The Best of Quicksilver Messenger Service

An essential 1960's San Francisco band, QSM never hit it as big commercially as some of their competitors, but they retain a huge following. Their biggest asset was the incredible lead guitarist, John Cipollina, whose biting and swirling riffs are incredibly powerful. Other major contributors were rhythm guitarist and vocalist Gary Duncan, bassist David Freiberg, and session man Nicky Hopkins (pianist with the Stones and others), drummer Greg Elmore, and erstwhile founder Dino Valenti. Their self-titled first album was released June 30, 1967 (most sites list the year as 1968). This budget sampler opens with an energetic, memorable version of Bo Diddley's "Who Do You Love" with a bass line used by Led Zeppelin in "Whole Lotta Love." The economical but maximally effective lead guitar riffs from John Cipollina's Gibson burst with energy. Seconds after you hear the band's signature rambling, whirling, swirling sounds (with the bottom covered superbly by bassist David Frieberg and drummer Greg Elmore) you know you're in San Francisco's psychedelic period. The "dual guitar attack" of Cipollina and Gary Duncan functions not just as a showcase, but also as tone-setting punctuation marks, infusing the sound with a trippy but tight groove. Unfortunately, this track lasts only about 3 ½ minutes. For a true feeling of the band's sound, get the 6-part, 25-minute version on the great "Happy Trails" album. "What You Gonna Do About Me" is a truly mixed bag, a stoned sounding vocal that's just credible, and a mix of Latin and jazz inflected overlays: Horns, bongos, a Santana-like beat. At 6:42, it's too long, especially for a mediocre recording. Although lauded for it's revolutionary lyrics, some of them quite good, what do you do with a line like "I smoke marijuana, but I can't get behind your war?" "Shady Grove" is the title track from a 1969 release on Capitol. Beware: The "Shady Grove" CD sold at Amazon is a British import with reported sound problems. The song itself is spectacular; San Francisco out-Stones the Stones (Hopkins gets a lot of credit for this), and Cipollina lays down some of the greatest stinging rock guitar in history. At about 38 seconds in, the song hits its stride. It's a masterpiece, an incredible combination of seminal rock licks embedded in folk/country and the blues. At only three minutes, though, it leaves you wanting more. "Just for Love" is the album title track from 1970. The song begins with the kind of cowboy/rustic sound typical of the folk roots of early SF rock. The vocal is a bit wiry (QSM was not renowned for its singing), but its loose style somehow fits the overall tone. Like many of the poorer QSM songs on the album, this was probably better in concert, and some hints of its potential appear towards the end of the song. This is the first album featuring founding member Dino Valenti (who didn't appear on the previous three albums, partly because of drug busts). Despite the usual criticism of their vocals, the band sounds quite good on several numbers, especially when there's some backup singing. "Fresh Air" was a big hit (pun intended). It's a little more conventionally structured, with a blues foundation, and has a great rumbling Airplane-like bass by Frieberg. There are very good vocals and a tasty, somewhat subdued solo at the bridge that shows great harmony and dynamics, building as it goes. Nicky Hopkins plays a jazzy Bill Evans solo, all floaty, and then changes gears to a rock mode joined by the rest of the band. "Pride of Man" was on the first album and features strong singing and harmony, shimmering drums by Elmore, and a rocking bass line by Frieberg. It's not as much a jam song, at least on this recording, but shows how commercially viable this band was (even more so than does "Fresh Air") It has a beautifully toned guitar-solo. Ff AM radio wasn't so screwed up back then, this would have received a lot more airplay. Like most of their contemporaries during this era, the music was limited to "progressive" FM stations. Another critical/commercial success was "Dino's Song." It features a semi-funky beat, an inventive walking bass line, note-perfect guitar fill-ins, and some of the most even singing (both solo and harmonies) on the album. There's very creative guitar work throughout the song, and the entire number resembles the minimalism and quirky figures of L.A.-based Arthur Lee and Love. Commercially and artistically, this is one of their best. "Joseph's Coat" ("You wanna feel like a man; you gotta act like a man") is a little message-heavy at first, but horns and guitar and assorted noises soon cut through any pretension. There are some nice vocal harmonies a la Airplane and it concludes with an overly long effects ridden ending. It's a little jokey, yet enjoyable--like a cheesy soundtrack to a bad western. Long-Haired Lady (5:52) is a sweet ballad in search of a better vocalist. Still, it may be a sentimental favorite for veteran fans of QSM. CSCFB is a typical, indistinct electric blues of the period; the QSM sensibility is gone, despite the presence of Duncan, Frieberg, and Elmore. It's off "Comin' Thru (1972)," the second post-Cipollina album by the group. (Cipollina left in October 1970, although he was back for a reunion album in 1975.) I recommend this highly as a budget, "starter" CD for those not familiar with the band. Otherwise, any of the first three albums (especially the 2nd and 3rd) are your best bet. Ideally, to get a true sonic and visual picture of the band, you'd have to have heard them in concert. There are a lot of excellent web sites devoted to QSM in general, and Cipollina in particular, I recommend checking these out.

this is a classic musical trip into the San Fransisco scene of the late 60`s. It is joyfully timeless in its content of songs from the highly underated quicksilver messenger service! What a band what a scene to have been lucky enough to have been at the filmore to see them live! but alas as mick and the stones sang you cant always get what you want but sometimes you get what you need, and this album is the next best thing!Rock on World!!!

This is a must have in any rock collection. This group came about when the hippie movement was simultaneously exploring and proclaiming who and what it was. What's great was the exploration into music both sound starting from a blues, boogie & jazz base and beginning to express relevant socio-political messages lyrically.

I heard one particular song recently and it brought back a LOT of memories. So decided to order it right then.

Having seen this band perform at the Family Dog in San Francisco in 1969 and again at Winterland in 1975, I can assure anyone who is interested in owning ths CD, it is a great buy. John Chippolina was one of the great guitarists of all-time. With a style all his own, the sounds he produces compare favorably with any of the great San Francisco axe men of the 60's and 70's. Anyone wanting more proof should go to YouTube. On the search line type in Quicksilver Messenger service/Fresh Air/Winterland 1975. Watch this live six minute performance and you will want to own this CD.

How many hours did I spend listening to "Happy Trails" in the early 70's, only to lose track of Quicksilver for the next 40 years? Now that I'm an old geezer, I needed some music to keep me moving on my stationary bike, so I resurrected Quicksilver and found that some music just never gets old! This album evokes the ethos of the late 60's as well as any album I know of - the youthful idealism and rebellion of that pivotal time period. But aside from the social and political message, the guitar work and vocals are what make this album timeless.

I loved this album as a teenager, many years ago. I bought the CD in a burst of nostalgia. But the clarity of sound that I remember on the LP isn't there on the CD. It sounds fuzzy and muffled.

For it's age, CD was in great shape, played perfectly and was a quick ship with no damage. Would but from vendor again

Great to hear the rockin tunes of the Woodstock era and beyond. I enjoy this CD. Have it in my car and its good old time rockin. ! NCB

La foto della copertina vale l'acquisto. la musica come si suonava 50 anni fa, con cuore, passione & sentimento. Dopo che li ascolti non puoi + ascoltare la musica recente. Spedizione perfetta.

J'aime bien Quicksilver messenger service, groupe californien des 60's, 70's et cette compilation est agréable à écouter. On retrouve "Dino's song" et une version courte de "who do you love".

Great album, prompt service.

Sehr gute Zusammenstellung von diesem 60er Repertoir