Mountain - Nantucket Sleighride (To Owen Coffin)

[alterpost5t]

As very much a happy child in the early 70's one cannot forget, in the UK, instantaneously recognising parts of this song aired on a Sunday dinnertime TV slot, which brings back fond memories of that time!! I dare say, this has been mentioned before somewhere here, especially to those of a similar age - the sound of the song still stands the test of time!! Good Good!!

[MrKirkenstein]

nantucket's a big heroin town.

always has been.

[eltorocal]

Hey, "@esf428"... I was just kiddin'... just as Zakk & Leslie did on "That Metal Show" a couple of yrs. ago. They've been calling each other "Father" and "Son" for quite awhile -& Zakk started it because of how much Leslie influenced his guitar playing since childhood. Yes, Zakk's real Father Jerome passed away (bout with cancer) just 3 yrs. ago (next month). He grew up an orphan, was a WWII Vet of D-Day at both Omaha & Normandy.

Sorry to have "pissed" you off... man...

[heisenberg300373]

Heard this the other day and was instantly taken back to rainy 70's sunday afternoons when there were only 3 channels. Such evocative music.

[Count22]

Felix Pappalardi's Bass on this is Signature.Powerful,yet reserved masterpiece of real Bassplaying.

[Count22]

Magic Mountain

[michaelg662]

I was born in 1959. I had this album when i was in the 5th grade and played the living " " out of it. This was always my favorite cut, plus the Taunta intro, and I never knew what this song was written about. Thank you for the enlightenment. Peace and Love . :)

[AaronTheTullMonger]

@michaelg662 i was born in 81, loved mississppi queen, watched a 'behind the music' on mountain and heard NSR, and thought why on earth is this not being played on the radio.

[tomf429]

The Essex was out of Nantucket - as was Owen Coffin. The Pequod, Capt Ahab's ship in Moby Dick, was out of New Bedford, MA.

[esf428]

@tomf429 You're right.....Nantucket not New Bedford.

[tomf429]

Read the book "In the Heart of the Sea" by Nathaniel Philbrick. Then, read Moby Dick, the greatest American novel. In both cases, the whale won. The Nantucket Sleighride was the harpooned whale pulling the attached whaleboat at the fastest speeds any man had ever traveled across the water in the 19th century - 15-20 knots in a 25 ft whaleboat.

[Jay435]

@tomf429 Sometimes when the whale was big enough it would pull them right under. This is how Frank Sullivan was killed, he was the first husband of Lucy Bragg, my Grandmother on my father's side. It was off the coast of Maine. He was from Newfoundland and those boys said it wasn't a real sleighride unless you went under. Funny isn't it - had he not died that day, I wouldn't be writing this.

[esf428]

@tomf429-And for the seriously interested (you may be among them) you can read the Penguin Classics edition of "The Loss of the Ship Essex , Sunk by a Whale: First Person Accounts. Which is, as the title suggests, accounts of the disaster by crewmembers who survived......and their weren't many. BTW...it's edited by Nathaniel Philbrick and his father, Thomas Philbrick.

[tomf429]

@esf428 Thanks, I'll give it a read. They mentioned it at the Whaling Museum in Nantucket. Thanks again.

[sabbathfreak1]

When I was stationed in England in the Air Force in 1980, this song was so awesome it played as an introduction to one of the best British programs on BBC, World news, I think, and it was so fuckin' great, the song went so good with the show. they were such an excellent group. Mountain live Twin Peaks, definitely in the top 5 best live rock albums of all time!

[MrBlueSkyMrNight]

Just now getting into Mountain (aside from just Mississippi Queen) and

others like: Humble Pie, Grand Funk (aside from just I'm Your Captain).

BUt these bands had some great, intense, sincere music. And could play them live too. Looks like there was a late sixties, early seventies HARD ROCK movement.

Just "before" my time - but thank God I'm finally hearing this music.

WOW....

[eltorocal]

@MrBlueSkyMrNight Steppenwolf, Zephyr [Tommy Bolin], Traffic, Free, Bld,Swt. & Tears, Jefferson Airplane, Edgar Winter Group-(R. Montrose), Montrose-(Ronnie M. Sam Hagar), Badfinger, Alvin Lee-Ten Yrs. After, Wishbone Ash, NRPS, Pink Floyd-(took the name from Blues/Jazz greats Pink Anderson & Floyd Council), Small Faces (Steve Marriott) & Humble Pie (Frampton), Traffic,The Amboy Dukes, T. Rex (Marc Bolan), BOC-(Soft White Underbelly),Presidents of the United States of America-(Kitty, Dune Buggy)

[MrBlueSkyMrNight]

@eltorocal - Thanks for the info. Thank you.

[eltorocal]

Respond to this video... excellent group, Leslie is Zakk Wylde's dad... R.I.P Felix...

[esf428]

@eltorocal-No he isn't!

[hdg4805]

GREAT RELAXING SONG....LOVE IT!!!

[mariohoo]

SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHIT HOT THIS :-)

[Lynne2310]

THIS IS WONDERFUL ....... COME BACK FELIX!!!



[TorzJohnson]

Lol, maybe lenapter could tell us how those wind-powered whaling ships dragged a whale "at high speed, to cruel death". Then he could go look up the actual definition of a "Nantucket Sleighride".

[fatoldsun98]

This song still haunts me to this day... only 28,000 views? This is one of the most unique rock songs ever, it's a dream; reaches a part of my soul that's never been touched before

[fatoldsun98]

This song still haunts me to this day...

[Nevigo]

@fatoldsun98

Me too..:)

[esf428]

If anyone cares Owen Coffin was a crew member on the Whaleship Essex which was the real life inspiration for Herman Mellville's "Moby Dick". The Essex was out of new Bedford MA and was sunk by an enraged sperm whale in the South Pacific. Most of the crew perished in the ensuing struggle to survive.......quite a few resorted to cannibalism before they were rescued. The story of the Essex, along with the Donner Party are the 2 most infamous episides of cannibalism in U.S. history.

[gemwriter1]

@esf428 I care. Even people who love this song have no clue who it was dedicated to: a 17 year old who drew the short straw onboard a boat of starving survivors.

[ufofan1980]

The only dislike is probably from Owen Coffin himself lol.

[esf428]

@ufofan1980 -Owen Coffin is long dead.

[michaelg662]

@esf428 so, in years to come you will be long dead too. lol lol lol

[freethinktherefore]

Learned to play this tune after 30 years of loving it. A treasure. Some don't know. I do.

[michaelg662]

@freethinktherefore A timeless tune. :)

[ufofan1980]

The first American Heavy Metal Band.

Screw Aerosmith, these guys ruled the Long Island rock scene along with Blue Oyster Cult.

Mountain, Montrose and Blue Oyster Cult = the first three American heavy metal bands.

[esf428]

@ufofan1980 -I don't consider any of these early bands as "metal". A pioneer of the heavy sound that would one day become metal.....absolutely! Do keep in mind that Hendrix preceded these guys too.

[ufofan1980]

Is this Corky Laing singing or Felix Pappalardi? It can't be Leslie because this isn't Leslie's voice.

[depper]

@ufofan1980 This is the amazing voice of Felix Pappalardi. There was only ONE Felix. One of the greatest rock vocalists in the history of rock.

[Calibrains]

@depper This is Leslie.

[depper]

@Calibrains Cali, this is Felix, trust me. 100000%

[Calibrains]

@depper My apology. What was I drinking.?

[jczother]

@ufofan1980 Pappalardi, he produced cream hear that heavy bass line?

[JohnPersonage]

Loved listening to the intro music to WW back in the day when I was a wee boy... I wonder who selected this track for the show's theme music? They rule!

[lenapter1]

The story behind this song: a "Nantucket Sleighride" is one of the most crulest things a man can do to a living creature. This process involves dragging a living, breathing whale, at high speed,to a cruel death. When I heard about this, I stopped listening to this song, years ago,

[simoneasom]

@lenapter1 why stop listening to a great song because it`s about whaling, it`s a good history lesson for folk, 

[esf428]

@lenapter1 -Is that your attempt at protest or something? Nantucket waling has been dead since the 19th century. Cruel or not.....it's historical fact and an important aspect of American Maritime history.

[esf428]

@lenapter1 Wrong-a "Nantucket Sleighride" is when the whale is harpooned and drags the whaleboat(s), not the ship, for a period of time till the animal is exhausted or bleeds out.

[eltorocal]

@esf428 Oh, come on... enough, already... you've read "ALL" of the other POSTS here which give the history and truth behind both Books, the story(s) and the Band's song... and now your gonna' pass it off as "your" knowledge?

Hey, folks... look up this "poser's" past comments on this subject and you'll see (read) the Post's and the guys (& gals?) who deserve the credit(s).

And, they were considered a '60's Band, not a '70's Band...

[claing420]

heroin sex drugs n rock n rolll yaaaa dad

[octaviustentacles]

@DONHARRISONYOUNG

Took the words outta my mouth.

Nah, it wasn't the 'cid, dude. West was an enormous MFer and he dwarfed his '58 LP Jr.

I was front and center at some Mountain concert, so close I could see his bridgework...He was playing through several Orange amps and just whirled around with a huge, almost sinister laugh as he cranked the Orange to ten. Not sure what the sound man thought about that. Probably launched him into orbit.

West is the most underrated of all.

[cooltooth112]

Felix's crazy wife did have some artistic ability. i believe she co-wrote this with Felix, name would be Collins. She co-wrote a lot of Mountain's songs and she did all the artwork on the album covers. i don't know if she had any writing ability or Felix just added her name on his songs. If she didn't help Leslie was screwed out of some royalties as if he and Felix wrote a song he only got a 1/3 royalty, but maybe she did help. I've never heard him complain about it. but she did great art.

[DONHARRISONYOUNG]

THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE MASTER PIECE. I SAW THEM PERFORM SOME OF THIS WITH BLACK SABBATH AND LESLIE WEST WITH HIS 50'S LES PAUL JR. IT LOOKED LIKE A TOY GUITAR IN LESLIE WEST'S HAND-MAYBE DUE TO THE BLUE HEAVEN I TOOK. IT WAS MAJICAL. I CAN REMEMBER IT LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY. THIS GUY WE TOOK WITH US JUST STARRED IN THE DISTANCE. WHEN HE SMOKED THAT JAMAICAN TRIP ON THE WAY BACK TO AUGUSTA HE CAME TO HIS SENSES. HAIL MOUNTAIN FOREVER!!!

[thumperarose]

They just don't make music like this anymore! Beyond awesome!

[snappallappa]

stoneyest song i've ever heard.

[Runrome]

Why oh why do all of the hard rock magazines overlook this track when it comes to deciding the greatest heavy metal track of all time

theres no doubt it the greatest of them all

[rtotoian]

What memories of the man. "Felix Pappalardi," ,the band "Mountain". As a handful of us, who worked for & loved this band, I was their promotion man,who called radio stations across the country, to persuade them to listen play Mississippi Queen. As a result Felix hired me from Bell Records to come to his company Windfall Music, he formed with Bud Prager, after his production,success with "Cream".He was,stiffed by RCA, Publishing for producing Jesse Collin Young's classic,Get Together.

[exgroupiefromelmont1]

so freddy from harvest...where are you?? saw you guys do this at the reservation nassau blvd. west hempstead!!

[karisrocks]

....thanks! Have always had a love for Mountain's music...

[freethinktherefore]

Take some time and do some research, folks. It will be well worth it.

[skbricker]

Who Played The Keyboard? ---------- Or was it Leslie West With His Les Paul jr. Through leslie rotating speakers???

[ZenDogRadio]

@skbricker The keyboard player is Steve Knight.

[eddiepism]

Please come please come nuclear bomb! Every day is like Sunday!..love this song. Have for many a year.

[spanglegrinder]

It's definitely Weekend World, memories come flooding back of boring Sunday afternoons and the thrilling theme music resulting in bitter disappointment as dull grey people would discuss the dull grey matter of 1970's British politics - time to go and play with my Lego!

[HAPMR6l]

I live in the UK and this was the theme to "world at one" a news program every sunday lunch time in the 70's

[mandoprince1]

@HAPMR6l I think you mean "Weekend World". :-)

[HAPMR6l]

@mandoprince1 That's sounds more like it Brian Walden? but when I googled "Nantucket Sleighride" and "world at one" there seems to be a few people made the same mistake, I wonder if it had different names in different regions? I'm sticking with weekend world! cheers

[ModGirl1967]

I would love it if someone posted this with "Taunta" leading into it... ♥

[ZenDogRadio]

@ModGirl1967 I agree !

[freethinktherefore]

Damn strong. Pappalardi led the way on this one. Special. Will want to hear this now and again until I'm belly up.

[yarekhunt]

I have an original vinyl of this.....

[ragnorr1]

I still listen to Mountain as well after 40+ yrs. Would love to dl the "Twin Peaks" version on here. I still have the LP, but 32+ minutes probably wouldn't cut it. rock on!!

[anthonythirteen]

Interseting to hear how much West's guitar sounds like Clapton's on the Disrelli Gears album - shows the influence of Papillardi's production on the Cream sound & how FP clearly attepted to create a Cream Mark II after the British Mark I split. Unfortunately neither band survived long but made some of the best music of that generation!

Welcome to Weekend World...

[glb58688]

I never stopped listening to Mountain in 40 years. And i guess I'll take it with me into eternity. RIP Felix Pappalardi

[Theshark15z]

@glb58688 Can you believe that his own wife killed him and claimed it was an accident??

[MrJohnboz]

@glb58688 FOR REAL!

[Ruthity]

Haven't heard this for over 30 years but tonight I wanted to hear it and YouTube to the rescue! My sister has the album along with a ticket that got us to see them at The Rainbow Theatre.

[bloodthirst72]

one of the greatest songs ever written.

[ayeoverkill]

love it . . . . big time

[55pogue]

another favorite

[oldrockerdrummer]

great Album all the way through!!!!probably a top twenty five.

[HyaPowa]

A Gem! So well crafted. Why aren't songs like this being written today? It's because we have lost our imagination. Too much sitting in front of screens and leaving it to others to create the images for us, rather than finding them within. where creativity resides.

[catspijamas]

@HyaPowa You are so right... Respect!

[alderson67]

i'm 27-i was 15 when i discovered this band-while all the others my age were wasting their time with bands like Limp Biskit

[oldster55]

if you like this try "one last cold kiss" or "flowers of evil" by mountain. that was the 70's i know iwas there

[MrKirkenstein]

LSD & this song when it came out in '71.....

ahhh...sweet memory !!!!

[sledgehammerr]

wonderful !

[foamulator]

They also had a really great song called: My Lady

[paulj0557]

How could anyone not love this song? I discovered it on an unlabeled 8-track tape about 9 years ago. It was a mix tape from what seemed to be a high school kid. There was Cat Stevens, Derek and the Dominoes, Dylan etc. I didn't recognize this band and there was two other songs of theirs on the tape, a mystery. Meanwhile I had reacquainted with an old female friend and fell in love with her. The tape played one day when we were together so it reminds me of her now. Finally heard DJ say name 2003

[pepper2840]

@paulj0557 Right on! I am older than i want to say but in H.S. i had mountain in my veins,Leslie West, Felix Pappardi and corky lange. WE SMOKED SO MUCH POT WHILE THAT AGE,IM TALKING PRE VIETNAM AND WE WERE ALL ANRCHISTS. WE WERE THE FUTURE AND PISSED OFF BY THE PRESENT. HOW ABOUT YOU?

[paulj0557]

@pepper2840 I was just a small boy, but I do remember Vietnam on the news every night. It felt closer than the wars have since. There were lots of older brothers in Vietnam or anticipating it. The 70's were a very turbulent time and the music spoke well for it. I grew up in a suburb of Columbus Ohio called Hilliard and my mom wrote all of the news for the paper. She was so worried about her reputation.

[wobbly585]

@pepper2840 Some of of us still are anarchists Comrade.

[pepper2840]

@wobbly585 Yes we are. the future of our world requires it The IDIOTS who claim to know best dont have a clue what we are about. The government are like a bunch of children who,after being told NO,stomp their feet and whine! Its time to flush the toilet and shove the shit down the drain. And i was in the Army and a patriot but WTF is going on. my new email is pepper2840@yahoo.com use it.

[wobbly585]

@pepper2840 Thanks pepper2840, I too took the Queens' shilling. Goes to prove that we have all got a past. Best wishes to you and yours. May the wind always be behind your back.

[psychkoala]

Mountain will always be in my Top Ten, and NANTUCKET SLEIGHRIDE is one of their best.

This song should be required listening in public schools. They can play it and have a little study on whaling. ; )

[vwontheautobahn]

@psychkoala

[MrBoohead1987]

Yeah mountain is one of the best sounding bands of the era. I actually caught them live about two or three years ago, great show. It was raw, now extras, no fancy lights or anything. the venue they played held about a thousand or so people. The band performed greatly.