Mountain / Theme For An Imaginary Western

[EyesOfFrozenMeat]

Mountain > Cream

[zztiki]

one of the most under rated solo in rock history

[tyrssen1]

This was killer, live at Goose Lake in 1970 ...

[TheBabyboomkidof53]

@tyrssen1 I made goose lake too !

[88napolitano]

R.I.P = Felix Pappalardi .

[TheGoomow]

A TRUE Classic/very involved!! Original! Love it/Nothing close in todays"musick"!

[TheBabyboomkidof53]

I bought this album the day it was released....still have it too. I seen mountian at the cincinatti pop festival in summer 1970. great event. loads of future hall of famers.bob seger,steve winwood and traffic,the stooges,the MC5, and many more. now those were the good old days!

[W8XR]

@TheBabyboomkidof53 - I was at that show too! My buddy and I and our girlfriends drove down from Detroit to see the show. Great time.

[TheBabyboomkidof53]

@W8XR far out! do you remember how the cops walked all around up on the roof of the stadium with field glasses watching people down on the field rolling and smoking pot? when they spotted someone they radio others what seat number they was in and they'd go bust them. that was a bummer for an otherwise great festival.the cops were real dicks. we didn't know then that cincinatti is the most conservative city in ohio.they probably put the festival on just so they could bust hippies!LOL

[Anticrombie918]

This qualifies as heavy in my book.

[djwolf12]

This song will be played at my funeral.

[userboy6]

haha i just learned how to play this on guitar, just the chords!

[Themeanman1975]

What a great song and what a great album, Climbing deserves to be in an Hall Of Fame of rock albums of all times!!!!! minimum in the fourth or five place. What a classic.

[nickrambus]

To me this should be right up there with Stairway to Heaven and Freebird as the ultimate rock anthem classic. !!

[redsfavorite]

I get fkn chills listening to this song -rock ballad...Felix voice, Leslie West guitar everything just perfect !!!!

[balderdashsir]

I hate to say it, because this band was incredible: I much prefer when Leslie sings. Sorry.

[dawnofanewsun]

I still trip with this song every time I hear it.

[BushmasterAR10]

Long time gone. Saw Mountain in Birmingham at a music festival in fall of 69'

Conway Twitty and the twitty birds played first. Mylon and Holy Smoke played second,,,,Then Leslie West and Mountain!

[JohnsFavRockers]

@BushmasterAR10 ...LOL...NEVER would have thought that Conway Twitty w/b open for Mountain...it'd be like Hank Williams Jr. opening for Led Zeppelin..now, as for a duet well that's on them...LOL

[BushmasterAR10]

@JohnsFavRockers Ha ha.....Corky Lang threw a set of drumsticks into the crowd after every song....Still memorable after 43 years!

[javaman64]

Happy Birthday Leslie West!

[Guitarsrsm1]

the solos give me chills every time

[eightintheblock]

ultimate guitar's weeping

[rebeccaak]

c u n t got off

[lrinax]

I have no words except...THANK YOU.

[eluros]

GREAT SONG !!!!!!

i got on my channel a great song too from album mystic fire 2002

'' better off with the blues ''

[Wastedwoody]

One of my favorite and well-worn vinyls. Saw them live in Boulder, CO/CU during some frightful times in our country. It was a good relief.

[tenthousandflushes]

I agree that this is some of the best (not to mention memorable) studio music ever produced in that era, but Mountain sucked live.

[LunarFeet]

Easily the most beautiful rock song I've ever heard.

[f5775beach]

Hammond organ never sounded better !!!!!!!! Love the overdrive,,,,

[1953taggie]

Gotta agree about Pappilardi's vocals - just spot on. He sounds an awful lot like both Jack Bruce and Robin Trower to me - not that that's a bad thing. They just sound very much alike.

[BLUESMANRONCHICAGO]

@1953taggie this is a jack bruce tune, felix and he were close friends, check out jack's live version of this on you tube

[TumbrelJockey]

Leslie is an excellent hard rocking blue shouter - but his fag fan "depper"s a pussy though .

[rvmnmusic]

among the top 10 bands and the most nostalgic song ever

[bammramm]

R.I.P Bram Speekenbrink 09-11-2001/ 24-06-2011

[jints075]

Saw Mountain several times in the early 70's . Ran into Leslie West once the day after a show in NYC and we started talking. We ended up in the studio and sitting in on the recording of Nantucket Sleighride .

[62burnley]

@MarvKirsch I'm fast approaching 60 and British and i have never referred to Cream as anything else other than that,and neither have my friends over the years! I think the blame lies with out of touch presenters both here and in the US who mistakenly thought back in the 60's that all groups/bands had to have "The" as a prefix! I think this happened with Move who became The Move due to constant use of "The" in their early career!

[parafleet]

@62burnley It is simple.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience sounds better than Jimi Hendrix Experience.

Or who cares.. The wind blew my dress of. A crack in the wall. I fix a monkey circus.

[afatase]

Zero dislikes. Good. I have some respect for the general population.

[WoodedAcres]

Saw Mountain in 74 at the AP Casino. We went in with a fairly large group of guys and had never heard of the back up band that was playing, but they had a "funny" name so we started making fun of them. The name of that back up band was Rush. That concert was part of their first tour in the USA. The things you remember......

[RHMETAL]

@WoodedAcres Well we all know what size "clubs" Rush is playing now. LOL!

[claing420]

gail collins went to jail my mom testifed in cort against her. they weomen kill all the good men

woman kills all the good man felix hendrix courtney list goes on and on

[claing420]

gail collins went to jail my mom testifed in cort against her. they weomen kill all the good men

[Cromag99]

Saw Mr. Big and crew at Gaelic park'74 in the bronx, Mr. West wouldn't come out fer an encore and a riot erupted! Good times! Oh I got 2 of Corky Laing's burnt gong mashers.

[humannzee]

@62849rsm: Reading your little snippet-from-the-past there and listening to the truly Masterful Leslie West as he coaxed the most fluid & expressive music out of his guitar that I've ever had the sheer joy of hearing makes me feel so nostalgic for the past, I can hardly stand it.

Like Mick Jagger sang way back when -- "what a drag it is gettin' oh-oh-old".

[linksforyou]

Heard this song long times ago ... after more than 30 years its almost fantastic music!

[fatbowlingguy1]

READ SUNS N Y DAILY 

[sprueboy]

The woman who killed Felix Pappalardi wrote "Strange Brew" for the Cream. Believe it.... or NOT lol

[MarvKirsch]

@sprueboy It's just Cream, not "the" Cream.

[xxxtom69xxx]

@MarvKirsch I think British people and some older announcers referred to them as "The Cream"....

[xxxtom69xxx]

@MarvKirsch I think a lot of British people and some older TV and radio announcers referred to Cream as "The Cream". You also hear it a lot with other bands and older people. For instance, "Up" as "The Up". I think it's more of an age and regional thing....

[rbertagopetah13]

"Songwriting is a lost art"....

[octaviustentacles]

West is King of harmonics...well, except for, maybe, Rev. Willie G.

[cooltooth112]

Another song off this album I would like to hear again is "The Boys In The Band".

[cooltooth112]

So if Gail is out she is receiving all those royalties for songs that Felix wrote. I wonder how much she contributed or if Felix just added her name. Leslie said when Mountain Climbing! came out he was shocked and pissed as Gail Collins name was all over the damn album cover.

[cooltooth112]

Yes Gail Collins was charged. She is also the same Gail Collins that is on the written by's on some of Mountain's songs and she did all the artwork for the albums, but she had to go nuts and shoot Felix.

[FuhrerKaiser]

the newst version by leslie west is really good too.

[hidrogen59]

Ezt a dalt minden magára valamit is adó zenekar ekjátsuotta a Mountain-től kezdve

a Colosseumig, a Rockit For Kids-ig! Magával ragadó, remek zene! Remélem a

gyermekeink ilyen zenéken nőnek fel! Kötelességünk megmutatni nekik!

[62849rsm]

Remember watching Leslie play this solo in concert. Sweat streaming down his face, and playing one the most melodic guitar solos a man ever played. The harmonic after the first solo blew me away when he ripped it off. Will always be one of my favorite guitar solos.

[OBDjFH05]

Played this album about a kazillion times! Love it.

[tomosoos]

great song. i know it could be remixed to be much better

[fjbasslow]

@tomosoos

There is a version of the Climbing album that West, and Laing remastered. An outstanding job. If you have the LP of Climbing, put on a set of headphones. Turn it way up! Listen at the end of Theme For An Imaginary Western, going into Never In My Life. You can hear Felix Pappalardi say, "Ready, Play." Then the good stuff starts.

[jwailin65]

Have this original album,love it still plays great thanks for the memory

[Count22]

Magic

[depper]

Once Felix sang and Leslie played Theme For An Imaginary Western, the "Rock Ballad" was born.

Kiss, Queen, Pink Floyd, Van Halen and countless other bands were influenced by Mountain.  Mountain were pioneers in the truest sense.

[swampyD1000]

@depper AGREED!!!:)

[LaniRockster]

Must be eluding to post welch fleetwood?

[glb58688]

Why? Because they're to busy playing Fleetwood Mac, ETC.....

[nholt]

Why isn't this played on "classic rock" radio stations?

One of the most underrated songs ever.

[glb58688]

When I saw Mountain play it at my first Mountain concert in early 1971. I was in the front row. I stood in awe as I witnessed greatness. To this day I still get a rush listening to it. It's almost like Jack Bruce wrote this masterpiece for Felix P. to sing at Woodstock and record on the Climbing album for immortality. There is subtle sound to it that builds to a raw crescendo that grabs hold of you. As the last note rings out, you can dream of the 60's music gone, but Never Forgotten! RIP F.P.

[lpride1]

@glb58688 Nice post!

[TK631]

this should be the song getting 30,000,000 plays on youtube, not all this fuckin bullshit on the radio today

[burnmehdown214]

I wish I was a cowboy, alone in the desert.

[lpride1]

What a song...what a voice...still have the album...remembered crying when I heard Felix had died.

[62849rsm]

One of the most melodic and moving guitar solos ever played. To see that 300 lb. plus man on stage playing his heart out is a scene i won't soon forget. Leslie West rocks!!!

[glb58688]

Felix Pappalardi was shot and killed by his wife, i think her name was Gail collins in 1983. That is what Leslie West was eluding to about "She did it. You know you did it." Was she not charged?

[swampyD1000]

@glb58688 Pappalardi was a kick ASS bassist! I first got turned on to MOUNTAIN by my brother, in the early '70s, with the FLOWERS OF EVIL album. Leslie West could make that Les Paul Jr. SCREAM! Although, I believe he switched to PRS guitars and DEAN guitars makes his signature model, however, I could be wrong. I'll stand correted, anyone?

[CaptainBeyond72]

@glb58688 She got a very light sentence in late '83 for murdering Felix. Less than 2 years I believe...

[MorroccoM13]

@glb58688 >Wiki: Pappalardi was shot and killed by his wife, Gail Collins, on April 17, 1983 in their Manhattan apartment. Gail was subsequently charged with second-degree murder. She claimed it was an accident, and was found guilty of the lesser criminally negligent homicide and sentenced to sixteen months to four years in prison and was released on parole in April 1985. Gail Collins, as of 2009, is alive and living quietly in Mexico. She continues to maintain that the shooting was an accident.

[jantom714]

@glb58688 Gail was subsequently charged with second-degree murder. She claimed it was an accident, and was found guilty of the lesser criminally negligent homicide and sentenced to sixteen months to four years in prison and was released on parole in April 1985. He is interred next to his mother at Woodlawn Cemetery in Bronx, New York. Gail Collins, as of 2009, is alive and living quietly in Mexico.[citation needed] She continues to maintain that the shooting was an accident.

[spacepatrolman]

@jantom714 Something like the claudine longet case

[balderdashsir]

@glb58688 It's my understanding that they were all really close at one point in time. She was charged, but she was acquitted. It's a damn shame regardless, because if you think about today's technology, even with his partial deafness, there is a solid chance that a legit mountain reunion could have happened... although felix would have had some ugly headphones on... but next to leslie's prosthetic leg, it might not have looked that bad.

[videostan]

@balderdashsir They would be fuckin warriors and play better now than they did then, if that's possible. Lightning in a bottle....

[JohnsFavRockers]

@glb58688 ..yes Gail Collins was charged, don't recall what her sentence was. Some say it was due to abuse, c/b with Felix's reputed drug abuse. Another side of Gail was she got into co-writing songs, as well as doing the artwork for bands LP's...later

[isftpoawawh]

I don't know why but this song and Robin Trowers bridge of sighs always are together in my mind, I think it is because of the emotion in the two songs. Saw Mountain and West Bruce & Laing and just awesome concerts. superb musicianship. This was the favorite song of my friend Nick, who commited suicide in 1973, hope someone will smoke a dube for him.

[MrFredfarkle]

Whenever I relish this song, I involuntarily erect my ears like twin sails, the hull of my soul propelled across an ocean of musicianship as satisfying as a warm embrace.

[dezdimona84]

this song rocks me!

[SpainishArcher]

I could listen to this song for hours.

Just a Masterpiece from all involved.

So sad to have those magical days be gone.

Glad we have the music to live on forever.

My heart bleeds the notes from the Great Man's Guitar and Felix's voice.The pounding of the beat from Corky will echo in my soul.

Glad I was able to see them in person twice.

Long live the Rock legends Mountain !

[outlawdad74]

Felix was absolutely incredible. Best "clean" rock voice ever, no question.

[DiatonicVids]

@outlawdad74 "Felix was absolutely incredible. Best "clean" rock voice ever, no question."

He does have a very good voice, but when you say the "best 'clean'" voice in rock, Freddy Mercury immediately comes to mind. Just my opinion though, and everyone has their own.

[rickystinks1]

NOTHING will ever take the place of this man's talent at this time and place....one of the most heartfelt solos ever!!!

[mikescruffy1]

just f-cking great

[manitourow]

i get smoked out to this feel sad and cry and then jam this ssshhhiiit is crazy i love it.

[TheJetfighter666]

@manitourow You are the first person who has ever said that .You mean I'm not the only one.Not to this song but others Thin Lizzy's" Black Rose" at the end part and others.....My Brother that is the Power of Music!

[moon2458]

also, nantucket sleighride

[bjclark1948]

Its great to see the comments here. Did you all know that Felix Pappalardii was the producer of Cream? Did you know that no less than Eric Clapton has said that if there was no Felix, there would have been no CREAM????????? Can you believe that a jealous ex-wife brought all of this to an end? It's been years and years and it still hurts me to my heart. Felix and Leslie had something real special, and this woman's act essentially killed them both. RIP Felix, you were QUALIFIED!

[lee0122333]

@bjclark1948 awesome write up!

[TheJetfighter666]

@bjclark1948 They were swingers and she got old and didn't want to play anymore. She was a big part of the band too. Hey shit happens but to this day it still hurts me too .His voice alone was worth the price of admission not to mention his other multi-talents.

[coloradowinter53]

@bjclark1948 What can I say besides AMEN? Still hurts my heart, too. A few years after, Leslie West was being interviewed and he just blew up, pointing his finger at the camera and repeating "She did it. You know you did it." Was she not charged? I don't know the rest of that story. Maybe someone here does.

[ubbuu]

i like the drums

[outlawdad74]

@ubbuu Indeed. No aspect of Mountain should be counted as any less spectacular than any other. Corky was one of the most solid, most creative and downright heaviest drummers of this era.

[lolbass150]

I used to have Woodstock 2 (the original LP) and loved the guitar solos on this track but have since found out that the tracks on the original album were NOT from the Woodstock gig and have since been replaced by the correct Woodstock versions on the updated albums.

This is a pity as the LP versions (to my mind at least) were superior in every way and I would love to hear them again. Any Idea where they were recorded and if they are available anywhere?

[cwazycazy]

I can still play this solo note for note in my head and it still runs chills up and down my spine... Classic and timeless.

[atheistasylum]

Beautiful! Felix's bass sounds like a raging storm.

[amadorraulespinosa]

Feliz Cumpleaños Mr. Leslie West, desde el sur del mundo, Chile, agradecido por su obra. Muchas gracias e infinitas felicidades.

[62849rsm]

A Les Paul Jr. never sounded any better than when Leslie West was playing it. What an awesome solo!!!!!!!

[SanatanaDharmaDas]

OHHHHH Man! After sitting here and listening to this...I'm smiling and thankful...thanks so much for posting this...it's a real jewel and timeless..

[62849rsm]

One of the best guitar solos ever played. Especially topped off by the harmonic at the end. Love Leslie West.

[spottedbutt]

I used to listen to this in my boyfriends room when I was 15..he was killed when he was 26..I am so glad he knew his music and turned me on to it..listening to it now..(I'm 49) makes me wanna smoke a fatty

[SanatanaDharmaDas]

Ha! We're the generation sweetheart!!  I hear what you're saying about Leslie West and Mountain...they have always been special to me...and I'll share that "fatty" with you!! Peace...

[realjimsmith]

Wow, looks like it's time to get out the vinyl again. Leslie West's solo was so influential on us all, feels so good to hear it again. Thanks for posting.

[bassyck]

Felix and Jack shaped my bass playing as it is today.Leslie's solo is amazing!! Let's not forget Corky and the seldom mentioned Steve

[gazzaboy2531977]

takes me back to 1992 when i first discovered themin my parents record collection and thought ? Ace what the fuck is goin on now man?

[rmg13021]

Really makes you miss Felix what a voice and his bass was heaven with 4 strings. Nobody has ever had a tone like Leslie!

[mike4asianwoman]

Seen Mountain in 1969 i still listen to this album.if anyone can name a group that is out today that is half as good you are fooling yourself

[depper]

2:44 Brotha Leslie West takes ova!

[ranjanchadha]

one of my favorites!! an all time great great.. very few songs came even come close to this!!

[cougar1233]

Felix sings like a God on this song. What a fine voice!

[emadmadi]

bright song....