29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Quicksilver Just for Love, February 23, 2006
I grew up in the Bay Area in the late sixties so I became very familiar with the "San Francisco" bands of that time and I seemed to enjoy many of the bands that never had "tremendous success". Quicksilver falls into that category and I have to admit they were among many of the groups of that area and time that had to be experienced live to know what they were really like and to see them at their best. That's not to say that I don't like their studio material because I do. This album was a new direction for Quicksilver with Dino Valenti returning after doing some time for a drug bust. While this may not be their strongest album I would have to say it's worth buying for the song "Fresh Air" which became a sort of an anthem of that time. This album and the one that followed "What About Me" are essential to any Quicksilver fan that is serious about what this band was about and wants to experience the magic of the music of that time and place. Some other bands worth looking into to get the flavor of that era: Moby Grape, Cold Blood, It's a Beautiful Day, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Malo, Hot Tuna, Tower of Power, The Youngbloods, Blue Cheer, The Blues Image, Eric Burdon & the Animals, and Country Joe and the Fish. They just don't make 'em like that anymore sorry to say.
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37 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A recording of the band's finest hour...................., August 14, 2006
With the long-awaited return of Dino Valente to the band as singer and songwriter, Quicksilver Messenger Service marked perhaps its finest hour during the recording of this particular album. Unfortunately, Mr. Valente had been absent during the recording of the band's previous two studio albums, "Quicksilver Messenger Service" and "Shady Grove", and during the band's live concert recording, namely, the album, "Happy Trails." Problems with the law and a failed attempt to make it happen musically in New York City alone and also with QMS colleague, guitarist Gary Duncan, drew him away from the band for an extended period of time. The added absence of Gary Duncan prompted the rest of the band to ask Nicky Hopkins to join them during the recording of their second studio album. Nicky Hopkins was one of rock history's preeminent pianists, having had contributed his talent to many memorable albums by top artists, ranging from the Rolling Stones to the Who. There is no exception here, with Quicksilver Messenger Service, as evident on this particular album, and on the previous studio album, especially on the song entitled, "Edward, the Mad Shirt Grinder."
The band at this stage of its history also included a gifted guitarist by the name of John Cipollina whose style was quite unique--John Cipollina oftentimes used the tremolo bar on his solid-body Gibson while playing solos and also while playing as a counterpoint to the guitar work of fellow band member, Gary Duncan. A wonderful aspect of the band at this particular point in time was the fact that two of its members were capable of playing "true" lead guitar at any one time. Unfortunately, shortly after the recording of this album, John Cipollina left the band. He eventually formed the band, Copperhead.
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lost Gems, December 14, 2004
Certainly QMS represented the best of "Jam Rock" with their style of 2 guitar, point and counterpoint method of playing.Whether intentional or not they touched the very essence of classical music structure and connotation,which resulted in a musical conversation rather than merely a song.They gave a great effort on this album and it was well engineered
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