I always have loved this song, no wonder Felix Pappalardi produced most of Cream's stuff he was a genius. Mountain is one of the most underrated jam bands of the era. "Open your heart and let the Sun shine in". I have played this song in a few bands I have been in, and it always brings 'em to their feet, Thanks Mountain.
Oh man, they had the perfect ingredients. With Steve, that was Mountain. And they were certainly one of the greatest and most important bands of the classic era. Psychkoala's comment is beautiful.
I agree with Albert on this, Steve Knight was never given his due for his contribution to the overall sound of the band. His very basic keyboard playing actually enhanced the total sound by adding harmony notes to the chord work and rounding out the sound. I always thought Leslie sounded better with a keyboard behind him. It was probably more the personality issues between Leslie and Steve than actual musical differences. Mountain always sounded better with keyboards.
Felix Pappalardi once said, the importance of Steve Knight in Mountain was immeasurable. Steve Knight was magical in Mountain. Mountain were never the same without him. Steve added alot of color to the music which made those albums,.Steve Knight has a weird personality. So I understand Leslie's resentment to him. Although Knight played amazing, Felix played all the keyboards on the studio Lps. Nobody could play the keyboards like Felix. Felix Pappalardi also played keyboards on Cream's Badge
what worked technically, and you can hear it here...is that the keys compliment sonically to that Jack Bruce bass tone...they really pair well with that EB-3 bass on the quieter passages..of course u would never think it..
and special mention to SN's piano work - like on Animal Trainer & The Toad
there will always be something missing without Steve Knight
@psychkoala Steve Knight was great. Thing is Leslie wanted to him to play this way all the time (improv), and it just didnt gel in concert like it did in the studio. As all Mountain fans know, Mountain was much more a LIVE BAND. It was in the live improv where Leslie, Felix & Corky all jived best. Steve Knight was a perfectionist in studio, but didnt like to open up on stage. This night he explored though, and proved he should be recognized as one of the great rock keyboardists of his day.
@psychkoala It was definitely not a "good personality fit." Its not unlike any personality conflict any two workers could have at their employment. As any musician knows though, music is art, and open to so many different feelings and emotions, disagreement between fellow musicians is not the exception, but the norm.
Blind Faith could have gone on to do great things if Clapton hadn't walked away, but we got Derek and the Dominos instead which wasn't a bad deal for Clapton fans.
I met Steve on a xmas gig in 2007. He was piano player that day.
It took me a minute to realize that it was *that *Steve Knight.
So I did the usual "wow...big fan..it's an honor.." etc.
He seemed a little embarrassed, kinda brushed it off with "man that was 35 years ago!, I've done a lot of other stuff." - then we swung out some xmas tunes.
I never let him know that I'm a musician because I heard the live version of 'Nantucket Sleighride" @ 12 years old and thought "I want to do that!"
I seen Mountain in 1971 in San Antonio! One of the best concerts I ever attended. And I've been to the best ones! When Steve Knight left that was the end of the great Mountain sound! I really believe that West had a problem dealing with an educated person like Knight! There may have been some unnecessary jealousy on Leslie's part. I agree with others about Leslie's greatest mistake. Getting rid of Knight!
Been a Mountain fan since 1970. Mountain without keyboards is like Deep Purple without keyboards. Always was a Steve Knight fan, loved those keys. Flowers of Evil side 2 is the best live performance
A lot of people didn't notice Steve Knight when he was with Mountain...until he wasn't there...not the same band without him...and of course Felix....they may play the same songs these days, but they're not the same band.......
With or without keyboards, Mountain was a great band; however I believe Mr. Knight's playing added mightily to the band, and I've always felt he was a fine musician.
Leslie HATED Steve Knight being in the band.. he has said so over and over again.. it was Leslie who happily told Steve he was fired from the band.. Fexlix wanted an organ/pianist so they wouldnt be call Cream II/.. personally i REALLY enjoyed Steve Knights work on all the albums... he was great {when you could hear him that is hahah}
i just wanted to set the record striaght!
so glad Leslie and Corky are still playing harder and better than ever. and this older classic Mountain is priceless
As someone who knows Steve Knight to this present day, and as cowebmaster of the Felix Pappalardi Dedication website your information is somewhat incorrect. It was Felix who came to Steve in 1972 in his hotel room in London, that the band was done. I have gone after Leslie about his diatribe about Steve and Leslie has said his principal objection to Steve was that Felix wanted Steve in the band. Leslie had "Cream eyes" as Steve decsribed it and always wanted to be more like Cream.
cool, I watched an interview where Leslie said with a smile on his face that he never liked Knight and was Happy to be the one to tell him.. however, I takke your word on it brother.. like i said, myshelf, I'M a big fan of Steves
Leslie cannot remember a lot of his past and this is one of those stories he twists for the purpose of calling attention to himsefl. The people who have and "carried the water" for this guy can tell you the real deal!
It IS fairly well known that Felix wanted Steve in Mountain, so they DON'T sound exactly like Cream. Leslie couldnt have liked any keyboardist much because if you think about it, in the last 37 years since Mountain originally broke up, Leslie has paid exactly ZERO keyboardists to travel with him. He obviously prefers the 3 man power trio.
Personally, I feel that was Leslie's only mistake. Steve really added to the Mountain sound. Its a different sound without keys.
Actually drumsanddrumming, during the very recent West, Bruce Jr., and Laing tour, Jr hopped on keyboards for Theme From An Imaginary Western, and oh boyyyy, was it great!
Oh yeah, Get over to the Mountain forums, its on my profile page!!
@drumsanddrumming Well, it cost moneyto add keyboards and West and Laing aren't receiving the big money anymore. i saw him in a small town in the Ozarks called Batesville and it was inside an old abandoned movie house. The crowd numbered about 100. I imagine they got $2000 or so a piece. it was publicity for a record store opening there, so record store knew they were going to lose money. I'm just guessin' at what leslie and corky would have made, but big arenas are gone for them.
@cooltooth112 yes I saw Mountain here in Sweden in november and the crowd was really small, unfortunately.. it`s more like if they had a mate who joined them just for fun every now and then and did`nt care for the money.
@viobass21 i dont if this may have been but i bet if Cream had the opportunity they would have had Steve Winwood in thier band.(not mistaking Steve Knight with Steve Winwood)
even Jimi Hendix and the Experience which was pretty much a 3 piece band "...would have killed..." to have Winwood in thier band. that was few of Mitch Mitchel's words in an interview.
If Cream had a keyboardist in thier band Leslie would have wanted one too i bet. but who knows. i may be completely wrong lol
@cydonianman Steve Knight might have not been a big part of the group but he had given it where it counted. i always liked hearing organs or pianos in some of the old rock bands. some just dont sound the same without one. when u hear a song for the first time that has a keyboardist in it u kinda expect it when u hear the song again. doesnt mean that there has to be a keyboard playing in the song every time but yeah its noticable when its not there.
@cydonianman Hendrix wanted Winwood in a big way. He was afraid Winwood would reject him if he asked. Oh, I see you already mentioned, well I'll just double that.
Mountain was one keyboardist and maybe a horn section away from having much more commercial success... but then they would have sounded like all the other groups, and never been able to make the impact they did. Mountain mastered simplicity, and made "simple" sound "perfect."
If you took a Jazz train, a Blues train, & a Hard Rock train and caused a head on collision, when the dust cleared, a Mountain would appear... Luckily, Rock will never die...
He knew his place in the sound. Listen to recordings of any live Mountain post Steve Knight and most of it is lame. No texture or orchestration to the music, just jamming. One of the guys from the Turtles once said Steve Knight was "the most useless man in rock and roll. What a dunce cap statement. Picture Keith Emerson in Mountain. I rest my case.
True statement given from quite a jealous perspective. But I totally disagree with your impression of Mountain before and after Knight. In studio you heard the magic of Knight, but in concert West was correct, you RARELY heard Knight's contribution. Mountain ALWAYS jammed onstage, it was their fabric. Improv was their forte. They NEVER played the same song twice the same way, something Knight and you never understood. Papparlardi was a master of orchestration, and West & Laing learned well.
Wow, thanks for posting this, Depper! Really enjoyed it. What CD is this taken from? Yeah, West says he hated Knight...wouldn't play solos and pocketed the money West gave him to take the taxi to rehearsals and took the subway instead (according to West). But Knight really added to Mountain's sound, solos or not. I kind of wish West would try adding a keyboard player again, just for the textures a keyboard brings (not that West NEEDS one, of course).
Thanks, really glad you enjoyed it! We are in total agreement. Leslie actually played with Paul Shaffer (keyboardist for David Letterman) once. Whenever Howard Stern visits the David Letterman show, Paul plays Mississippi Queen, in honor of Leslie. Stern was instrumental, along with Jack Bruce and Eddie Van Halen, in getting Leslie to make his comeback in the mid 80's. Also heard him play once with L. Leon Pendarvis (Saturday Night Live). Les also played Goin' Down with Grace Potter.
Here ya go Mountain fans. One of Steve Knight's greatest nights, jamming so beautifully with Leslie West. These two jelled together so well. THIS IS WHY Leslie was so pissed that Steve disliked jamming... because he was so damned good at it. As Felix would say, this is some "GREAT fuckin' Rock 'n Roll'"
I always have loved this song, no wonder Felix Pappalardi produced most of Cream's stuff he was a genius. Mountain is one of the most underrated jam bands of the era. "Open your heart and let the Sun shine in". I have played this song in a few bands I have been in, and it always brings 'em to their feet, Thanks Mountain.
rhino805999 9 hours ago
Oh man, they had the perfect ingredients. With Steve, that was Mountain. And they were certainly one of the greatest and most important bands of the classic era. Psychkoala's comment is beautiful.
drj602 1 month ago
I agree with Albert on this, Steve Knight was never given his due for his contribution to the overall sound of the band. His very basic keyboard playing actually enhanced the total sound by adding harmony notes to the chord work and rounding out the sound. I always thought Leslie sounded better with a keyboard behind him. It was probably more the personality issues between Leslie and Steve than actual musical differences. Mountain always sounded better with keyboards.
hpavin53 2 months ago
Felix Pappalardi once said, the importance of Steve Knight in Mountain was immeasurable. Steve Knight was magical in Mountain. Mountain were never the same without him. Steve added alot of color to the music which made those albums,.Steve Knight has a weird personality. So I understand Leslie's resentment to him. Although Knight played amazing, Felix played all the keyboards on the studio Lps. Nobody could play the keyboards like Felix. Felix Pappalardi also played keyboards on Cream's Badge
ALBERTromano1965 3 months ago
what worked technically, and you can hear it here...is that the keys compliment sonically to that Jack Bruce bass tone...they really pair well with that EB-3 bass on the quieter passages..of course u would never think it..
and special mention to SN's piano work - like on Animal Trainer & The Toad
there will always be something missing without Steve Knight
talpajam 7 months ago
I'm a huge Mountain & Leslie West fan, but Leslie is crazy.. Knight rules.
He plays the organ like a Scots piper here !
psychkoala 10 months ago
@psychkoala Steve Knight was great. Thing is Leslie wanted to him to play this way all the time (improv), and it just didnt gel in concert like it did in the studio. As all Mountain fans know, Mountain was much more a LIVE BAND. It was in the live improv where Leslie, Felix & Corky all jived best. Steve Knight was a perfectionist in studio, but didnt like to open up on stage. This night he explored though, and proved he should be recognized as one of the great rock keyboardists of his day.
depper 10 months ago
@depper
That's interesting.
Was there also a character or personality conflict ?
I remember hearing an interview where Leslie referred to Mr. Knight as a mf in a fairly angry tone of voice.
That made me think there was some personal animosity in the relationship.
psychkoala 10 months ago
@psychkoala It was definitely not a "good personality fit." Its not unlike any personality conflict any two workers could have at their employment. As any musician knows though, music is art, and open to so many different feelings and emotions, disagreement between fellow musicians is not the exception, but the norm.
depper 10 months ago
Blind Faith could have gone on to do great things if Clapton hadn't walked away, but we got Derek and the Dominos instead which wasn't a bad deal for Clapton fans.
cooltooth112 1 year ago
Actually, Leslie West hated Steve Knight and only tolerated him because Steve Knight was a friend of Felix.
leslie6042 1 year ago
I met Steve on a xmas gig in 2007. He was piano player that day.
It took me a minute to realize that it was *that *Steve Knight.
So I did the usual "wow...big fan..it's an honor.." etc.
He seemed a little embarrassed, kinda brushed it off with "man that was 35 years ago!, I've done a lot of other stuff." - then we swung out some xmas tunes.
I never let him know that I'm a musician because I heard the live version of 'Nantucket Sleighride" @ 12 years old and thought "I want to do that!"
evening1 1 year ago
I seen Mountain in 1971 in San Antonio! One of the best concerts I ever attended. And I've been to the best ones! When Steve Knight left that was the end of the great Mountain sound! I really believe that West had a problem dealing with an educated person like Knight! There may have been some unnecessary jealousy on Leslie's part. I agree with others about Leslie's greatest mistake. Getting rid of Knight!
rebstrat 1 year ago
Been a Mountain fan since 1970. Mountain without keyboards is like Deep Purple without keyboards. Always was a Steve Knight fan, loved those keys. Flowers of Evil side 2 is the best live performance
raybin05 1 year ago
A lot of people didn't notice Steve Knight when he was with Mountain...until he wasn't there...not the same band without him...and of course Felix....they may play the same songs these days, but they're not the same band.......
cnadiandestroyer 1 year ago 6
@cnadiandestroyer I agree. The orignial lineup was the only one that mattered.
groundhog713 7 months ago
sweet creepin jesus -- Excellent tune !!
thepcguru55 2 years ago
I forgot all about this song...wow....I liked Steve Knight and think his best work was on Nan Sleigh...this sounds like a little ELP from Steve
jeepdad56 2 years ago
Wonderful version of Silver Paper.
With or without keyboards, Mountain was a great band; however I believe Mr. Knight's playing added mightily to the band, and I've always felt he was a fine musician.
psychkoala 2 years ago 3
I added lyrics in the description, so ya'll can follow.
... now stomp them FEET and feel that BEAT!!
depper 3 years ago
---fatsby FUNKY?? you bet your fat ass!!!!!!
the first 0:39, goodness gracious...
thanks, what a great post. Leslie Weinstein.. the tone of the GODS!!!!!!!
dryrubribs 3 years ago
Leslie and Corky are uppermost,but... Felix is a magician !
popaulrad 3 years ago
Leslie HATED Steve Knight being in the band.. he has said so over and over again.. it was Leslie who happily told Steve he was fired from the band.. Fexlix wanted an organ/pianist so they wouldnt be call Cream II/.. personally i REALLY enjoyed Steve Knights work on all the albums... he was great {when you could hear him that is hahah}
i just wanted to set the record striaght!
so glad Leslie and Corky are still playing harder and better than ever. and this older classic Mountain is priceless
59FoxDen 3 years ago
As someone who knows Steve Knight to this present day, and as cowebmaster of the Felix Pappalardi Dedication website your information is somewhat incorrect. It was Felix who came to Steve in 1972 in his hotel room in London, that the band was done. I have gone after Leslie about his diatribe about Steve and Leslie has said his principal objection to Steve was that Felix wanted Steve in the band. Leslie had "Cream eyes" as Steve decsribed it and always wanted to be more like Cream.
viobass21 3 years ago
cool, I watched an interview where Leslie said with a smile on his face that he never liked Knight and was Happy to be the one to tell him.. however, I takke your word on it brother.. like i said, myshelf, I'M a big fan of Steves
59FoxDen 3 years ago
Leslie cannot remember a lot of his past and this is one of those stories he twists for the purpose of calling attention to himsefl. The people who have and "carried the water" for this guy can tell you the real deal!
viobass21 3 years ago
It IS fairly well known that Felix wanted Steve in Mountain, so they DON'T sound exactly like Cream. Leslie couldnt have liked any keyboardist much because if you think about it, in the last 37 years since Mountain originally broke up, Leslie has paid exactly ZERO keyboardists to travel with him. He obviously prefers the 3 man power trio.
Personally, I feel that was Leslie's only mistake. Steve really added to the Mountain sound. Its a different sound without keys.
depper 3 years ago
yes, and I would REALLY hear Mountain with an organ player today too!
drumsanddrumming 2 years ago
Actually drumsanddrumming, during the very recent West, Bruce Jr., and Laing tour, Jr hopped on keyboards for Theme From An Imaginary Western, and oh boyyyy, was it great!
Oh yeah, Get over to the Mountain forums, its on my profile page!!
depper 2 years ago
yes! I checked them out here on YT! Would have loved to see/hear them!
drumsanddrumming 2 years ago
@drumsanddrumming Well, it cost moneyto add keyboards and West and Laing aren't receiving the big money anymore. i saw him in a small town in the Ozarks called Batesville and it was inside an old abandoned movie house. The crowd numbered about 100. I imagine they got $2000 or so a piece. it was publicity for a record store opening there, so record store knew they were going to lose money. I'm just guessin' at what leslie and corky would have made, but big arenas are gone for them.
cooltooth112 1 year ago
@cooltooth112 yes I saw Mountain here in Sweden in november and the crowd was really small, unfortunately.. it`s more like if they had a mate who joined them just for fun every now and then and did`nt care for the money.
drumsanddrumming 1 year ago
r u the same viobass21 from the TalkBass Forums? i have a question.
Codackussell 2 years ago
Indeed, I am. What is your question?
viobass21
viobass21 2 years ago
@viobass21 i dont if this may have been but i bet if Cream had the opportunity they would have had Steve Winwood in thier band.(not mistaking Steve Knight with Steve Winwood)
even Jimi Hendix and the Experience which was pretty much a 3 piece band "...would have killed..." to have Winwood in thier band. that was few of Mitch Mitchel's words in an interview.
If Cream had a keyboardist in thier band Leslie would have wanted one too i bet. but who knows. i may be completely wrong lol
cydonianman 1 year ago
@cydonianman Steve Knight might have not been a big part of the group but he had given it where it counted. i always liked hearing organs or pianos in some of the old rock bands. some just dont sound the same without one. when u hear a song for the first time that has a keyboardist in it u kinda expect it when u hear the song again. doesnt mean that there has to be a keyboard playing in the song every time but yeah its noticable when its not there.
cydonianman 1 year ago
i dont think Leslie hated Organs ("Keyboards" as we call them today). he just didnt want that element in his music or band.
Viobass, like u said, he was more after the power trio band concept.
cydonianman 1 year ago
@cydonianman oops depper said that.
cydonianman 1 year ago
@cydonianman Hendrix wanted Winwood in a big way. He was afraid Winwood would reject him if he asked. Oh, I see you already mentioned, well I'll just double that.
cooltooth112 1 year ago
depper is this on a CD? Felix got his bass fuckin cranked on this performance. i wanna hear it in my car's 500 watt system.
cydonianman 3 years ago
Yes it is... its from the Mountain CD entitled:
"Official Bootleg Series, Vol. 1: Live at San Bernardino 1971"
depper 3 years ago
sounds like this song has similar cords to the song "Long Red". really good cords though.
cydonianman 3 years ago
this is probably the only time i heard Steve Knight dish it out on a stage.
cydonianman 3 years ago
This song has a mellow groove yet funkin' rocks! I'd like to get the tabs for this baby.
BlindMethuzlah 3 years ago 2
Mountain was one keyboardist and maybe a horn section away from having much more commercial success... but then they would have sounded like all the other groups, and never been able to make the impact they did. Mountain mastered simplicity, and made "simple" sound "perfect."
If you took a Jazz train, a Blues train, & a Hard Rock train and caused a head on collision, when the dust cleared, a Mountain would appear... Luckily, Rock will never die...
depper 3 years ago
WOW! man this is awesome!! thanks for postin this Dep!
LRJoseph 3 years ago
Glad to see you enjoyed it --> remember what Mountain put on all their albums: "Play it loud!"
depper 3 years ago
And I can sure see why!!!
LRJoseph 3 years ago
There was nothing wrong with Knight's playing.
He knew his place in the sound. Listen to recordings of any live Mountain post Steve Knight and most of it is lame. No texture or orchestration to the music, just jamming. One of the guys from the Turtles once said Steve Knight was "the most useless man in rock and roll. What a dunce cap statement. Picture Keith Emerson in Mountain. I rest my case.
hpavin53 3 years ago
True statement given from quite a jealous perspective. But I totally disagree with your impression of Mountain before and after Knight. In studio you heard the magic of Knight, but in concert West was correct, you RARELY heard Knight's contribution. Mountain ALWAYS jammed onstage, it was their fabric. Improv was their forte. They NEVER played the same song twice the same way, something Knight and you never understood. Papparlardi was a master of orchestration, and West & Laing learned well.
depper 3 years ago
Wow, thanks for posting this, Depper! Really enjoyed it. What CD is this taken from? Yeah, West says he hated Knight...wouldn't play solos and pocketed the money West gave him to take the taxi to rehearsals and took the subway instead (according to West). But Knight really added to Mountain's sound, solos or not. I kind of wish West would try adding a keyboard player again, just for the textures a keyboard brings (not that West NEEDS one, of course).
Thanks again, brother Dep!
gbrycki 3 years ago
Thanks, really glad you enjoyed it! We are in total agreement. Leslie actually played with Paul Shaffer (keyboardist for David Letterman) once. Whenever Howard Stern visits the David Letterman show, Paul plays Mississippi Queen, in honor of Leslie. Stern was instrumental, along with Jack Bruce and Eddie Van Halen, in getting Leslie to make his comeback in the mid 80's. Also heard him play once with L. Leon Pendarvis (Saturday Night Live). Les also played Goin' Down with Grace Potter.
depper 3 years ago
Here ya go Mountain fans. One of Steve Knight's greatest nights, jamming so beautifully with Leslie West. These two jelled together so well. THIS IS WHY Leslie was so pissed that Steve disliked jamming... because he was so damned good at it. As Felix would say, this is some "GREAT fuckin' Rock 'n Roll'"
depper 3 years ago