After gaining recognition as lead guitarist for Long Island's Vagrants, Leslie West linked up with Felix Pappalardi, who played bass on and produced West's debut solo album, Mountain (1969). Following its release, the two teamed up with drummer Norman Smart (soon replaced by Corky Laing) and keyboardist Steve Knight to form Mountain, cutting the albums Climbing! (1970; featuring the Top 40 single "Mississippi Queen"), Nantucket Sleighride (1971), and Flowers of Evil (1971). West and Laing then joined with former Cream bassist Jack Bruce to form West, Bruce & Laing, recording Why Dontcha (1972) and Whatever Turns You On (1973). Various versions of Mountain continued recording sporadically into the mid-'90s, and West has since issued a number of hard rock and blues-inflected solo albums. ~ William Ruhlmann