Mountain played hard rock/blues based around the notable guitar talents of Leslie West who was ably backed up by the tight rhythm section of bassist/vocalist Felix Pappalardi on bass and vocals and Corky Laing on drums with Steve Knight on keyboards. This double disc 'best of' is a re-release from the 90's.

Disc one features the classic 'Mississippi Queen' and another fine blues rocker, 'Never In My Life'. This disc also features live material including a heavily extended jam on 'Stormy Monday' (over twenty minutes) and there is also a Leslie West guitar solo showcase. One thing that the band does so well is the guitar/keyboards interplay and their sound does nod towards Cream with their love of extended solos and hard driving bleus sound.

Disc two features 'Nantucket Sleighride' (part of which was used as the theme tune to ITV's current affair show 'Weekend World' in the 70's/80's), a song which starts off slowly before West kicks in with a heavy guitar midway through. There is a great live version of the rock 'n' roll classic 'Roll Over Beethoven'. It does tail off though when you hit the 80's output which only featured West and Laing (Pappalardi was shot dead by a former lover) where the band try, unsuccessfully to update to a more metal sound. There are two tracks that were recorded just for this compilation by Leslie West, Corky Laing and former Jimi Hendrix Experience bassist Noel Redding. Both are competent blues rockers but don't match up to Mountain's classic material.

A great introduction to the band if like me, you were only aware of a few songs by the band. I am definitely a convert and will now seek out their earlier albums like 'Climbing'. A band who were as good as Cream and their music will certainly appeal to fans of Lynyrd Skynyrd and Grand Funk Railroad.

****

Review by Jason Ritchie