| Quicksilver Messenger Service | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 1968 | |||
| Recorded | December 1967 | |||
| Genre | Psychedelic rock, acid rock | |||
| Length | 31:46 | |||
| Label | Capitol (US) | |||
| Producer | Nick Gravenites, Harvey Brooks, Pete Welding | |||
| Quicksilver Messenger Service chronology | ||||
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Quicksilver Messenger Service is the debut studio album of Quicksilver Messenger Service, released in 1968.
This was Quicksilver Messenger Service's first album, although they had already produced two songs for the soundtrack of the 1968 movie Revolution. Original singer/guitarist Jim Murray quit the group in August 1967 just prior to this album's recording and does not appear, as they adjusted to a four-man format. The album displays the group's jam sound amidst lighter pop-oriented songs. Unlike contemporaries such as the Grateful Dead, Quicksilver's jams were highly planned as can be heard by comparing the studio versions of songs with those from bootleg live performances. Gary Duncan and John Cipollina displayed innovative dueling lead guitars, which can be heard on extended jam tracks such as "Gold and Silver" and "The Fool".
"Pride Of Man", "Dino's Song", and "Gold And Silver" (in a shortened 3 minute version) had appeared regularly in the group's live setlists as far back as 1966, while the multi-sectional, quasi-symphonic psych epic "The Fool" had first been premiered for shows in May 1967 and gradually extended and polished into what is heard here. "Dino's Song" was written by Dino Valenti who was at that time in prison due to marijuana-related offenses; he would eventually rejoin the group at the start of 1970 and radically alter its sound. Many songs which had been regulars of the group's live show in 1966 and 1967, including "Long Distance Call", "Smokestack Lightnin'", "All Night Worker", "Suzie Q", "Got My Mojo Workin'", "Walkin' Blues" and "I Hear You Knocking" were passed over for recording while other popular early staples like their covers of "Mona" and "Who Do You Love" would be saved for the next release.
The album charted at #63 on Billboard upon release as the group continued to play shows across the country, with a specific preference for the Bay Area.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| Rolling Stone | (favorable) [2] |
| Sputnikmusic |  [3] |
Side one
Side two
Billboard (United States)
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Pop Albums | 63 |
Quicksilver Messenger Service is an American psychedelic rock band formed in 1965 in San Francisco. The band achieved wide popularity in the San Francisco Bay Area and, through their recordings, with psychedelic rock enthusiasts around the globe, and several of their albums ranked in the Top 30 of the Billboard Pop charts. They were part of the new wave of album-oriented bands, achieving renown and popularity despite a lack of success with their singles. Though not as commercially successful as contemporaries Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead, Quicksilver was integral to the beginnings of their genre. With their jazz and classical influences and a strong folk background, the band attempted to create an individual, innovative sound. Music historian Colin Larkin wrote: "Of all the bands that came out of the San Francisco area during the late '60s, Quicksilver typified most of the style, attitude and sound of that era."
Chester William Powers, Jr. was an American singer-songwriter, and under the stage names Dino Valenti or Dino Valente, one of the lead singers of the rock group Quicksilver Messenger Service. As a songwriter, he was known as Jesse Oris Farrow. He is best known for having written the quintessential 1960s love-and-peace anthem "Get Together", and for writing and singing on Quicksilver Messenger Service's two best-known songs, "Fresh Air" and "What About Me?"
John Cipollina was a guitarist best known for his role as a founder and the lead guitarist of the prominent San Francisco rock band Quicksilver Messenger Service. After leaving Quicksilver he formed the band Copperhead, was a member of the San Francisco All Stars and later played with numerous other bands.
Happy Trails is the second album of the American band Quicksilver Messenger Service. Most of the album was recorded from two performances at the Fillmore East and Fillmore West, although it is not clear which parts were recorded at which Fillmore. The record was released by Capitol Records in 1969 in stereo.
Gary Duncan was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was guitarist with The Brogues, then most notably with Quicksilver Messenger Service, where the complex interplay between himself and fellow-guitarist John Cipollina did much to define the unique sound of that San Francisco based band.
Jim Murray was a guitarist and harmonica player for the psychedelic blues rock band Quicksilver Messenger Service. He also handled lead and background vocals on some songs. He left the band in late 1967 shortly before they recorded their first album.
Shady Grove is a 1969 studio album by Quicksilver Messenger Service.
"Who Do You Love?" is a song written by American rock and roll pioneer Bo Diddley. Recorded in 1956, it is one of his most popular and enduring works. The song represents one of Bo Diddley's strongest lyrical efforts and uses a combination of hoodoo-type imagery and boasting. It is an upbeat rocker, but the original did not use the signature Bo Diddley beat rhythm.
Just for Love is the fourth album by American psychedelic rock band Quicksilver Messenger Service. Released in August 1970, it marks the culmination of a transition from the extended, blues- and jazz-inspired improvisations of their first two albums to a more traditional rock sound. Founding member Dino Valenti, who returned to the band after a stint in prison on drug charges, was largely responsible for the new sound. Valenti's influence is readily apparent throughout; he composed eight of the album's nine tracks under the pen name Jesse Oris Farrow. Despite the marked change in the band's sound, it was their third straight album to reach the Top 30 on the Billboard charts, peaking at number 27. The only single culled from the album, "Fresh Air", became the band's biggest hit, reaching number 49.
What About Me is the fifth album by American psychedelic rock band Quicksilver Messenger Service. Released in December 1970 and recorded partly at the same sessions that produced Just for Love, the album is the last to feature pianist Nicky Hopkins and the last pre-reunion effort to feature founding members David Freiberg and John Cipollina. Several tracks, including "Baby Baby", "Subway" and "Long Haired Lady" had been played regularly at shows through 1970, previewing the album.
Quicksilver is the sixth album by American psychedelic rock band Quicksilver Messenger Service.
Comin' Thru is the seventh album by American psychedelic rock band Quicksilver Messenger Service. The album is marked by the debut of a horn section, while Chuck Steaks replaced Mark Naftalin on keyboards. Dino Valenti's songs dominate as they had on the last three albums, with his tune "Mojo" having appeared in their live setlist since 1970. It is generally regarded as their weakest effort, failing to chart higher than #134 and more or less marked the end of Quicksilver as anything other than a part-time band.
Solid Silver is the eighth album by American psychedelic rock band Quicksilver Messenger Service and their mid-1970s comeback album, reuniting the band's entire core lineup.
Peace by Piece is the ninth album by San Francisco psychedelic rock band Quicksilver Messenger Service and the first to be released with guitarist Gary Duncan at the sole command. A later released CD-version includes two bonus tracks, entitled "Crazy Jesse" and "Electric Love".
At The Kabuki Theatre is a live album by American psychedelic rock band Quicksilver Messenger Service. The last four tracks are taken from studio rehearsal tapes, probably made in 1970 and not in 1969 which is stated on the album cover.
Unreleased Quicksilver Messenger Service — Lost Gold and Silver is a compilation album by American psychedelic rock band Quicksilver Messenger Service. The album is made up of the European 2-LP release Maiden of the Cancer Moon from 1983, two tracks from the 1967 soundtrack album Revolution, both sides from a non-LP single released in late 1968 and some studio outtakes from the late 1960s.
Maiden of the Cancer Moon is a live album by American psychedelic rock band Quicksilver Messenger Service.
David Freiberg is an American musician best known for contributing vocals, keyboards, electric bass, rhythm guitar, viola and percussion as a member of Quicksilver Messenger Service, Jefferson Airplane, and Jefferson Starship. Among other tracks, he co-wrote "Jane", a hit for Jefferson Starship.
"Fresh Air" is a 1970 song written by Gary Duncan, lyrics by Jesse Oris Farrow, the pen name of Chester William "Chet" Powers, Jr., who also used the stage name of Dino Valenti. It was first recorded by the San Francisco-based band Quicksilver Messenger Service, which Valenti had recently rejoined. "Fresh Air" was the only single released from the album Just for Love. The single peaked on November 7, 1970 at No. 49 during a nine-week stay on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the band's most successful single.
Ronald Thomas Polte was an American manager in the California Bay Area rock and roll scene. He was well known as the manager of the psychedelic music groups, The Ace of Cups quintet, one of the earliest all-female groups, the renowned Quicksilver Messenger Service, which featured a host of major talents, and briefly, the Sons of Champlin.
