The Road Goes Ever On - MOUNTAIN***

Long Red/Waiting to Take You Away/Crossroader/Nantucket Sleighride

The Road Goes Ever On was a live album from the American rock band Mountain taken from three separate recordings. The highlight is the 17 minutes long rendition of Nantucket Sleighride which takes up the second side. (US:63 UK:21)

“Mountain are not at their best on live recordings. This album is offered as verification. Though it does contain one of the better live versions on Nantucket Sleighride, the rest of it pales in comparison to the corresponding studio versions.”

“Not an essential hard rock live recording, as it's just not very exciting. The seventeen minutes Nantucket Sleighride has some moments, but I've heard much better hard rock tracks of that length.”

“Overall an excellent live album of a great American band in their prime, my biggest complaint is that the album is too short and with too many good songs not included.”

“Mountain always sounded better live than in the studio. Leslie West and the band gave a truly inspired performance on this record. Here you will find the absolute best renditions of Nantucket Sleighride and Long Red.”

“Side one opens with a superb rendition of Long Red from Leslie West's solo album Mountain which gave the group it's name. It is a great version of this rocker and leads nicely into the only brand new song on the album, the heavy ballad Waiting To Take You Away. The side ends with Crossroader a twelve bar with a bluesy feel. Side two contains only one track, but what a track. Nantucket Sleighride was expanded on stage to an improvised musical feast over seventeen minutes long, with all the band contributing to a workout which, despite its length, never gets dull.”

“Nantucket Sleighride is a legendary monster: this extensive workout of Mountain's centrepiece tune retains interest throughout, melodic variations on the theme traded between the bass, organ and lead, before bursting powerfully back into the chorus.”

“Though it lacks some of their more recognized tunes, it never the less manages to convey just about everything you need to know about the band. If you like the hard driving, pounding sound of Mountain you will love the live version of Nantucket Sleighride. It is a true Mountain jam session, starting slowly and building up to an unbelievable peak. Leslie West has never been better.”