The classic-era lineup of the group was Leslie West on guitar, Felix Pappalardi on bass, Corky Laing on drums (the original drummer was N. D. Smart), and Steve Knight on piano and organ. West's raw vocals, Laing's flowing drumming, and Pappalardi's heavy but not overly imposing bass lines were the elements of Mountain's distinctive sound.
Mountain played at the Woodstock Festival but the band did not appear in the film of the event nor was it included on the first album. The group's first album, Climbing! was released in 1970 and featured the band's best-known song, "Mississippi Queen"; the song reached the middle of the top-40 charts and the album reached the top 20 on the US album charts.
The follow-up album Nantucket Sleighride (1971) also reached the top 20 on the US albums chart but failed to yield a hit single. (The title track from Nantucket Sleighride was used as the theme tune to the UK political and current affairs television program Weekend World, which was aired between 1972 and 1986). After these early releases the band continued to receive a certain measure of critical acclaim but never achieved great commercial success.
The band was inspired by legendary power trio Cream, which Pappalardi was an "unofficial" member of; he was featured heavily on Cream's second LP, Disraeli Gears. Following Mountain's initial breakup in 1972, West and Laing formed West, Bruce and Laing with Cream bassist Jack Bruce. They produced three albums.
In 1974 West and Pappalardi reformed Mountain with Allan Schwartzberg on drums and Robert Mann on keyboards. A tour yielded the live Twin Peaks followed by the studio album Avalanche, with Laing and rhythm guitarist David Perry, who as an African American was also credited for "added color." It was the last heard of from Mountain until the mid 1980s when West, sometimes with and sometimes without Laing, has worked under the name Mountain, New Mountain or the Leslie West Band.
On April 17, 1983 Gail Collins Pappalardi, Felix's wife and songwriting partner, shot him once in the neck in their fifth-floor East Side Manhattan apartment. He was pronounced dead at the scene and Gail was charged with second-degree murder, but acquitted. Richie Scarlet has taken over as bass player on the band's recent tours.
Mountain is ranked number 98 on VH1's "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock".
There are other artists with the same name:
2. Romanian electronic producer; an alias of candlestickmaker.
check out: http://asiluum.com/site/2010/11/08/mountain-contorsionist-split/
3. Møuntain - post-rock from Austria
https://www.last.fm/music/M%C3%B8untain
4. Mountain is a Nigerian musician based in Lagos.
5. Kamiyama Shigeta – better known to you or I as Mountain, is a drum & bass producer from the hustling hub of activity that is Osaka, Japan.
Born into a musical family Kamiyama grew up immersed in various forms of music. At age 18 he finds Dance music and after picking the basics of a DAW, he starts producing Drum and Bass under this alias. He begins DJing in his hometown too – racking up support slots for the likes of: Sigma, Netsky, London Electricity, Metrik & the beast that is Andy C.
Like A Rolling Stone
Mountain Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn't you?
People'd call, say, "Beware doll, you're bound to fall"
You even thought they were all kidding you
You used to laugh about everybody that was hanging out
Now you don't talk so loud
Now you don't seem so proud
How does it feel?
I wanna know, how does it feel to be out on your own?
To be without a home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone
Just like a rolling stone
You've gone to the finest school alright, Miss Lonely
But you know you only
Used to get juiced in it
And nobody's ever taught you how to live out on the street
And now you gonna find out how to get used to that
You said you'd never compromise
With the mystery tramp, and now you realize
He ain't selling any alibis
And as you look into the vacuum of his eyes
And say, "Do you want to make a deal?"
How does it feel?
Tell me, how does it feel to be out on your own?
A complete unknown
Like a rolling stone
Like a rolling stone
You never turned around to see the frowns
On the jugglers and the clowns
When they all came down, did tricks for you
You never understood
That it ain't no good
You shouldn't let other people come and get your kicks for you
You used to ride on your chrome horse with your diplomat
Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat
Ain't it hard when you discover that
He really wasn't where it's at?
After he took from you everything he could steal
How does it feel?
Tell me, how does it feel to be out on your own?
A complete unknown
Like a rolling stone
Like a rolling stone
The lyrics to Mountain's song "Like a Rolling Stone" tell the story of someone who was once living a life of luxury and privilege, but is now alone and destitute. The lyrics begin by referencing the person's past wealth and generosity towards "bums" on the street. However, they are now the ones in need and facing the disapproval of others who warned them of their potential downfall. The chorus asks the repeated question of "how does it feel" to be in this new state of being, completely alone and unknown.
The second verse highlights the person's prior education and status, but also acknowledges that they only engaged in the hedonistic aspects of their privileged position. The loss of their wealth and status now forces them to learn how to survive on the streets, a lifestyle they were never taught or prepared for. The verse also references a "mystery tramp," who the person had initially refused to compromise their morals for, but now has to consider striking a deal with in order to survive.
The final verse reflects on the person's past social status and indulgences, but accuses them of allowing other people to dictate their enjoyment in life. The final lines describe a figure who was once a supporter of the person's luxury lifestyle, but who ultimately betrayed them and took everything they could. The song ends with the same repeated question of "how does it feel" to be in this new state of being.
Line by Line Meaning
Once upon a time you dressed so fine
There was a time when you dressed really well
You threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn't you?
In your prime, you were a generous person who gave money to beggars
People'd call, say, "Beware doll, you're bound to fall"
Some people warned you that you might fail
You even thought they were all kidding you
You didn't take their warnings seriously
You used to laugh about everybody that was hanging out
You used to make fun of people who didn't have as much money as you
Now you don't talk so loud
Now you are quieter and more reserved
Now you don't seem so proud
You are no longer arrogant or boastful
About having to be scrounging for your next meal
How does it feel?
Now that you have fallen on hard times and have to constantly search for your next meal, how does it make you feel?
I wanna know, how does it feel to be out on your own?
I'm curious, how does it feel to have to fend for yourself?
To be without a home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone
Just like a rolling stone
To be homeless and anonymous, moving around without a fixed purpose, just like a rolling stone
You've gone to the finest school alright, Miss Lonely
You went to the best school, but you are still lonely
But you know you only
Used to get juiced in it
But you know that you only enjoyed the drinking and partying in school
And nobody's ever taught you how to live out on the street
No one ever showed you how to survive on the streets
And now you gonna find out how to get used to that
And now you will have to learn how to adapt to that lifestyle
You said you'd never compromise
With the mystery tramp, and now you realize
He ain't selling any alibis
And as you look into the vacuum of his eyes
And say, "Do you want to make a deal?"
How does it feel?
You once thought you wouldn't make deals with shady characters, but now you realize the mystery tramp is not offering any excuses or lies, and as you stare into his blank eyes, you ask him if he wants to make a deal, all the while wondering how it feels
Tell me, how does it feel to be out on your own?
A complete unknown
Like a rolling stone
Like a rolling stone
Again, how does it feel to be completely on your own, unknown and without a fixed direction, like a rolling stone?
You never turned around to see the frowns
On the jugglers and the clowns
When they all came down, did tricks for you
You never noticed the sad faces of the performers and entertainers who did tricks for you, even when they were struggling
You never understood
That it ain't no good
You shouldn't let other people come and get your kicks for you
You never realized that it's not a good idea to let other people entertain you, to find pleasure in watching others suffer
You used to ride on your chrome horse with your diplomat
Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat
You used to ride on your fancy motorcycle with your upper-class friend, who carried a valuable Siamese cat
Ain't it hard when you discover that
He really wasn't where it's at?
After he took from you everything he could steal
How does it feel?
Isn't it difficult to realize that your wealthy companion was not really worth it? Especially after he took everything from you that he could steal. Again, how does it feel?
Contributed by Charlie C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Dave Butcher
on One Last Cold Kiss
This is not 'Two Island Swans' by Christ Moore, but it is the original version by Mountain Man
Dave Butcher
on You Better Believe It
Mountain at their best