Mountain Albums (14)
'Live in Texas 2005'
Release Date 9/4/2006
Tracks 12
Label Voiceprint
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'Official Bootleg Series, Vol. 16: Live in Tempe Arizona 1982'
Release Date 6/27/2006
Tracks 7
Label Trademark of Quality
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What The Critics Say
Now this is more like it! Recorded in Osaka, Japan, in 1973, Twin Peaks was Mountain's second consecutive live album (with The Best of Mountain compilation between them), albeit featuring the re-formed, somewhat reconfigured version of the group, consisting of Leslie West (guitar, vocals), Felix Pappalardi (bass, vocals), Bob Mann (guitar, keyboards), and Allan Schwartzberg (drums). It overlaps with its predecessor, Mountain Live (The Road Goes Ever On) on only two cuts, "Crossroader" and "Nantucket Sleighride," and the latter is stretched out even further here than it was on the earlier album, to 32 minutes. The content ends up showing off the best and the worst attributes of Mountain -- the best being such staples as "Theme from an Imaginary Western," "Mississippi Queen," "Never in My Life," and "Roll Over Beethoven," while the worst is "Nantucket Sleighride." But even the latter, at over half-an-hour, was precisely what audiences of the period were paying to see and hear, and captures the band's music in all of its excessive glory. Additionally, "Nantucket Sleighride" doesn't seem that long in the actual listening, mostly because it's difficult not to be impressed with the playing, especially the guitar dialogue between West and Mann. A worthy document of a Mountain concert at their summit, this album has appeared on CD from both Columbia Records and Repertoire. The latter version, remastered in 2006, offers superior sound and packaging. ~ James Chrispell & Bruce Eder, All Music Guide
'Theme from an Imaginary Western'
Release Date 11/14/2005
Tracks 17
Label Membran/Ambitions
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'Fillmore East 12/27/70'
Release Date 5/10/2005
Tracks 11
Label Trademark of Quality
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What The Critics Say
Although Mountain only had a few years of true artistic greatness, their impact on hard rock was impressive; April Wine, Bad Company, Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top and Pat Travers were among the many hard rockers who were directly or indirectly influenced by Mountain's early-'70s recordings. Creatively, Mountain was never the same after the departure of Felix Pappalardi in 1972, and some rock historians have questioned whether or not lead singer/guitarist Leslie West and drummer Corky Laing should have continued to use the name Mountain in the '80s, '90s or 2000s -- that they should call themselves something like the "West/Laing Group" because without the late Pappalardi, they aren't really Mountain. Nonetheless, West and Laing still have their hardcore followers, who are the target audience of this 2004 release. Eruption, a double-CD live album, spotlights two post-Pappalardi versions of Mountain. The first unites West and Laing with bassist Mark Clarke (of Uriah Heap fame), and that lineup is heard on some New York club performances from 1985; the second lineup (West, Laing and bassist Richie Scarlet) is heard during a European tour of 2003. Of course, hearing Mountain in 1985 and 2003 isn't like hearing Pappalardi-era Mountain back in 1970 and 1971 -- the group is way past its prime, which isn't to say that Eruption is without merit. West and Laing are in decent form on old favorites like "Nantucket Sleighride" (which they perform in both 1985 and 2003), "Mississippi Queen" and "Never in My Life"." But here's the thing: Mountain was much more than decent back in their early-'70s heyday -- they were one of the most powerful and exciting hard rock bands around. Casual listeners should stick to Mountain's classic Pappalardi-era output; Eruption is strictly for the group's most diehard fans. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Although singer/guitarist Leslie West and drummer Corky Laing, two of the four musicians who were known as Mountain on such hit recordings as 1970's Mountain Climbing!, have released several albums under the band's name since its nominal demise in the 1970s, their legal right to do so is somewhat belied by their inability to fully re-create the group's style. The absence of keyboard player Steve Knight isn't that much of a problem (even though it reduces the sound to that of a power trio with the addition of bass guitar played by different session men or West overdubbing), but Felix Pappalardi, who not only played bass, but also brought his arranging and producing skills to Mountain, is a key omission that cannot be replaced; he was shot to death by his wife, occasional Mountain lyricist Gail Collins, in 1983. West was always the lead vocalist and lead guitar player, so the most identifiable elements of the sound are in place. But without Pappalardi, Mountain is really a West solo project released under a more marketable name. That said, Laing makes his presence felt on Mountain's 2002 reunion effort, Mystic Fire. He is the co-author of several songs, gets drum solos on "Marble Peach/Rotten Peach" and "Johnny Comes Marching Home," and is responsible for the strings on a remake of "Nantucket Sleighride." Still, West dominates the record, his always gruff voice having deteriorated, but his guitar playing still recalling late-'60s/early-'70s peers Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, and Jimmy Page. The songs are often rudimentary compositions that serve as excuses for the guitar excursions; they lack the poetic lyrics formerly contributed by Collins and Pete Brown. So, old fans can welcome back a group that sounds like Mountain, while recognizing that it is not what it once was. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
'Man's World'
Release Date 1/1/1996
Tracks 11
Label Viceroy Architect
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What The Critics Say
Coming on the heels of their live Twin Peaks, this release features more of a guitar-oriented sound than previous efforts. Highlights include their cover of Jerry Lee Lewis' "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" and "You Better Believe It," the latter sounding like a return to the Climbing days. The rest, however, sounds like it could have been left buried under the Avalanche. Everything was downhill after this. ~ James Chrispell, All Music Guide
