Leslie West & Steve Knight - Silver Paper

Leslie West & Steve Knight bring the house down in San Bernardino, CA in 1971. Leslie wanted Steve Knight out of Mountain because he never jammed onstage. This night however, we see how talented Steve Knight was, and how well he worked with Leslie West.

Watch in Hi-Res:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_Ei_srDABo&feature=channel_page&fmt=18

SILVER PAPER

Sun is shining on my world
Sun is in my shoes
While i´m passin´ through this life
This job is spent with you
Wrap my dreams in silver paper
Gonna give them all to you
Use them on some rainy morning
And they´ll tell you what to do

Open your heart and let the sunshine in
Open your heart, let the sunshine in
Open your heart and let the sunshine in
Open up your heart and let the sunshine in

Life is what you´re reaching through
When your path is spied
Wait until some rainy morning
You´ll be satisfied
Gonna wrap up my dreams in silver paper
Give it all to you
Use it on some rainy morning
It´ll tell you what to do

Open your heart and let the sunshine in
Open your heart, let the sunshine in
Open your heart and let the sunshine in
Open your heart, let the sunshine in

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Leslie
• West
• Steve
• Knight
• Mountain
• Felix
• Pappalardi
• Corky
• Laing
• guitar
• woodstock
• rock
• blues

[psychkoala]

I'm a huge Mountain & Leslie West fan, but Leslie is crazy.. Knight rules.

He plays the organ like a Scots piper here !

[depper]

@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]

@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.

[depper]

@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.

[cnadiandestroyer]

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.......

[psychkoala]

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.

[rhino805999]

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.

[drj602]

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.

[hpavin53]

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.

[ALBERTromano1965]

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

[talpajam]

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 

[groundhog713]

@cnadiandestroyer I agree. The orignial lineup was the only one that mattered.