We continue our look back at the music of 50 years ago….
Definition of Nantucket sleighride…… is the dragging of a whaleboat by a harpooned whale while whaling. It is an archaic term from the early days of industrial whaling, when the animals were harpooned from small open boats. Once harpooned, the whale, in pain from its wound, attempts to flee, but the rope attached to the harpoon drags the whalers’ longboat along with it.
Alternate Definition of Nantucket Sleighride…2nd album from the rock band Mountain released in January of 1971.
For those who only know Mountain from their outstanding 1970 single ‘Mississippi Queen (more cowbell please)…the second LP will allow you to feast your ears on the gorgeous rock guitar tone of Leslie West. He doesnt get the publicity of Clapton, Hendrix,Allman, Page and the other rock gods of the time period but Leslie West is a top shelf ax-slinger who took alot of inspiration from Clapton’s work in Cream. Felix Pappalardi, Cream’s producer played bass in Mountain and produced the LP and knew how to let West’s guitar shine. I also like rock records that allow the drums to rise out of the mix and get a clean hearing. Corky Laing’s fills cut through the power chords and keyboards of Steve Knight to show his dexterity and rhythm. West’s growly vocals (reminiscent of Steppenwolf’s John Kay) complete the portrait of a Hard-driving rock outfit at its best.
The songs are interesting too including the subject matter of the title track. It’s dedicated to Owen Coffin…who is that you ask?…well, it seems Coffin was a sailor on a doomed whaling vessel called the Essex back in 1820. When the ship wrecked after a Nantucket Sleighride, his shipmates shot and then ate Coffin.
The album cover design came from Gail Collins who also co-wrote some of the songs on the record.
West died this past December of cardiac arrest at 75.
You can make the argument that Mountain was never better than this record…so put it on…preferably with a black light if you have it.
