Climbing!

Climbing!
Studio album by Mountain
Released	March 7, 1970
Recorded	1969 - 1970 at Record Plant Studios, New York City
Genre	Blues rock, hard rock, heavy metal
Length	32:38
Label	Windfall
Producer	Felix Pappalardi
Mountain chronology
Climbing! (1970) Nantucket Sleighride (1971)

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Climbing!, also known as Mountain Climbing!, is the official debut studio album by American blues rock band Mountain. Released on March 7, 1970, the album featured the 'classic' Mountain lineup of Leslie West (guitar, vocals), Felix Pappalardi (bass, piano) and Corky Laing (drums, percussion), and followed the West solo album Mountain featuring Pappalardi and drummer Norman Smart, released in 1969 and often credited to the band. Produced by Pappalardi, the album reached number 17 on the American Billboard 200 albums chart and featured the band's best-known song, "Mississippi Queen". An early rendition of "For Yasgur's Farm" was actually performed at the Woodstock Festival in August 1969 with a different title. It was subsequently recorded and retitled for the album.

Track listing

1. Mississippi Queen - (Corky Laing, Felix Pappalardi, David Rea, Leslie West) - 2:31
   • Leslie West - guitar, lead vocals
   • Felix Pappalardi - bass, piano
   • Corky Laing - drums
2. Theme for an Imaginary Western - (Pete Brown, Jack Bruce) - 5:06
   • Leslie West - guitar
   • Steve Knight - organ, Mellotron
   • Felix Pappalardi - bass, lead vocals, piano
   • Corky Laing - drums
3. Never in My Life - (Gail Collins, Laing, Pappalardi, West) - 3:51
   • Leslie West - guitar, lead vocals
   • Steve Knight - organ
   • Felix Pappalardi - bass
   • Corky Laing - drums
4. Silver Paper - (Collins, George Gardos, Knight, Laing, Pappalardi, West) - 3:19
   • Leslie West - guitar, co-lead vocals
   • Steve Knight - organ, handbells
   • Felix Pappalardi - bass, co-lead vocals
   • Corky Laing - drums
5. For Yasgur's Farm - (Collins, Gardos, Laing, Pappalardi, Rea, Gary Ship) - 3:23
   • Leslie West - guitar, co-lead vocals
   • Steve Knight - organ
   • Felix Pappalardi - bass, co-lead vocals
   • Corky Laing - drums
6. To My Friend - (West) - 3:38
   • Leslie West - guitar
7. The Laird - (Collins, Pappalardi) - 4:39
   • Leslie West - lead guitar
   • Felix Pappalardi - rhythm guitar, lead vocals
   • Corky Laing - percussion
8. Sittin' on a Rainbow - (Collins, Laing, West) - 2:23
   • Leslie West - guitar, lead vocals
   • Felix Pappalardi - bass
   • Corky Laing - drums
9. Boys in the Band - (Collins, Pappalardi) - 3:33
   • Leslie West - guitar, co-lead vocals
   • Steve Knight - Mellotron
   • Felix Pappalardi - bass, co-lead vocals, guitar, piano
   • Corky Laing - drums, percussion

2003 North American reissue

10. For Yasgur's Farm (Live) - (Collins, Gardos, Laing, Pappalardi, Rea, Gary Ship) - 4:19

Track timings listed on original 1970 Windfall Records LP pressings of the album differ slightly from the above, with the notable exception that the listed duration of 4:50 for "Never in My Life" is significantly in error.

Personnel

Mountain

• Leslie West – guitars on all tracks; lead vocals on tracks 1, 3, and 8; co-lead vocals on tracks 4, 5 and 9
• Felix Pappalardi – bass on all tracks except 6 and 7; piano on tracks 1, 2 and 9; rhythm guitar on track 7; lead vocals on tracks 2 and 7; co-lead vocals on tracks 4, 5 and 9; production
• Corky Laing – drums on all tracks except 6 and 7; percussion on tracks 7 and 9
• Steve Knight – organ on tracks 2, 3, 4 and 5; mellotron on tracks 2 and 9; handbells on track 4

Additional personnel

• Bud Prager – executive production
• Bob D'Orleans – engineering
• Lillian Douma – engineering assistance
• Beverly Weinstein – art direction
• Gail Collins – cover artwork, photography