar sound is his own and legendary. Not many guitarist in R&R, that as soon as you hear the sound ferget the note just the sound ya knew who it was...
When I found out that Big Les played a Les Paul Junior, all those years ago, 1968, or so, I wanted, lusted, after one. About 3 weeks ago, at nearly 71 years of age, I got one. I've been annoying shit out of my neighbours, with my rendition of Mississippi Queen, and Never In My Life. Terrific fun.
same. since i was 15 and discovered Mr West i have wanted a Jr....just came from sweetwater today...i am in love. i am 55 next month. this and Richie Kotzen tickets are my present to myself. i have Jazz band practice tonight( i am a bass player these days) but before rehearsal.its gonna get LOUD
Thanks for posting. It brings back memories. I had the distinct pleasure of seeing Mountain in concert at the famed Fillmore East in New York City. This was just after the release of the "Nantucket Sleighride" album so, likely Spring of 1971. Greenwich Village was such a cool area in NYC back then. Man, were they loud! But, it was crystal clear and they sounded fantastic. I was 17 years old hanging with my big Sister and her crew. First time I ever smoked a doob. Just an amazing night for me and I'll never forget it. Thanks and love to my Sister for letting me hang. Best to all.
All drugs aside, listening to this music in my youth, along with countless others made me who I was in life and today, my body still wants to move ,every time I hear it, this is definitely the $#!+!
Hey ! Tommy. I lived it and saw mountain twice at the Masonic Temple in Detroit around 1970 and 1971. My ! Favorite all time guitarist with stacks of sunn amps and bottoms behind him. Thanks for the memories Tommy and what you do.
I still don`t know how they made it. But every KBFH release I know has an excellent sonic quality. Sheer joy listening to this show with my AKG K530 on.
Seen these guys in 73 or 4. The snare drum exploding at some point, up in a srtaight column of fire, almost to the ceiling of the Coliseum, was most memorable. Enjoyed the show. Thanks for the post. : )
This concert was their first after getting back together on Dec.30th 1973 at the Capitol Theatre. It's a great concert, but listen to the interview with Leslie West at the end of this. This was a 4 piece band sans Steve Knight(keyboard), so not the original lineup. Added a rhythm guitarist by the name of Dave Parry(?). Apparently one of the reasons they broke up in the first place was West didn't want keyboards and Pappalardi did. Pappalardi didn't want them to be imitation Cream.
I saw Leslie West at Glassboro College (NJ) the night Jimi Hendrix died. During his show he paid tribute to Jimi by playing some of his music. If you closed your eyes, you would have thought it was Jimi on stage. Leslie never quite received the kudos for his playing that he deserved.
On theme for an imaginary western- Boy, Leslie was right -Felix’s vocal vibrato was a motor. You can real hear it at the beginning before the guitar solo. Interesting and nice clear recording.
Now there's an underated vocalist, I guarantee he was highly tuned at this show, being his birthday and all. He sure didn't have many more, I just read where his wife/murderer died a recluse down in Mexico, just dessert's, I guess. She also had all her cats euthanized and buried with her, a murderer till the end and then some.
saw their last concert at long beach , ca. got right up to the stage in front of felix pappalardi ! my friend rick called me up @ 2 hrs before the show and said " i got tickets , but , no ride home " picked up on some girls who took us back home to redondo beach and partied in his garage .. what a memory
Leslie West was a seminal figure in heavy , high gain guitar,essentially the modern sound, so influential.He even invented the " pinch squeal" that every metal player pulls out when they want to impress.Not to mention "Long Red"by Mountain, the most sampled song in music history so far! Even Pete Townshend admits he lifted the riff at the end of "Won't Get Fooled Again" from Leslie.If he looked more like a standard rock star and played a bunch of fast garbage he would be a household name!
Mountain with Felix and Corky performed at Woodstock. One track of their set is immortalised on film and can b found on the Director's Cut of the film. They r also featured on the second Woodstock album release, along with Johnny Winter who also didn"t make the first cut. Can u bekieve that Country Joe and ShaNaNa got in the initial release while Mountain and JW languished on the cutting room floor!!!!
Hi Graham., I never went to Woodstock.And even though I used to hear this band back in 1972,I never heard it again until this week! (when I found it on Google),I did have an College friend called Chad at the place in South Wales where I started in September 1969 who tolld us that he did go to the Woodstock festival,one month earlier.He used to live in Vermont which was nearby.I have never met up since.There was a Movie called "Woodstock" which came out in 1971,and I saw it. Cheers James (Carlisle) NB I did get to a "Woodstock style" festival on Pocono mountain,Pennsylvania in July 1972,which was great! Though we only stayed the day.I simply cannot recall who was on the bill.Except that "Ten Year's After" might have been.I did see the latter live in the UK in 1969 (Colston hall:-Bristol)
James Turner I was @ that Pocono jam, Humble pie was awesome, stayed for the whole show, remember waiting 4 hours for 1 slice of cold pizza, an sitting in 11 hours of traffic to get there. Still loved it, saw Mountain in NY/NJ more then any other band, 15 plus times, new years @ the Filmore East with TRex was KILLER, so was the Sunshine, LOL
I want to thank my fabulous dear big bro Jack for turning me on to "Mountain"--M #1 ..Brother was born on Elvis birthday Jan 8th.....Plus all the fun we had watching him and his good looking friends do stunts on their Motorcycles...all taking place in the greatest city...."Motown" ---Can't stop smiling over so many Magnificants..memories...
Now I understand why Richie Blackmore was so impressed by this band back in the day. (I actually discovered Mountain because of Richie) They were really heavy and fresh.
el paso county coliseum (ignore poor spelling).....playing drums along with corky and i still have a drum stick he provided as a gift....great memories....wonderful , really wonderful memories from so long ago....RIP Felix and Gary Moore.....would have loved to see them all on stage at the same time...wishes to leslie for a long and sober life....steve
+Steve Allison ...leslie came back to " el ( chuco ) paso to the Plaza w/ joe satiani last year....!! FAT MAN CAN STILL SHREAD THAT G'TAH !!....Spydr 11 *
Good post Tommy Ham. I seen Mountain open up for TRIUMPH back in 1984 at Alpine Valley in Wisconsin. This was the Thunder Seven tour. Alpine Valley is a outside venue. I was really impressed by Leslie West and his band. Also my 2nd largest concert to follow the Police (1983) and just after this one Iron Maiden (1984).
I saw Leslie West with Ritchie Scarlet at The Chance in Poughkeepsie, NY, and he rocked it. The walls shook and people could hardly sit still in their seats. Great show, great showman!
Saw them in NJ on the same tour in May of '85 with Loudness, then Mountain. I remember Leslie had a problem with one of his guitars and he threw off to stage right!
