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Long Red
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"Long Red"
Song by Leslie West
from the album Mountain
ReleasedJuly 1969 (1969-07)
Recorded1969
GenreHard rock
Length3:14
LabelWindfall
Songwriters
ProducerFelix Pappalardi

"Long Red" is a song recorded by Leslie West for his first solo album Mountain (1969).[1] He performed it with his band Mountain at Woodstock in 1969, which was later included on Live: The Road Goes Ever On (1972).[2] The drum break from this version is one of the most sampled in the history of hip hop music.[3] In 2013, West re-recorded the song for his solo album, Still Climbing.[4]

Use in sampling

[edit]
"Long Red"
Song by Mountain
from the album Live: The Road Goes Ever On
ReleasedApril 24, 1972
RecordedAugust 16, 1969
VenueWoodstock Festival, Bethel, New York
GenreHard rock
Length5:50
LabelWindfall
Songwriters
ProducerFelix Pappalardi

The 24-second drum intro from Mountain's performance of the song at Woodstock in 1969 has been sampled over 700 times,[5] particularly the clips of West shouting "You out there?", "Louder!" and "Yeah!". West's energetic ad-libs and drummer N. D. Smart's improvised beat have been used by countless producers such as Pete Rock, Kanye West, Rick Rubin, and J Dilla,[3][5] with Dilla creating the track "Stepson of the Clapper" off his 2006 album Donuts exclusively from samples of the intro.[6]

"Long Red" was first sampled by either[a] Eric B. or Marley Marl on Eric B. & Rakim's 1986 debut track "Eric B. is President".[5] Use of the sample seemed to grow exponentially after this, with it being used three times in 1986, 10 times in 1987, and 20 times in 1988.

When asked about the song's popularity in sampling in a 2014 interview with Glide Magazine, West said, "we have great publisher at Universal who gives the OK when people call for clearance to use it. So all these different groups sampling the song, why shouldn’t I do it? I wanted to do it more representative of the how I do it now. It’s much heavier now than when I wrote it back in 1969."[7]

Pitchfork listed the sample as one of the "well-used building block [sic] that every sample-based producer should know their way around", mentioning it alongside other famous samples such as Malcolm McLaren and the World's Famous Supreme Team's "Buffalo Gals" and Beastie Boys' "The New Style".[8]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Long Red

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from Grokipedia
"Long Red" is a written and performed by American guitarist , originally released as the opening track on his debut solo album Mountain in 1969. Produced by , the track features West on lead guitar and vocals, alongside contributions from Pappalardi on bass and other instruments, blending heavy riffs with psychedelic elements characteristic of late-1960s rock. The song quickly became associated with West's newly formed band, , which he co-founded with Pappalardi shortly after the album's release. Mountain performed "Long Red" live at the Woodstock Music and Art Fair on August 16, 1969, as part of their set before an audience of approximately 500,000, marking one of the band's earliest high-profile appearances. This rendition, lasting over 18 minutes in the full set context, showcased West's powerful guitar solos and the band's improvisational style, and was later included on the 1972 live album Mountain Live: . "Long Red" achieved lasting cultural impact through its drum break, which has been widely sampled in hip-hop music since the late and in over 900 tracks. Notable uses include Jay-Z's "" (2003), Kanye West's "" (2007), and Common's "The People" (2007), earning West songwriting credits on multiple and records. The track's raw energy and Leslie West's distinctive tone—often described as a precursor to heavy metal—continue to influence and hip-hop artists, cementing its place in music history. West re-recorded a version for his 2013 album Still Climbing, featuring his brother Larry West on bass.

Background and Development

Origins and Inspiration

transitioned from his role as lead guitarist in , a Long Island-based R&B and blue-eyed soul-rock band that had gained regional prominence in the mid-1960s, to pursuing a solo career in 1969. This shift was driven by West's ambition to explore a heavier, more aggressive rock sound that amplified his blues-infused guitar style beyond the soul-oriented constraints of his prior group. West's creative influences for his solo work drew deeply from blues guitar traditions and the burgeoning movement. He cited admiration for blues legends like , whose expressive vibrato and emotive phrasing shaped West's own heavy, sustained note attacks. Additionally, the power trio dynamics and guitar innovation of , particularly Eric Clapton's work, inspired West to blend blues roots with amplified rock intensity, influencing his tonal approach and construction. The songwriting for "Long Red" began in early 1969 as part of West's solo endeavors, originating from an idea sparked while listening to Traffic's "You Can All Join In," which led him to envision a character with long red hair. West crafted the track featuring lyrics inspired by this concept alongside his signature guitar riffs, emphasizing chunky, blues-derived patterns and dynamic solos that exemplified his evolving heavy rock vision. This composition would later be adapted for performance with the newly formed band .

Formation of Mountain

In early 1969, following the dissolution of his band , guitarist and vocalist sought to pursue a solo career, leading him to reconnect with producer , whom he had first met during sessions for ' recordings. Pappalardi, renowned for his production work on Cream's albums including and , agreed to produce West's debut solo album, titled Mountain, and the collaboration quickly evolved into the formation of a new band bearing the same name. This partnership crystallized in spring 1969, with the duo envisioning a structure heavily influenced by Cream's blues-infused intensity and instrumental prowess. To complete the lineup, Pappalardi took on bass and vocal duties himself, drawing directly from his experience with Cream's dynamic, while recruiting drummer , a session player who had contributed to West's solo recordings, to handle the rhythmic foundation. This core configuration—West on guitar and lead vocals, Pappalardi on bass and vocals, and Smart on drums—mirrored Cream's model of a compact yet explosive unit capable of blending heavy riffs with improvisational solos, allowing West's robust tone and stage presence to dominate. Although keyboardist Steve Knight was soon added to enhance the sound with organ textures, the initial trio setup provided the essential framework for Mountain's raw, mountainous sound. During early rehearsals in that spring, the band honed their material, transforming pieces from West's solo work into collaborative vehicles that showcased their collective chemistry. Notably, "Long Red"—originally penned by West for his solo album—emerged as a key track during these sessions, evolving from a personal composition into a full band showcase with extended guitar workouts and tight rhythmic interplay between West and Pappalardi. These rehearsals, held in informal spaces amid the vibrant scene, solidified "Long Red" as an emblematic piece of Mountain's repertoire, enabling its debut in live settings and highlighting how the band's assembly amplified West's vision into a group dynamic.

Composition and Recording

Studio Recording Process

The recording of "Long Red," the second track on Leslie West's debut solo album Mountain, took place over two weeks in early 1969 at Gotham Recording Studios in . The sessions were produced by , who also contributed bass and keyboards throughout the album, marking the beginning of a key creative partnership that would soon lead to the formation of the band . Drummer II provided the percussion, while West handled and vocals. West recorded his guitar parts using a 1956 Gibson Les Paul Junior (TV model) equipped with P-90 pickups, plugged directly into a Sunn Coliseum amplifier head without additional effects, emphasizing his signature thick, sustain-heavy tone. Pappalardi played bass on the tracks, though specific model details for these sessions are not documented; his contributions focused on locking in with West's riffs to create the song's driving foundation. The album's development spanned about six to twelve months prior to recording, allowing West and Pappalardi to refine arrangements like the bluesy, riff-centric structure of "Long Red," co-written by West, Pappalardi, John Ventura, and Norman Landsberg. Post-recording, the mixing process was intentionally lo-fi to achieve a raw, radio-friendly sound, with tracks routed through dashboard speakers from a radio setup for final balances. This approach contributed to the version of "Long Red" clocking in at 3:14, capturing its extended jam-like feel in a concise format suitable for vinyl playback. The was mastered at Sterling Sound by Robert Ludwig, ensuring clarity in West's oversized guitar presence amid the section's punch.

Musical Elements and Instrumentation

"Long Red" exemplifies Mountain's instrumental style, deeply rooted in traditions, with its raw energy and improvisational feel. The track features a standout break by that has become iconic for its funky, syncopated groove, often isolated in hip-hop sampling. Complementing this is Leslie West's commanding guitar , played in , which establishes a brooding, minor-key atmosphere infused with bluesy bends and sustain. The song's structure unfolds methodically to heighten intensity: it opens with the signature introducing the theme, transitions into verse-like sections where guitar and bass interplay builds momentum, and escalates toward a climactic showcasing West's expressive phrasing. This progression resolves in a gradual fade-out, allowing the and drums to linger, evoking the improvisatory spirit of live blues-rock jams. Central to the track's sound is the core instrumentation from Mountain's lineup. West's overdriven guitar tone, derived from cranking Coliseum amplifiers for natural and sustain, delivers a thick, vocal-like quality that dominates the mix. Smart's drums provide rhythmic drive through syncopated fills and the break's off-beat accents, while Felix Pappalardi's bass lines offer melodic foundation with walking patterns that echo his Cream-era style, locking tightly with the low end.

Performances and Releases

Woodstock Performance

Mountain performed "Long Red" as part of their set at the Woodstock Music and Art Fair on August 16, 1969, marking an early live showcase of the track with the newly formed band. The group's slot ran from 9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., following and preceding the , in front of an estimated audience of approximately 500,000. "Long Red," originally recorded for Leslie West's solo album Mountain earlier that year, served as the fourth song in their ten-song setlist, which opened with "Blood of the Sun" and included originals like "." This appearance was only Mountain's fourth live gig overall, highlighting the band's raw emergence on a major stage. The live rendition of "Long Red" extended to approximately 5:45, significantly longer than the 3:09 studio version from West's album, allowing for dynamic improvisation that amplified the festival's high-energy vibe. Leslie West's guitar work featured extended solos, blending bluesy riffs with heavy rock intensity to engage the massive crowd, while Felix Pappalardi's bass and the rhythm section provided a solid foundation amid the open-air chaos. The performance captured Mountain's proto-metal sound, with West's distinctive tone cutting through the night air. Technical hurdles marked the evening, as rain began falling after dark, soaking the stage and complicating the already strained sound system for late-night acts. The damp conditions created electrical risks, evident in shocks reported by subsequent performers like the , though powered through without major interruptions. Despite these challenges, the set energized the rain-weary audience, contributing to the festival's legendary spirit of resilience.

Album Release and Variants

"Long Red" was first released in July 1969 as the opening track on Leslie West's self-titled debut Mountain, issued by Windfall Records. The song served as the 's lead , backed with "Blood of the Sun," and was distributed in the United States on the Windfall label. A live rendition of "Long Red," captured during Mountain's performance at the Woodstock Music and Art Fair in , appeared on the band's first live , Live: The Road Goes Ever On, released on April 24, 1972, also by Windfall Records. This version extended the track to over five minutes, highlighting the band's improvisational energy from the festival set. The complete Woodstock performance of "Long Red" (5:43) was later released on the album Live at Woodstock on July 26, 2019, by Columbia/Legacy Records. In 2013, re-recorded "Long Red" for his solo album Still Climbing, released on October 29 by Provogue Records under the Mascot Label Group. The updated take featured modern production techniques, including prominent organ elements reminiscent of the original sound, while maintaining the song's blues-rock core.

Reception and Legacy

Critical Reception

Upon its 1969 release as part of Leslie West's solo album Mountain, "Long Red" garnered attention for its raw, blues-infused energy. The track's intense, riff-driven style aligned with early perceptions of the emerging Mountain band, which Rolling Stone described as a "louder version of Cream," emphasizing the amplified, hard-edged sound that defined their approach. Retrospective reviews have acclaimed "Long Red" for its standout guitar work, particularly Leslie West's powerful, tone-heavy playing that drives the song's psychedelic blues foundation. AllMusic awarded Mountain's 1970 debut album Climbing!, which featured a live rendition of the track from their Woodstock performance, 4.5 out of 5 stars, lauding West as a "gigantic guitarist/vocalist" whose contributions helped pioneer the heavy, bluesy hard rock sound.

Influence and Sampling in Hip-Hop

The drum break from 's "Long Red," particularly the live version performed at Woodstock in 1969, has become one of the most sampled elements in hip-hop history, appearing in over 900 tracks since its first notable use in 1986. This break, featuring drummer Corky Laing's powerful, syncopated rhythm and Leslie West's crowd-hyping exclamations of "Yeah!" and "Louder!", provided an energetic foundation that resonated with early hip-hop producers seeking raw, live-feel percussion. The inaugural hip-hop sample came from 's "," where producer Eric B. looped the break to underpin Rakim's groundbreaking lyrical flow, marking a pivotal moment in the genre's adoption of rock elements. Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, the sample proliferated in golden age hip-hop, with producers like incorporating it into beats for tracks such as "Take You There" by & C.L. Smooth (1994), where the drums drive the soulful, laid-back groove. In the 2000s, innovative artists expanded its use; crafted the entire instrumental for "Stepson of the Clapper" on his 2006 album Donuts using layered manipulations of the "Long Red" intro, showcasing the break's versatility for chopped-and-screwed techniques. frequently employed it in his production, including the explosive drum pattern in "Barry Bonds" from 's 2007 album American Gangster and the crowd-noise-infused beat for "N*ggas in Paris" by and (2011), blending the sample with modern trap influences to amplify anthemic energy. This widespread sampling underscores "Long Red"'s status as a foundational in hip-hop production, bridging rock's live intensity with the genre's rhythmic innovation and influencing producers across four decades. Its enduring appeal lies in the break's dynamic swing and vocal ad-libs, which have been dissected in analyses as a staple for creating and texture in beats, from old-school cuts to contemporary hits.

References

  1. https://www.allmusic.com/album/mountain-mw0000182698
  2. https://www.songfacts.com/facts/leslie-west/long-red
  3. https://www.jambase.com/article/leslie-west-mountain-live-at-woodstock-1969
  4. https://www.whosampled.com/Mountain/Long-Red/sampled/
  5. https://bluesrockreview.com/2025/09/leslies-west-impact-a-blueprint-for-heavy-blues-rock.html
  6. https://50plusworld.com/farewell-to-mountains-leslie-west/
  7. http://rockasteria.blogspot.com/2011/07/leslie-west-mountain-1969-us-great-hard.html
  8. http://www.dinosaurrockguitar.com/node/66
  9. https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/leslie-west-how-eric-clapton-and-cream-inspired-mountain
  10. https://onstagemagazine.com/conversation-leslie-west/
  11. https://bestclassicbands.com/leslie-west-interview-4-30-188/
  12. https://www.bethelwoodscenter.org/news/detail/mountain-50-years-of-peace-music
  13. https://www.goldminemag.com/articles/story-band-mountain/
  14. http://tourarchive.weebly.com/mountain-tour-archive-1969---1974.html
  15. https://www.discogs.com/release/1124982-Leslie-West-Mountain
  16. https://www.discogs.com/master/81046-Leslie-West-Mountain
  17. https://www.tonequest.com/lesliewest/
  18. https://oasis.library.unlv.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5274&context=thesesdissertations
  19. https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/leslie-west/long-red-chords-76960
  20. https://music.apple.com/us/album/mountain/157449721
  21. https://www.woodstock.com/lineup/mountain/
  22. https://music.apple.com/us/song/long-red-live-at-woodstock/1473617576
  23. https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/remembering-woodstock-3-days-of-peace-music-and-rain/1681311
  24. https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/leslie-west/mountain-2.p/
  25. https://www.45cat.com/record/nc684642us
  26. https://www.discogs.com/master/49339-Mountain-Live-The-Road-Goes-Ever-On
  27. https://music.apple.com/us/album/live-at-woodstock-8-16-1969/1473617419
  28. https://www.discogs.com/release/5035593-Leslie-West-Still-Climbing
  29. https://bluesrockreview.com/2013/10/leslie-west-still-climbing-review.html
  30. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/23/arts/music/leslie-west-dead.html
  31. https://www.allmusic.com/album/climbing!-mw0000613865
  32. https://www.whosampled.com/Mountain/Long-Red/
  33. https://djbooth.net/features/yeah-louder-long-red-sample/
  34. https://www.whosampled.com/sample/337529/Pete-Rock-%2526-C.L.-Smooth-Take-You-There-Mountain-Long-Red/
  35. https://www.whosampled.com/sample/4183/J-Dilla-Stepson-of-the-Clapper-Mountain-Long-Red/
  36. https://genius.com/J-dilla-stepson-of-the-clapper-sample
  37. https://routenote.com/blog/the-20-most-sampled-songs-of-all-time/
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