With Felix Pappalardi's departure from MOUNTAIN in 1972 the remaining members man, mountain guitarist LESLIE WEST and drummer Corky Laing, founded a new act pulling in the notable pedigree of former CREAM bassist JACK BRUCE. Billed as WEST, BRUCE & LAING the triumvirate issued three albums, commencing with 'Why Doncha?' for CBS Records in Europe before switching to the RSO label for 'Whatever Turns You On' and closing with 'Live And Kickin' during 1974.

By late 1973 MOUNTAIN had reassembled as West and Pappalardi re-united with new drummer Allen Schwarzberg.