Some 70's butt-rock to wake you up.

Mountain is an especially weird case. They were led by guitarist/vocalist Leslie West, a big fat guy who played a little tiny Les Paul Jr. most of the time. He hailed from Forest Hills, Queens and started out in a garage band called the Vagrants, who were favorites of neighbor Johnny Ramone. They cut a pretty good garagey cover of Otis Redding's 'Respect,'(featured on Nuggets) but then Aretha's version was released the next day (no joke) and buried them alive. Bassist and vocalist Felix Pappalardi was shot dead by his wife who was acquitted when she convinced the jury it was an accident.

I've always thought the fictional band Spinal Tap was based on a group portrait of Uriah Heep and Deep Purple. Easy Livin' is one of Uriah Heep's best. But if you're talking western theme especially, Stealin' should be included too.

Stealin'

Heh. The Western theme was accidental actually. Also, the Heep may be the most universally critically despised band in history, which of course made me investigate them. Lizzy got some good notices from critics, but Mountain were pretty much universally reviled by the press, too. They'll begrudgingly admit that "Theme.." is a fine song, but they'll give credit for that to Jack Bruce from Cream (who wrote it) even though West's guitar and Pappalardi's singing are what make the track, IMHO.

Funny thing about the critics.... they often don't match our tastes.

Deep Purple, for instance, seems to have a better reputation and longevity; they are the real deal so to speak in terms of classic rock. But I think most of that comes from the fact that every beginning guitar student learns how to play the beginning of Smoke on the Water.

Now, going deeper, listen to Deep Purple's lyrics. Space Truckin' is probably one of the stupidest songs ever written. Now listen to just about any Uriah Heep song.... their lyrics approach the quality of Rush or Dire Straits (which are the pinnacle of rock lyricism, imo). Yet the critics don't like them. To the critics, I say, "Meh."

Space Truckin' is probably one of the stupidest songs ever written.

Lyrically, yes indeed. Musically, it's fucking intense.

Agreed. Deep Purple's Made in Japan album is one of the best evar and still one of my favorites. I've had to learn that I just can't look for deep meaning lyrics, though.

Huh. I saw "Theme From an Imaginary Western" up there and coulda sworn it'd be accompanied by Ratt's "Round and Round" and Billy Joel's "Goodnight Saigon."

I missed your birthday thread, jonmc. So happy belated b-day, and I'm glad and proud to be your friend.

"Space Truckin' is probably one of the stupidest songs ever written."

Second only to "Smoke..." (and Deep Purple has been my favorite band since I was 13). Ian Gillan to this day cannot write lyrics worth a shit. BTW, that Deep Purple instrumental intensity was due to the band generally recording all the instruments including solos before letting Gillan get a crack at the tapes.

For longevity though, no one can touch Alice Cooper. His last five studio albums easily rival the output of the original Alice Cooper Group.