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

[@davecummings2424]

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.

[@goatcheeta]

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]

Mad hatter

[@jmason2838]

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

[@itssimple7285]

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!

[@zeljkofatzek3670]

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]

All true!

[@richardm5218]

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]

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

[@richardm5218]

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]

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

[@randysalles2292]

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

[@jimmymurphy7789]

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]

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

[@clouddog2393]

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 .

[@CatAdvocate1]

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]

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]

Just for reference - here's Freiberg doing a confirmed lead vocal kzbin.info/www/bejne/d3bSc6t4ibSMo9Esi=wvD36F9tjYUs5QRh

[@CatAdvocate1]

@@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:" kzbin.info/www/bejne/kIvEfJSka6l2mKM. 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]

@@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]

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

[@stevehops2825]

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

[@stevenpiehl6199]

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]

Golden Gate Park dude

[@richardm5218]

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]

Classic! - G

[@tomp.6239]

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

[@jmason2838]

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

[@tomp.6239]

@@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]

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

[@stevenpiehl6199]

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

[@glennandadriansrocktalk]

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

[@stevenpiehl6199]

@@glennandadriansrocktalk one of my favs

[@OldHippyTodd]

A little weird that this is your first or second listen to this album. It is one of the original classic rock albums, and is a beautiful one. Did you cover another of the original San Fancisco groups, the first Sopwith Camel album? The first Sopwith album is also a classic and well produced and written like this one, and my personal view, nothing later approaches either. However later I think Dino Valente's "Fresh Air" and "What About Me" are great Quicksilver videos you can watch on KZbin and got me into the story, career, and singing (amazing voice if nothing else) of Valente/Powers. The other amazing song he did is Children Of The Sun, which we are very lucky to have two versions of available, one live. Valente sang with Dylan in the original Greenwich Village folk scene around 1960 and Dylan cited him (multiple names due to paranoia, Powers/Valente/Valenti/Farrow) as one of his favorite singers of that time and place. They do sound similar in style, presentation of material and vocals. His paranoia due to a pot bust and the royalties from Get Together are his other story.

[@glennandadriansrocktalk]

It was a new album for Adrian, but not for me - I have owned this album since the late 80s! Appreciate the info you added. - Glenn

[@tomp.6239]

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. 😎

[@SteveCooley-w3y]

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

[@jimfarmer2694]

Freiberg ws the lead singer mainly.

[@experience5988]

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]

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]

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

[@experience5988]

@@glennandadriansrocktalk Nobody plays that album twice

[@ragdoll357]

Against the empire. Jefferson Starship.

[@CGA22]

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

[@glennandadriansrocktalk]

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]

Pronouncd "Fryberg"!!

[@glennandadriansrocktalk]

thanks - noted for the future

[@SpenceCurry]

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]

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]

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]

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

[@FredShatta]

Gary Duncan left before the release of Happy Trails.

[@FredShatta]

Its pronounced Chipolina! Chip!

[@glennandadriansrocktalk]

Yep we did learn that at some point :) thanks