Original released on LP Windfall 4501
(US 1970, March 7)
Mountain was the combined forces of Leslie West, a gigantic guitarist/vocalist who had played with New York garage-psych rockers the Vagrants, and Felix Pappalardi. Pappalardi had a slightly more impressive track record, coming from the modern East Coast folk-rock movement (the Youngbloods), before he applied his production skills to Cream. Through this, Felix never really stopped playing and eventually formed Mountain. Often billed as a junior-league version of Cream, "Climbing!" had a lot of things going for it as well. Indeed, West was a changed man from the moment he saw Clapton play, and Pappalardi was able to help him achieve the exact same tone Clapton employed on "Disraeli Gears". The hit off "Climbing!", "Mississippi Queen" is a boogie classic, and it paved the way for countless imitators such as J. Geils Band, Foghat, and others. There are a lot of other great tracks here, such as "Never in My Life," which was an FM radio staple at the time. (Matthew Greenwald in AllMusic)
This album reflects very much the Psychy-Bluesy music of the moment. Even it's pretty short, there's some really cool tracks like "Mississippi Queen" or "For Yagur's Farm". I prefere this boogie ones better thant the slow ones, that there are some, but at the end this album has some kind of magic that makes it unique ande very geniuine. Great vocals, great guitars and a warm feeling on most of the tracks. I just get sad when the most of the tracks get shorter for fade out's fault. I feel I'm missing great music! (Benjamin Garcia in AllMusic)
Following the success of "Climbing!" and appearances at Woodstock and other outdoor festivals of the day, Mountain recorded more of the same for "Nantucket Sleighride". The title track is a nice mixture of classical-leaning intertwined with moderate rock; both "Don't Look Around" and "The Animal Trainer and the Toad" continue on the hard rock path so well-worn by this band. Not groundbreaking, but it is well worth listening to. (James Chrispell in AllMusic)
