Songs I Love, Part XIV: “Mississippi Queen” Mountain
It may very well be that the phenomenon I’m going to talk about happens only to pubescent boys. But, since that’s a category in which I was once included, it happened to me.
So, I’ll start with this premise.
For people with a serious inclination toward rock music, there will come a time when their first big guitar song blasts though some radio speakers. And, if you’re alone, or even if your mom is driving you to Bar Mitvah class, you crank up the car radio — with impunity. The song hits you in the loins. The bass drum is always a major kerthink. You turn into the bad boy you see all the cute girls ogling. Then you scream “Yeahhhhhhhh!!!” at the top of your lungs.
Making sure you don’t miss the DJ announcing the name of the song and the group.
Which is to say that all music lovers — at least those who once were pubescent boys — have a big guitar song. And it never loses its luster. No matter how sophisticated one’s musical taste might become with the onslaught of maturity. Which is to say you might evolve to Ellington and Strayhorn, but your soul is always gonna save a place for “Mississippi Queen.”
If you know what I mean?
More on Mountain, the group formed by the “fourth member” of Cream, Felix Papilardi, in a moment. First this:
Papilardi, a Bronx native, was quite the rage in the late 60s and early 70s. He produced Cream. Like I said. Not to mention softer groups like Lovin’ Spoonful and the Youngbloods. Plus sweet Joanie Baez. But he obviously loved the thunder, falling for the guitar thrump of Long Islander, Leslie Weinstein (Leslie West to the public) whom he first heard in a group called the Vagrants.
When they broke up, Papilardi and West formed Mountain. The group’s fourth gig: Woodstock. One of the group’s sweeter sings is “For Yasgur’s Farm.”
I could prattle on about the group, how West ended up playing with Jack Bruce, etc, etc. But we’re not about rock & roll trivia here. Just the visceral thunder of the song. For the academicians among you, I share the lyrics. Not that they matter.
Mississippi Queen, If you know what I mean/ Mississippi Queen, She taught me everything/ Way down around Vicksburg /Around Louisiana way/ Lived a cajun lady, Aboard the Mississippi Queen/ You know she was a dancer/ She moved better on wine
While the rest of them dudes were’a gettin’ their kicks/ Boy I beg your pardon, I was getting mine
Mississippi Queen, If you know what I mean/ Mississippi Queen, She taught me everything/ This lady she asked me, If I would be her man/ You know that I told her, I’d do what I can/ To keep her looking pretty/ Buy her dresses that shine
While the rest of them dudes were making their bread/ Boy I beg your pardon, I was losing mine
Of course I have a personal anecdote. The group played Louisville Gardens. A friend was a part time DJ at LRS. We ended up back at the hotel room of Corky Laing, the group’s drummer. I was hoping for West or Papilardi to talk some rock & roll. No dice. So I watched as Laing did a lot of drugs, not offering to share a bit with my pal, myself or this other couple that was there. The girl was cute. Laing kept hustling her while apologizing for not sharing the drugs, and for hustling this guy’s girl in front of him.
I don’t know if Laing was successful with the gal or not. I split.
Actually, rereading that, I realize it’s a pretty lame, not very illuminating tale. But I left it in anyway. Some rock & roll stories never fire. Just like some songs.
But not “Mississippi Queen.” It smokes still.
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You are correct about certain guitar blasts living forever….in my case the immortal “Green Grass and High Tides”….after all these years it still blows your socks off.
Corky drank a fifth of cognac during the show, dropped a “lude” in his hotel room, than later dropped his face in spaghetti at Masterson’s. I was unable to get a coherent taped interview with him for my late night show. For several hours I sent out a request to “please return the plexiglass, see through bass that someone stole from Felix.” Someone finally returned it.
Pre-Mississippi Queen, I liked “Sleepwalk” by Santo & Johnny; “Walk Don’t Run” by The Ventures; & “Wham” by Lonnie Mack