Legacy: A Tribute to Leslie West Leslie West

• 1 Blood of the Sun 03:03
• 2 Nantucket Sleighride (To Owen Coffin) 05:52
• 3 Theme for an Imaginary Western 05:07
• 4 For Yasgur's Farm 03:17
• 5 Why Dontcha 03:39
• 6 Sittin' On a Rainbow 02:15
• 7 Never in My Life 03:56
• 8 The Doctor 04:26
• 9 Silver Paper 03:26
• 10 Money (Whatcha Gonna Do) / By the River (Medley) 05:12
• 11 Long Red 05:29
• 12 Mississippi Queen 02:29
• Total Runtime 48:11

Info for Legacy: A Tribute to Leslie West

When Leslie West passed away in December of 2020, he left behind a towering legacy of epic recordings that few rock guitarists can match. But there was more to West than great songs (although, to be sure, he created a ton of them); there was his brilliant, idiosyncratic sound, a gargantuan earth-mover that razed arenas and stadiums across the globe. More than just paralyzing tone, though, he also had a touch nobody could beat. It helped to make West one of the most significant, influential and irreplaceable guitarists of the rock era.

Dee Snider was a dear friend of Leslie West for decades, and shares, “Leslie was a hero, friend, amazing guy and a guitar god. I always wanted to sing this song. It’s my favorite Leslie West guitar solo. It resonates with me, and speaks to me on so many levels. I’m honored to have gotten a chance to do it on this record.”

When Leslie West passed away in December of 2020, he left behind a towering legacy of epic recordings that few rock guitarists can match. But there was more to West than great songs (although, to be sure, he created a ton of them); there was his brilliant, idiosyncratic sound, a gargantuan earth-mover that razed arenas and stadiums across the globe. More than just paralyzing tone, though, he also had a touch nobody could beat. Stinging, swooning and sensual melodies leapt from his fingertips – with a deft flick of his wrist, he sounded like a Delta bluesman had picked up a violin. These elements and more helped to make West one of the most significant, influential and irreplaceable guitarists of the rock era.

“We were so blessed to be working with home-run hitters on each song,” says Bob Ringe, “but each one underscores the fact that Leslie is the true MVP. This record really shows that his work stands the test of time. When I listen to the album, it makes me look up to the sky, and I can just see that big mountain of a man, Leslie West, with a smile on his face going, ‘This makes me feel good.’” (Dee Snider)

"Legacy: A Tribute To Leslie West is an outstanding remembrance of one of our all-time great guitarists and will do much to get the word of West’s contributions out to upcoming generations of players. He was a singularly important and impressive part of American music history and to have so many incredible musicians record his songs is the highest honor he could be given. Spin this one and be reminded of what top-level rock actually sounds like. Highly recommended." (Mike O’Cull, rockandbluesmuse.com)

Bobby Rondinelli, drums
Rev Jones, bass
Mike Dimeo, keyboards
Mick James, bass, rhythm guitar
Mike Portnoy, drums
Zakk Wylde, guitar
Eddie Ojeda, guitar
Joe Lynn Turner, vocals
Marty Friedman, guitar
Martin Barre, guitar
Robby Krieger, guitar
Ronnie Romero, vocals
Elliot Easton, guitar
Dee Snider, vocals
George Lynch, guitar
Steve Morse, guitar
Charlie Starr, vocals
Teddy Rondinelli, guitar
Yngwie Malmsteen, guitar
Marc Labelle, vocals
Slash, vocals

Leslie West
was born Leslie Weinstein in Forest Hills, Queens, New York. He quit school after his parents’ divorce and worked for a jeweler in Manhattan’s diamond district; it was there that West spent lunch hours staring at guitars in two famous music shops on 48th Street. As teens, West and his brother, Larry, soon formed an R&B Long Island Group, The Vagrants, and played on bills with The Who, Cream, Mitch Ryder, and others.

In the early 1970s, Mountain was formed by West and Cream’s producer, Felix Pappalardi, who played bass. N.D. Smart joined them on the drums and Steve Knight on the keyboard. The band played at Woodstock alongside such acts as Santana and the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Their first album, Climbing, was a success. A list of factors broke up the band and, during this time, West became a member of West, Bruce & Laing. A solo career followed, but Mountain got back together in the 1990s and continues to this day.

In addition to being labeled as one of the most innovative and influential musicians in the history of rock music, West’s band, Mountain, was named by VH-1 as one of the Top 100 Hard Rock Groups of all time. West has also played and recorded with rocker icons such as Billy Joel, The Who, and Jimi Hendrix, and has been named an important influence on music by Eddie Van Halen, Richie Sambora, and Michael Schenker.

West didn’t stop at hits such as Mississippi Queen, Stormy Monday, and Me And My Guitar (still on many radio stations today). He branched out from his role as guitarist, singer, and songwriter from time to time. He acted alongside Shelley Long and Tom Hanks in The Money Pit in 1986; did voiceover for the animated series Beast War Transformers beginning in 1996; and contributed to the theme music of the WB’s Mutant X.

West continued to remain in the public eye as a popular personality on the Howard Stern Radio Show and as Musical Director for Stern’s FOX series and Sam Kinison’s hit remake of Wild Thing. Big Phat Ass Guitar is West’s own instructional guitar DVD that has been released more recently.

A diabetes and cancer survivor, West has also experienced the substance abuse that killed some of his friends and contemporaries. He disappeared from music for a time to get his health sorted out, away from drugs and toward treatment. Once over 300 pounds, West lost 85 pounds when he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and started to watch his blood sugar. He now enjoys a revitalized and prolific career with a pending amp endorsement, abundant royalties, and platinum records. Mountain’s latest album, Masters of War, is a collection of Bob Dylan covers arranged in the West tradition. But possibly most famous of all, West has a new signature guitar, the Dean Leslie West model.

This album contains no booklet.