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Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Quicksilver Messenger Service: Studio and contemporary live albums 1968 - 1975 Part 1.

 

Quicksilver Messenger Service formed in the beginning of the rock revolution in 1965 in San


Francisco. The original line-up was supposed to consist of Dino Valente, Alexander "Skip" Spence, John Cipollina, Jim Murray and David Freiberg. Shortly after these musicians began rehearsing Marty Balin was able to convince Spence to start playing drums and join Jefferson Airplane. To make up for the loss of Spence guitarist/vocalist Gary Duncan and drummer Greg Elmore of The Brogues joined the band.
                 


They were innitially going to be a folk group, but then Dino Valente went to jail for a drug charge and his heavy folk influence drifted away. It was shortly after Valente left that the band became known as
JOHN  CIPOLLINA

Quicksilver Messenger Service. Though David Freiberg had been a folk singer before, they started to lean toward a more rock sound. During this time in their career, they spent endless amounts of time playing and really learning, developing, and perfecting their sound. They were a very structured band then because Jim Murray wasn't the player that everyone else was, and when they would "jam" it would be written solos and the same solos always. They recorded some stuff but never made an album. Then in 67 after playing for two years, they played at the Monterey Pop Festival.
                       

Then Jim Murray left the group after Monterey and Gary Duncan began playing guitar more. When
DAVID  FREIBERG

Murray was in the band, everything was more structured so he could play easily with the band, but Gary Duncan was light years better than Murray and this solved the problem with having to be so structured. Duncan was the musical high drive that Quicksilver needed. They recorded their first two albums, _Quicksilver Messenger Service_ and _Happy Trails_, and played many shows. Then in 1969 Gary Duncan left the group to try to form a group with the recently freed Dino Valente.
                     

After Duncan left he was replaced by Nicky Hopkins on piano and Quicksilver again entered into a new
NICKY  HOPKINS

sound. This group made only one album, "Shady Grove". In 1970 Dino Valente and Gary Duncan, decided to come back to Quicksilver. With Valente taking over the playing, the vocals and the writing, Quicksilver's sound changed again, making two albums with this line-up, "Just for Love" & "What About Me". After some tension and infighting, Nicky Hopkins left, followed by John Cipollina and David Freiberg. With that was the end of the original Quicksilver.
                            

The remaining members of the group went on the record two more albums, "Quicksilver" and "Comin'

Thru". A quick reformation of the band's classic lineup minus Nicky Hopkins happened in 1975, resulting in the album "Solid Silver". Valente, Duncan and Elmore continued touring with various musicians until 1979.
                 

In 1986 Gary Duncan revived the Quicksilver name and released several albums as Gary Duncan's
GARY  DUNCAN

Quicksilver. He toured with this band for the next decade or so performing the music of Quicksilver Messenger Service as well as his own material. In 2006 Duncan reunited with David Freiberg and they began touring as Quicksilver Messenger Service, often opening up for groups like Jefferson Starship.
                             


MEMBERS

                             


Gary Duncan (guitar, vocals, 1965-69, 1970-79, 2006-present),
John Cipollina (guitar, 1965-71, 1975),
David Freiberg (bass, guitar, vocals 1965-71, 1975, 2006-present),
Greg Elmore (drums, 1965-79),
Jim Murray (guitar, vocals 1965-67),
Dino Valente (guitar, vocals, 1970-79),
Nicky Hopkins (keyboards, 1969-71),
Mark Naftalin (keyboards, 1971-72),
Mark Ryan (bass, 1971-75),
Chuck Steaks (keyboards, 1972-75),
W. Michael Lewis (keyboards, 1975-79), Skip Olsen (bass, 1975-79)
                               


QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE - QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE 1968

 
                            



Quicksilver Messenger Service – Quicksilver Messenger Service
Label: RockBeat Records – ROC-CD-3005
Format: CD, Album, Reissue
Country: US
Released: 2011
Genre: Rock
Style: Acid Rock, Psychedelic Rock

TRACKS

ORIGINAL ALBUM       

                               

  
01. Pride Of Man    4:09
(Written-By – Camp)   
02. Light Your Window   2:38
(Written-By – Freiberg, Duncan)   
03. Dino's Song    3:08
(Written-By – Valenti)   
04. Gold And Silver   6:44
(Written-By – Duncan, Schuster)   
05. It's Been Too Long   3:01
(Written-By – Gravenites)   
06. The Fool   12:07
(Written-By – Freiberg, Duncan)   

BONUS TRACKS 1968       

    
07. Codine (From The Revolution Soundtrack UAS 5185)   5:22
(Written-By – Sainte-Marie)   
08.Babe I'm Gonna Leave You (From The Revolution Soundtrack UAS 5185)   5:06
(Written-By – Bredon, Darling, Bennett)   
09. I Don't Want To Spoil Your Party (Aka Dino's Song) (Alternate Take)   2:38
(Written-By – Valenti)   
10. Acapulco Gold And Silver (Aka Gold And Silver) (Alternate Take)   3:12
(Written-By – Duncan, Schuster)
11. I Hear You Knocking (It's Too Late)   3:11
(Written-By – Bunn, Lewis, Robinson)
12. Back Door Man   4:00
(Written-By – Burnett)
13. The Fool (Live)   13:15
(Written-By – Freiberg, Duncan)
14. Light Your Windows (Live)   3:05
(Written-By – Freiberg, Duncan)
15 Stand By Me (Single)   3:35
(Written-By – Valenti)

CREDITS

                                


Bass Guitar, Violin, Vocals – David Freiberg
Design – BlueFondue.net
Design [Record Jacket] – Rick Griffin
Drums – Greg Elmore
Guitar, Vocals – Gary Duncan, John Cipollina
Photography By – Jim Marshall
Producer – Harvey Brooks, Nick Gravenites, Pete Welding
Reissue Producer, Liner Notes – James Austin

MP3 @ 320 Size: 197 MB
Flac  Size: 507 MB

QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE - SHADY GROVE 1969

 

 

Quicksilver – Shady Grove
Label: Edsel Records – EDCD 659
Format: CD, Album, Reissue 2000
Country: UK
Released: 1969
Genre: Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock

TRACKS


                    


01. Shady Grove   2:58

Written-By – P. O. Wands
02. Flute Song   5:22
Written-By – D. Jewkes
03. 3 Or 4 Feet From Home   3:04
Written-By – J. Cipollina
04. Too Far   4:28
Written-By – D. Freiberg
05. Holy Moly   4:23
Written-By – N. Gravenites
06. Joseph's Coat   4:40
Written-By – J. Cipollina, N. Gravenites
07. Flashing Lonesome    5:30
Written-By – D. Freiberg, N. Gravenites
08. Words Can't Say   3:18
Written-By – D. Freiberg, D. Jewkes
09. Edward, (The Mad Shirt Grinder)   9:20
Written-By – N. Hopkins

CREDITS

                         


Artwork – Globe Propaganda
Drums, Percussion – Gregory Elmore
Engineer – Dave Brown, Michael Leary, Bob Shumaker
Engineer, Mixed By – Dan Healy
Executive-Producer – J. Palladino
Guitar, Vocals – John Cipollina
Mixed By – Quicksilver, Snarly Grumble
Photography By – Smircich
Piano, Organ, Harpsichord, Celesta, Other [Dog] – Nicky Hopkins
Viola, Bass, Guitar, Vocals – David Freiberg

MP3 @ 320 Size: 124 MB
Flac  Size: 293 MB

QUICSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE - HAPPY TRAILS 1969

 
                   



Quicksilver Messenger Service – Happy Trails
Label: BGO Records – BGOCD151
Format:    CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered 1992
Country: UK
Released: 1969
Genre: Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock, Classic Rock

TRACKS

                           


01.Who Do You Love Suite, Who Do You Love (Part 1)   3:33
Written-By – Ellis McDaniel
02.When You Love   5:15
Written-By – Gary Duncan
03.Where You Love   6:07
Written-By – Fillmore Audience, Elmore, Quicksilver
04.How You Love   2:46
Written-By – John Cipollina
05.Which Do You Love   4:39
Written-By – David Freiberg
06.Who Do You Love (Part 2)   3:01
Written-By – Ellis McDaniel
07.Mona   7:02
Written-By – Ellis McDaniel
08. Maiden Of The Cancer Moon   3:01
Written-By – Gary Duncan
09. Calvary   13:21
Written-By – Gary Duncan
10. Happy Trails   1:29
Written-By – Dale Evans

CREDITS

                        


Bass – David Freiberg
Design [Cover] – George Hunter
Design [Logos] – Alan Rose
Drums – Greg Elmore
Guitar – Gary Duncan
Guitar – John Cipollina
Photography By – Fred Roth, Jerry Wainwright, Jim Smircich
Typography [Lettering] – Kent Hollister

MP3 @ 320 Size: 130 MB
Flac  Size: 263 MB

QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE  -  JUST FOR LOVE 1970


 


Quicksilver Messenger Service – Just For Love
Label: BGO Records – BGOCD141
Format:    CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered
Country: UK
Released: 1992
Genre: Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock, Classic Rock

TRACKS

        


01. Wolf Run (Part 1)    1:10
02. Just For Love (Part 1)    2:55
03. Cobra (Written-By – John Cipollina)   4:20
04. The Hat    10:30
05. Freeway Flyer    3:45
06. Gone Again    7:10
07. Fresh Air    5:20
08. Just For Love (Part 2)    1:35
09. Wolf Run (Part 2)    2:05

CREDITS

                               

 
Guitar, Slide Guitar – John Cipollina
Piano – Nicky Hopkins
DINO  VALENTI

Producer – John Selby
Recorded By – Doug McGuire
Remastered By – Sound Recording Technology Ltd
Vocals, Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Maracas, Bass, Percussion [Woodblock] – Gary Duncan
Vocals, Guitar, Bass – David Freiberg
Vocals, Guitar, Congas – Dino Valenti
Written-By – Dino Valenti (tracks: 2, 8), Jesse Oris Farrow (tracks: 1, 4 to 7, 9)

17 comments:

  1. Quicksilver probably my favorite band ! What should i say about this band i first got to know in 1970 through just for love. Could talk about the band for pages. Just for love was far from what i got to know shortly afterward. But even with this lp i was charmed. So different from the English bands i was listening to back then. A band full of magic and mysticism. Shady Grove was next and that unthrew me. How the beautiful and lyrical singing of David Freiberg, a dream like of. And then came Happy Trails. There is no need to say there word about it. And the first Quicksilver, i looked for it for 2 years until an American who was in Austria sold it through a middleman for twice price. But it was worth it to me. I wasn't living in Vienna at the time. Maybe it was a little easier to get the lp here than in the country ? But i think and have read generally hard to come by in Europe at that time. Plus the many beautiful posters. Especially that of New Years Eve 1968/69. The last concert for this time with Gary Duncan. What i would give to own this live tape. But enough with the crush. There woud be no end.
    Thank you Kostas for this nice entry.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Urban Aspirines without Quicksilver Messenger Service is a cake without sugar or stevia. I know that is your favourite band. I need just a little time for the Part 2 and then I will post an amazing album of the dead Greek Rock scene. It's music is based on the piano and the style is Art Prog Rock. Is one of the best albums I listened the last three years
      . I ask only your patience for some days. Stay good, stay Rock.

      Delete
  2. There is also the nice poster from October 1967 with MAD RIVER. Mad River one of the five bands i would have loved to see live, especially from the fall of 67 to the spring of 68 in Fillmore West. The 1st Mad River is not entirely dissimilar to thr sound of QMS.

    ReplyDelete
  3. QMS Pt. 1 1967-1975 ? I'm curious what you if i'm not mistaken as Pt. 2 will brings ? In itself it is covered with the studio lps. Maybe "What' s about me" and other live recordings ? Well, i don't want to anticipate here. I'll comment when the time come. Just one thing in advance. Quicksilver's demise is probably one of the saddest events in all of the rock music.
    From an outstanding psychedelic band to a 0815 rock band.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Part 2 includes the 4 studio albums until 1975. I have Live albums, but I need too much time and too much work to put them.

      Delete
    2. Ok then i can comment on it shortly. The What's about me is another good lp. Especially with tracks like long haired lady ( wonderful !), local color, the David Freiberg track won't kill me or the beautiful N. Hopkins track spindrifter. The rest is ok too. Although i'm wondering about one or the other track with the horns, does it have to be that one ? Well some of the track were recorded at the same time as Just for Love in Hawai in June 1970. Although already here it is very regrettable how J. Cippolina was pushed into the background and Dino Valenti took over
      the command. The rest, the lps, you can safely forget. In your places i would definitely not have a Pt. 2 made.

      Delete
    3. Okay. Everyone is free to choose what he wants to download. Even from the Part 1, even from the Part 2. I couldn't tell to my visitors what to choose and I think that the Part 2 is necessary for those who want to have a complete opinion about the band. Me and you have this completed opinion, others, especially the younger ones don't. Is it clear.

      Delete
  4. Mille merci pour tous ces albums ; un groupe que j'ai découvert dans mes années de jeunesse ( 1968/196) et que je reécoute régulierement avec autant de plaisir

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pour mou, c'est incroyable que vous eyez de'ja connu un groupe en 68/69.
      A mas avis, elle etait a peu pres inconnue en europe a i'epoques.

      Delete
    2. Merci beaucoup pour votre commentaire.

      Delete
  5. I only have very old vinyl copies of Shady Grove and Happy Trails. It's going to be great to hear some of their other material. Many thanks

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hey there, great write up on QMS and the band members. I have been searching for John Cipollina's only solo album "Raven" 1980 but especially the re-released 2006 album as Raven (Acadia) with 7 additional tracks.
    Hoping someone has it?
    Thanks,
    - D

    ReplyDelete
  7. Bless you Kostas, thanks for honoring my earlier request. Fantastic.
    - D

    ReplyDelete