Nantucket Sleighride was the second album released by Mountain.  Released in January of 1971, the title track of the album reads “Nantucket Sleighride (To Owen Coffin).”  So, what’s a Nantucket Sleighride, and who is Owen Coffin?

It turns out that Owen Coffin was a sailor on the Nantucket whaleship Essex.  As Sam Talkington explains below, Coffin's ill-fated voyage resulted in Mountain dedicating a song to him.  Coffin’s death isn’t the only one tied to the history of this album.  Play the audio to hear the tales of murder and cannibalism that surround Mountain’s Nantucket Sleighride.

 

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