Leslie West of Mountain fame, is one of the overlooked guitar players from the 70's. While his work with Mountain has gained a lot of respect, his solo work has gone unappreciated for the general population. Leslie West, like Clapton, was weaned on the blues, but he also had a taste for improvisation. Long looping chord changes and manic picking were interspaced with delicate touch to produce a style unlike any other. Leslie West always has had a unique sound instantly recognisable.

Leslie West said that Felix Pappalardi taught him not to play any note that he wouldn't sing. "It is not how much you say but what you say". West started in a group called the Vagrants, that Pappalardi produced a single for on Atco Records. The band did not go anywhere, but West finally formed Mountain with Pappalardi on bass and Corky Lang on Drums. While 'Missisippi Queen' is Mountains most recognisable song, 'Theme from an Imaginary Western' and 'Nantucket Sleighride' are to me some of the finest guitar playing and song writing from the period.

Leslie West is currently recording on Blues Bureau Records and has released two CD's on that label. 'Dodgin The Dirt' and 'Leslie West - LIVE!' are both well done and recommended.

See next page for photos and short writeup of Leslie West at the Hard Rock Live in Orlando Florida on 15 Feb 1999.