Quicksilver Messenger Service First Album Review. With Rare Interview Clips with Band Members

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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 (only one, "Fresh Air" charted, reaching number 49 in 1970). 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."
They released their first album in May 1968. 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.

Пікірлер: 60

  • @goatcheeta
    @goatcheeta11 ай бұрын

    One of my favorite groups. The first album was a classic. "The Fool" with its haunting viola was my favorite track. Lots of opportunities for that instrument. John Cippolina had such as unique guitar sound. Great choice. Thanks. Another track from a later album - "Goodbye my lady love" with its piano is another favorite

  • @stevenpiehl6199

    @stevenpiehl6199

    11 ай бұрын

    Mad hatter

  • @jmason2838

    @jmason2838

    6 ай бұрын

    .. The song is called 'Don't Cry My Lady Love' ..

  • @zeljkofatzek3670
    @zeljkofatzek367011 ай бұрын

    Gary Duncan was one of the two LEAD guitarists in QMS and his intricate interplay (way too undervalued in Rock history books) with Cipollina define SF sound. Dino Valenti was supposed to be the original member at the time but was arrested due to marijuana possession (later he rejoined the band).

  • @glennandadriansrocktalk

    @glennandadriansrocktalk

    11 ай бұрын

    All true!

  • @richardm5218

    @richardm5218

    10 ай бұрын

    Right on the money. Characterizing Duncan as a rhythm guitar player is not accurate. He was a very talented finger picker, who could weave jazz and modal effects into his play. Early on, if you listen to the bootlegs that are out there, your find Duncan carrying a lot of the lead work while Cippolina was still dialing in his sound and his style.

  • @Streetbob07

    @Streetbob07

    14 күн бұрын

    Calling Gary a Rhythm guitarist just not accurate he played 50 % or more of the solo's . Good review thanks

  • @jimmymurphy7789
    @jimmymurphy778911 ай бұрын

    Great video on San Francisco's Sacred & one of a kind QMS. Wish your coverage could have been longer for each track, but understandable because of time constraints of making You Tube videos. Personally for me, I like to describe QMS the quartet (without Dino Valenti) as a 60s Psychedelic Folk/Blues/Jazz Rock band. Their very 1st self-titled LP alone slipped me into an entirely different Dimension back then & I have never fully returned, not to mention QMS' 2nd LP Happy Trails which (along with a tab of "Chocolate Chip" Acit) really Blew my Mind. BTW - the Band had once described "Gold & Silver" as their spin on "Take Five" but in 6/8 time.

  • @glennandadriansrocktalk

    @glennandadriansrocktalk

    11 ай бұрын

    Fascinating re the Take Five connection! Thanks, and thanks for sharing. - G

  • @richardm5218
    @richardm521810 ай бұрын

    Thanks for the commentary. I was fortunate enough to see Quicksilver live in places as divergent as Winterland (New Year's eve 1968) and the National Guard armory in Chico, California. Loved this band, caught them when I could, and grieved that they had trouble holding themselves together. The true Quicksilver lifespan, without Valenti, was far too short.

  • @glennandadriansrocktalk

    @glennandadriansrocktalk

    10 ай бұрын

    Very cool, appreciate your comment. I agree they were better without Dino. -G

  • @randysalles2292

    @randysalles2292

    10 ай бұрын

    Saw em at Winterland also Richard, as well as my hometown...my brother's band opened up for them a couple times

  • @itssimple7285
    @itssimple728511 ай бұрын

    Good to see QMS love exists out here. They really were central to that SF sound of that era and so it is remarkable how underappreciated they still remain nowadays. I heard them again for the first time (this spring) since the late 1980's ... when I was first exposed to them - when I was looking for another Jimi Hendrix solo... or a Rolling Stone cd - & thereby passed up a chance to live the last thirty-five years with better knowledge of this band which everyone should pursue. Mas!

  • @davecummings2424
    @davecummings24248 ай бұрын

    Love Quicksilver. The first album was the first 8-track I bought when I got a car and it got played to death along with Happy Trails. I much prefer the non-Dino version of the band.

  • @clouddog2393
    @clouddog239311 ай бұрын

    The self titled album was Q.S.M.S 's masterpiece and along with C.J and the fish "Electric Music " album defines the S.F bands sound of the late '60's especially J.C.'s distinctive guitar sound . The track "Gold and Silver "encapsulates it all .

  • @stevenpiehl6199
    @stevenpiehl619911 ай бұрын

    Enjoyed your review of quick silver messenger one of my favorite bands in the mid-60s I have a few other albums that were not for sale but were sent to DJs only I thought that was kind of cool now in my seventh decade I’m still kicking it with all the good old classic Rock I was fortunate to hit San Francisco and 69 want to places like the wonderland ballroom golden state park lotta free concerts and shows great days I was ruined by all the good stuff today sort of sucks

  • @alekkoomanoff7281

    @alekkoomanoff7281

    2 ай бұрын

    Golden Gate Park dude

  • @CatAdvocate1
    @CatAdvocate110 ай бұрын

    Quite a few corrections here. The lead vocalist on all of the songs is David Freiberg (Fry'-berg, not Free'-berg), although he and Gary Duncan sing a duet on Dino's Song. Duncan would sing lead on all of the songs on Happy Trails. The song credited to Ron Polte was written by Nick Gravenites, as were all of the Polte songs on the Electric Flag debut album. The composer of Pride of Man, Hamilton Camp, was once part of a legendary Chicago folk duo, Gibson and Camp, and eventually became an actor and familiar face on American television.

  • @glennandadriansrocktalk

    @glennandadriansrocktalk

    10 ай бұрын

    Well, to be fair, some of those aren't corrections at all! 1. The album credited Ron Polte - I'm not surprised if Nick Gravenitas wrote it, but I haven't seen that evidence, and to this day Polte is still getting the royalties on that track unless there's an NDA somewhere. 2. Hamilton Camp - that's always welcome info, but we did make note of Hamilton Camp writing the song. 3. Regarding Freiberg singing lead on everything on the first album - are you sure? Would love to find some corroborating footage or evidence. To me, it sounds like Duncan singing most of the leads. Not saying it's not true - always willing to find out if something is incorrect! Please cite your source - I'll put up a correction if we can get it corroborated. - G

  • @glennandadriansrocktalk

    @glennandadriansrocktalk

    10 ай бұрын

    Just for reference - here's Freiberg doing a confirmed lead vocal kzread.info/dash/bejne/c3mjpNp7hLK_ndI.htmlsi=wvD36F9tjYUs5QRh

  • @CatAdvocate1

    @CatAdvocate1

    10 ай бұрын

    @@glennandadriansrocktalk Greetings, and thanks for reading my comments. Numerous sources identify "Too Long" as written by Gravenites, though the "smoking gun" is certainly this performance, back from when it was still titled "Drivin' Wheel:" kzread.info/dash/bejne/jI6VrcOnZqepkqQ.html. Interesting, it is Murray who was the original lead singer -- Freiberg would take over after Murray left the band. If you can locate the Rolling Stone's original reviews of the Quicksilver and Electric Flag debut albums, the writers explain that songs credited to Polte were actually written by Gravenites (who would also write songs on "Shady Grove" under his own name). As for the lead vocals, apart from followers who simply know the band well enough to know their voices or have seen them in concert, Freiberg explains here who sang what on which album: www.penncen.com/quicksilver/freiberg/interview.html. Oh, and Nick pronounced his own name Gra-ve-night'-is.

  • @glennandadriansrocktalk

    @glennandadriansrocktalk

    10 ай бұрын

    @@CatAdvocate1 Excellent! Thanks for these links. It does sound like Polte must have gotten the credit as part of some other agreement, as we suspected. And I appreciate the DF interview - it's not easy to find these tidbits. Much appreciated! - G

  • @CatAdvocate1

    @CatAdvocate1

    10 ай бұрын

    @@glennandadriansrocktalk Glad to augment your fine work! Feel free to send any QMS questions my way.

  • @richardm5218
    @richardm521810 ай бұрын

    As Duncan noted, Quicksilver played back and forth for Chet Helms at the Avalon Ballroom, and Bill Graham at the Fillmore West. But I suspect they played much more for Helms, as the bands were a bit divided with respect to whether or not Graham was righteous. There is evidence on one of the bootleg tapes that I have that makes the case, hilariously. Graham always liked to introduce the bands himself, and tried to put some thought into his introductions. On this particular night, he introduced Quicksilver thusly: "Just like a good woman, they keep getting better and better ... Quicksilver Messenger Service." To which Duncan (I am almost positive it was Duncan) replied at about 120 decibels: "Fuuuck You".

  • @glennandadriansrocktalk

    @glennandadriansrocktalk

    10 ай бұрын

    Classic! - G

  • @tomp.6239

    @tomp.6239

    8 ай бұрын

    I have that boot; it was Duncan, alright, undeniable. He despised Graham.

  • @jmason2838

    @jmason2838

    6 ай бұрын

    ​@@tomp.6239...Why did Gary Duncan not like Bill Graham ? 😔

  • @tomp.6239

    @tomp.6239

    6 ай бұрын

    @@jmason2838 Not sure; @ least he never told me exactly what it was; but suspect it was 2 egos too big for the same room. He just didn't like him, personally, probably went way back. Graham was 1 tough businessman; and if Duncan didn't like somebody, he had no further use for them. I know I was blessed to been on his good side. 😎

  • @sakonbutthead9829

    @sakonbutthead9829

    4 ай бұрын

    ​@@tomp.6239on what date did that happen? How was his relationship with cippollina?

  • @tomp.6239
    @tomp.62398 ай бұрын

    Gold & Silver was pretty much Brubeck's "Take 5" cloned, enhanced with guitar riffs, solos, as per Duncan, himself. I thought at the time, "Never heard that in it before;" but do now; its definitely Take 5 recloned. 😎

  • @stevehops2825
    @stevehops28258 ай бұрын

    How about thoughts on the extended Who Do You Love. ? A classic for me.

  • @stevenpiehl6199
    @stevenpiehl619911 ай бұрын

    Can you guys come up with any early Ten Years After love their early days

  • @glennandadriansrocktalk

    @glennandadriansrocktalk

    11 ай бұрын

    Was just listening to Cricklewood Green yesterday - thanks for the suggestion!

  • @stevenpiehl6199

    @stevenpiehl6199

    11 ай бұрын

    @@glennandadriansrocktalk one of my favs

  • @user-ye2gr6ut7f
    @user-ye2gr6ut7fАй бұрын

    Take a hit and listen to it again...perhaps you'll get it. :)

  • @ragdoll357
    @ragdoll3572 ай бұрын

    Against the empire. Jefferson Starship.

  • @jimfarmer2694
    @jimfarmer2694Ай бұрын

    Freiberg ws the lead singer mainly.

  • @experience5988
    @experience59882 ай бұрын

    I have first pressing Happy Trails, old capital label black in the inside rainbow in the rims, st - 120. How much is it worth?

  • @glennandadriansrocktalk

    @glennandadriansrocktalk

    2 ай бұрын

    Probably not too much unless it's in pristine condition - but it's cool to have. I would check the discogs website and look it up!

  • @experience5988

    @experience5988

    2 ай бұрын

    @@glennandadriansrocktalk It´s pristine. Looks barely played,

  • @experience5988

    @experience5988

    2 ай бұрын

    @@glennandadriansrocktalk Nobody plays that album twice

  • @CGA22
    @CGA2211 ай бұрын

    What about shady grove and just for love? Great stuff.

  • @glennandadriansrocktalk

    @glennandadriansrocktalk

    11 ай бұрын

    I like them and have them both. But they feel like a different group, especially Shady Grove. Maybe we'll do a followup sometime of QMS's albums from that point on. -G

  • @donaldgehre5964
    @donaldgehre59649 ай бұрын

    Pronouncd "Fryberg"!!

  • @glennandadriansrocktalk

    @glennandadriansrocktalk

    9 ай бұрын

    thanks - noted for the future

  • @SpenceCurry
    @SpenceCurry11 ай бұрын

    The first was anti climactic to anyone who heard them live in 1967 and 1968. Dino Valenti hijacked and ruined this band. Cover bands like Dan Hicks and his hot licks good rats glass harp fever tree in the future

  • @glennandadriansrocktalk

    @glennandadriansrocktalk

    11 ай бұрын

    I am a massive Dan Hicks fan - even saw him in '09, front row. Saw him on the street before the show and said hello to him. Thanks for the suggestions! - G

  • @richardm5218

    @richardm5218

    10 ай бұрын

    I agree with you completely regarding Valenti. When Valenti joined, the Quicksilver died and basically became a Dino Valenti ego gratification backup band, replete with personnel issues, loss of key players, and such.

  • @SpenceCurry

    @SpenceCurry

    10 ай бұрын

    @@richardm5218 Valenti basically a carny grifter who had a way with the ladies. Died fairly young.

  • @FredShatta
    @FredShatta3 ай бұрын

    Gary Duncan left before the release of Happy Trails.

  • @FredShatta
    @FredShatta3 ай бұрын

    Its pronounced Chipolina! Chip!

  • @glennandadriansrocktalk

    @glennandadriansrocktalk

    3 ай бұрын

    Yep we did learn that at some point :) thanks

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