Rock, Metal

Quicksilver Messenger Service - Happy Trails (1969)

2012-08-21T16:30:58Z

Quicksilver Messenger Service - Happy Trails (1969)


1. "Who Do You Love? - Part 1" – 3:32 (Ellas McDaniel)
2. "When You Love" – 5:15 (Gary Duncan)
3. "Where You Love" – 6:07 (John Cipollina, Duncan, Greg Elmore, David Freiberg)
4. "How You Love" – 2:45 (Cipollina)
5. "Which Do You Love" – 1:49 (Freiberg)
6. "Who Do You Love - Part 2" – 5:51 (McDaniel)
7. "Mona"" – 7:01 (McDaniel)
8. "Maiden of the Cancer Moon" – 2:54 (Duncan)
9. "Calvary" – 13:31 (Duncan)
10. "Happy Trails" – 1:29 (Dale Evans)

Personnel
    John Cipollina - Guitar and vocals
    Gary Duncan - Guitar and vocals
    Greg Elmore - Drums, percussion, vocals
    David Freiberg - Bass, piano, vocals

Without question, this follow-up to Quicksilver Messenger Service's self-titled debut release is the most accurate in portraying the band on vinyl in the same light as the group's critically and enthusiastically acclaimed live performances. The album is essentially centered around the extended reworkings of Bo Diddley's "Who Do You Love?" and "Mona," as well as the lesser lauded -- yet no less intense -- contribution of Gary Duncan's (guitar/vocals) "Calvary." This album is the last to feature the original quartet incarnation of QMS. The collective efforts of John Cipollina (guitar/vocals), Greg Elmore (percussion), David Freiberg (bass/vocals), and the aforementioned Duncan retain the uncanny ability to perform with a psychedelic looseness of spirit, without becoming boring or in the least bit pretentious. The side-long epic "Who Do You Love?" suite is split into an ensemble introduction and coda as well as four distinct sections for the respective bandmembers. The perpetually inventive chops of QMS are what is truly on display here. The musicians' unmitigated instrumental prowess and practically psychic interaction allow them to seamlessly weave into and back out of the main theme. Yet all the while, each player takes center stage for uncompromising solos. "Mona" and its companion, "Calvary," continue in much the same fashion. Here the members of QMS play off each other to form a cohesive unit. This track also contains some of Cipollina's finest and most memorable fretwork. He is able to summon sonic spirits from his guitar in a way that is unlike any of his Bay Area contemporaries. A prime example of his individuality is the frenetic "Maiden of the Cancer Moon" -- ascending from the remnants of "Mona." The angst and energy in Cipollina's guitar work and line upon line of technical phrasing could easily be considered the equal of a Frank Zappa guitar solo. The brief title track, a cover of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans' "Happy Trails," seems almost insignificant in the wake of such virtuoso playing. It clears the sonic palette and also bids adieu to this particular fab foursome of psychedelia. --- Lindsay Planer, Rovi

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Quicksilver Messenger Service - Just For Love (1970)

2012-08-23T16:49:57Z

Quicksilver Messenger Service - Just For Love (1970)


1. Wolf Run, Pt. 1
2. Just For Love, Pt. 1
3. Cobra
4. The Hat
5. Freeway Flyer
6. Gone Again
7. Fresh Air
8. Just For Love, Pt. 2
9. Wolf Run, Pt. 2

Personnel: 
Dino Valenti (vocals, guitar, flute, congas); 
David Freiberg (vocals, guitar); 
Gary Duncan (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, maracas, wood block); 
John Cipollina (electric guitar, slide guitar); 
Nicky Hopkins (piano); 
Greg Elmore (drums, percussion);
+
Nicky Hopkins (piano).

With the return of Gary Duncan and the recording debut of founder Dino Valenti, Just for Love, Quicksilver's fourth album, marked their debut as the band they were intended to be. The ironic thing about that is that, led by singer/songwriter Valenti, they were a much more pop-oriented band than their fans had come to expect. On Just for Love, Quicksilver finally was Valenti's backup group (he wrote all but one of the songs), and while this gave them greater coherence and accessibility, as well as their only Top 50 single in "Fresh Air," it also made them less the boogie band they had been. And it meant the band's days were numbered. --- William Ruhlmann, allmusic.com

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Quicksilver Messenger Service - Quicksilver Messenger Service (1968)

2012-08-16T16:27:07Z

Quicksilver Messenger Service - Quicksilver Messenger Service (1968)


1. "Pride of Man" – 4:08 
2. "Light Your Windows" – 2:38 
3. "Dino's Song" – 3:08
4. "Gold and Silver" – 6:43 
5. "It's Been Too Long" – 3:01 
6. "The Fool" – 12:07 

Personnel
    John Cipollina - Lead Guitar
    Gary Duncan - Guitar, Vocals
    David Freiberg - Bass Guitar, Vocals, Viola
    Greg Elmore – Drums

Quicksilver Messenger Service's debut effort was a little more restrained and folky than some listeners had expected, given their reputation for stretching out in concert. While some prefer the mostly live Happy Trails, this self-titled collection is inarguably their strongest set of studio material, with the accent on melodic folk-rock. Highlights include their cover of folksinger Hamilton Camp's "Pride of Man," probably their best studio track; "Light Your Windows," probably the group's best original composition; and founding member Dino Valenti's "Dino's Song" (Valenti himself was in jail when the album was recorded). "Gold and Silver" is their best instrumental jam, and the 12-minute "The Fool" reflects some of the best and worst traits of the psychedelic era. --- Richie Unterberger, allmusic.com

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Quicksilver Messenger Service - Shady Grove (1969)

2012-08-19T16:13:51Z

Quicksilver Messenger Service - Shady Grove (1969)


1.    "Shady Grove" (P. O. Wands) 2:59
2.    "Flute Song" (Denise Jewkes) 5:17
3.    "Three or Four Feet from Home" (Cipollina) 2:58
4.    "Too Far" (Freiberg) 4:23
5.    "Holy Moly" (Gravenites) 4:20
6.    "Joseph's Coat" (Cipollina/Gravenites) 4:36
7.    "Flashing Lonesome" (Freiberg/Gravenites) 5:21
8.    "Words Can't Say" (Freiberg/Jewkes) 3:17
9 .    "Edward, the Mad Shirt Grinder" (Hopkins) 9:10

Personnel
    John Cipollina - guitar, vocals
    Nicky Hopkins - organ, piano, celeste, cello, harpsichord, keyboards
    Greg Elmore - drums, percussion
    David Freiberg - viola, bass, guitar, vocals

The third long-player from San Francisco psychedelic icons Quicksilver Messenger Service (QMS) is a direct contrast from their previous discs. Shady Grove (1969) is comprised mostly of shorter and self-contained pieces as opposed to the long and extended jams that were so prevalent on their self-titled debut (1967) and Happy Trails (1969). Ironically, the one stretched-out instrumental is courtesy of their latest acquisition -- Brit recording session guru Nicky Hopkins (keyboards). Another possible reason for the shift in style as well as personnel is the conspicuous absence of Gary Duncan (guitar) -- who is rumored to have been a "guest" of Bay Area law enforcement at the time. The band incorporate a number of different styles on the album. Kicking off the disc is an up-tempo rocking version of the traditional Appalachian folk song "Shady Grove." The QMS reading is highlighted by John Cipollina's trademark fluid fretwork and a familiar "Bo Diddley" backbeat -- reminiscent of both "Who Do You Love" and "Mona" from the live ensemble LP Happy Trails. The slow and dark "Flute Song" is a trippy minor chord masterpiece that is augmented by the shimmering effect of Hopkins' airy piano lines which mingle throughout the light orchestration. Additionally, QMS try their hand at the same country & western-flavored sound that was making the rounds with their San Fran contemporaries the Jefferson Airplane ("The Farm") and the Grateful Dead ("Dire Wolf"). However, the down-home cowboy waltz "Word's Can't Say" never gets out of the stable, unfortunately. This somewhat uneven effort would sadly foreshadow QMS's journey from psychedelia and into a much more pop-oriented sound on their follow-up, Just for Love (1970). However, enthusiasts of those albums will find much more to revisit on Shady Grove than those who favored the first two records. --- Lindsay Planer, allmusic.com

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Quicksilver Messenger Service - What About Me (1970)

2012-08-22T16:39:37Z

Quicksilver Messenger Service - What About Me (1970)


1.    "What About Me" (Jesse Oris Farrow) – 6:43
2.    "Local Color" (John Cipollina) – 3:00
3.    "Baby Baby" (Farrow) – 4:44
4.    "Won't Kill Me" (David Freiberg) – 2:32
5.    "Long Haired Lady" (Farrow) – 5:55
6.    "Subway" (Gary Duncan-Farrow) – 4:29
7.    "Spindrifter" (Nicky Hopkins) – 4:38
8.    "Good Old Rock and Roll" (Farrow) – 2:30
9.    "All in My Mind" (Duncan-Farrow) – 3:48
10.   "Call on Me" (Farrow) – 7:36

Personnel
    Dino Valenti – vocals, guitar, flute, percussion
    Gary Duncan – vocals, guitar, bass, percussion, organ
    John Cipollina – guitar, percussion
    David Freiberg – vocals, bass, guitar
    Greg Elmore – drums, percussion
    Nicky Hopkins – piano, keyboards
+
    Martin Fierro - flute, alto sax, tenor sax, winds
    Frank Morin - saxophone, tenor sax
    Mark Naftalin - piano
    Pat O'Hara - trombone
    Jose Reyes - percussion, conga, vocals
    Ron Taormina - saxophone, baritone sax, soprano sax

Musically, there is little to delineate the fifth long-player from Quicksilver Messenger Service, What About Me, from their previous effort, Just for Love. Not surprisingly, material for both was initiated during a prolific two-month retreat to the Opaelua Lodge in Haleiwa, HI, during May and June of 1970. The quartet version of Quicksilver Messenger Service -- which had yielded the band's first two LPs -- expanded once again to include Dino Valenti (aka Chester A. Powers, Chet Powers, and most notably on this album, Jesse Oris Farrow) as well as British session keyboardist Nicky Hopkins. The additional talents of Mark Naftalin (keyboards) were incorporated when Hopkins was unavailable. This began his short stint with Quicksilver Messenger Service, which lasted through their sixth LP, Quicksilver (1972). The most apparent change in Quicksilver Messenger Service's sound can be directly attributed to the return of Valenti. The group has departed the long, free-flowing improvisations that prevailed on both their self-titled debut and follow-up, Happy Trails. The songs are now shorter and more notably structured, with an added emphasis on Valenti's compositions. The title track, "What About Me," became an ethical and sociological anthem with challenging and direct lyrical references to the political and social instability of the early '70s. Valenti, whose songwriting credits on this disc are both numerous and attributed to his Farrow persona, also comes up with some passable introspective love songs, such as "Baby Baby" and "Long Haired Lady," as well as a couple of interesting collaborations with Gary Duncan (bass/vocals). The psychedelic samba "All in My Mind" also highlights the often overlooked percussive contributions from Jose Reyes. Two of the more distinguished entries on What About Me are John Cipollina's raunchy blues instrumental "Local Color" -- replete with a driving backbeat reminiscent of their take on the Robert Johnson standard "Walkin' Blues" -- as well as Nicky Hopkins' emotive "Spindrifter." ---Lindsay Planer, allmusic.com

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Quicksilver Messenger Service – Comin’ Thru (1972)

2012-08-28T16:44:40Z

Quicksilver Messenger Service – Comin’ Thru (1972)


1."Doin' Time in the U.S.A." (Gary Duncan) – 4:15
2."Chicken" (Traditional, arranged by Dino Valenti) – 4:03
3. "Changes" (Valenti) – 4:15
4. "California State Correctional Facility Blues" (Valenti, Duncan, Greg Elmore, Chuck Steaks) – 6:10
5. "Forty Days" (Valenti, Duncan, Elmore) – 5:31
6. "Mojo" (Valenti) – 5:34
7. "Don't Lose It" (Duncan, Valenti) – 5:57

Personnel
    Dino Valenti – vocals, guitar, congas
    Gary Duncan – guitar, vocals,
    Greg Elmore – drums
    Chuck Steaks – organ
    Mark Ryan – bass
+
    Ken Balzell – trumpet
    Dalton Smith – trumpet
    Bud Brisbois – trumpet
    Pat O'Hara – trombone
    Charles C. Loper – trombone
    Sonny Lewis – saxophone
    Donald Menza – saxophone

The last of Quicksilver's albums before they broke up is a disappointment, and a real poser for all but the most dedicated fans. The songwriting was getting thin by this time, as indicated by the presence of numbers like "Chicken," a traditional piece arranged by Dino Valenti, which is little more than four minutes of wasted time on a 36-minute record. This track, and Valenti's promising but ultimately disappointing "Changes," were a sure sign that the band was delivering an album, but nothing more than that, as a way of fulfilling a contract; it's even hard to visualize the group doing this material on-stage. The presence of trumpets, trombones, and saxes is also a problem, because they make Quicksilver sound more like Blood, Sweat & Tears than themselves, and Valenti wasn't David Clayton-Thomas. But then there are hard-rocking numbers like "Doin' Time in the U.S.A." and "California State Correctional Facility Blues," which actually work, with slashing guitars, organ playing that is alternately soaring and funky, and a great beat. So about two-thirds of this album is what you would want and expect from Quicksilver, even if it isn't their best work, and the rest can be skipped. ---Bruce Eder, allmusic.com

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Quicksilver Messenger Service – Quicksilver (1971)

2012-08-27T16:53:58Z

Quicksilver Messenger Service – Quicksilver (1971)


1.    "Hope" – 3:01
2.    "I Found Love" – 3:56
3.    "Song for Frisco" - 4:58
4.    "Play My Guitar" – 4:38
5.    "Rebel" – 2:02
6.    "Fire Brothers" – 3:12
7.    "Out of My Mind" – 4:34
8.    "Don't Cry My Lady Love" – 5:12
9.    "The Truth" – 6:58

Personnel
    Dino Valenti – vocals, guitar, flute, percussion
    Gary Duncan - vocals, guitar
    Mark Ryan – bass
    Greg Elmore – drums, percussion
    Chuck Steaks – piano, organ

One of the group's better albums, despite coming so late in their history that it was ignored by almost everyone. "Hope," "Fire Brothers," and "Don't Cry for My Lady Love" are among the best songs the group ever cut, and "I Found Love" is one of the prettiest, most upbeat songs ever to come from any classic San Francisco band. Some of the rest is self-indulgent, but that's what this era of music was about -- the guitar pyrotechnics of "Song for Frisco" and "Play My Guitar" make them both more entertaining than their somewhat bland melodies; the latter song, in particular, sounds like a Marty Balin/Jefferson Airplane outtake that would have been right on target about four years before the release date of this album. The whole record feels that way, a throwback to the psychedelic era circa late 1967. It's also very much a folk-rock record, with a rich acoustic guitar texture on many of the songs. For the record, since the CD reissue has no personnel information, the band at this point was Dino Valenti (guitar, vocals), Greg Elmore (drums), Gary Duncan (vocals, guitar), Mark Ryan (bass), Mark Naftalin (keyboards), and Chuck Steaks (keyboards). If you ever wondered what the Airplane might have done as a follow-up to Surrealistic Pillow with Marty Balin still singing lead, this is it. --- Bruce Eder, allmusic.com

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