Browse by Artist: QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE

Artist:	QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE
Title:	Live At The Avalon Ballroom, 9th Sept. 1966
Label:	BEAR RECORDS (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$19.00
Catalog #:	BEARVP 105CD

Recorded in San Francisco, 9th September 1966. First in a series of live QMS from this Voiceprint subsidiary. Good-to-mediocre radio broadcast live material, but from an early/crucial era in the band's development -- so, worthwhile to those who know. Just hearing the name "Voiceprint," however, can cause nutritional disorder in the best of us, and the packaging/presentation here is typically half-hazard. But as the saying goes, "it could be worse"... "Quicksilver Messenger Service is considered to be one of the most important bands to come from the San Francisco music scene of the '60s along with their contemporaries The Grateful Dead and The Jefferson Airplane. The band initially came together in 1965 and proceeded to play a great many gigs across America. The band became one of the most popular draws in the Bay area of San Francisco and built a solid reputation as a strong live act built around a mixture of good material and what would essentially become their calling card -- long extended jamming pieces. The original line up was guitarists John Cippolina and Gary Duncan alongside drummer Greg Elmore, bassist David Frieberg and vocalist Jim Murray. Originally vocalist Dino Valenti was also in line to become a member however he was arrested and jailed on drugs charges whilst the band was still in its formative stages. He did, however, join the band at a later date. The original line up lasted from the bands inception in late 1965 until they signed with Capitol Records in late 1967. This early period performance of the band was captured at the Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco on the 9th of September 1966. The Avalon Ballroom was one of the most important venues in San Francisco operated by Chet Helms and his Family Dog Productions. Amongst the highlights here are the songs 'Pride of Man' which would grace the bands debut album some 18 months later and also 'Mona' -- a key track from the 1969 album Happy Trails. Two other tracks heavily associated with Quicksilver Messenger Service also find their way into the set and they are 'Babe I'm Gonna Leave You' and 'Codeine.' There is also a twenty minute plus version of 'Hoochie Coochie Man' which highlights the musical interplay of the band and their jamming skills."

Artist:	QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE
Title:	Live At The Fillmore Auditorium, 4th February 1967
Label:	BEAR RECORDS (UK)
Format:	2CD
Price:	$25.00
Catalog #:	BEARVP 107CD

"A performance from the Fillmore in San Francisco, by the Quicksilver Messenger Service. This recording contains many highlights including superb versions of 'You Don't Love Me' and 'A Fool For You,' 'Gold and Silver,' 'Walkin' Blues,' 'I Hear You Knocking' and 'All Night Worker,' and shows the band were flexible and able to put together a set that highlighted their musical dexterity and also their choice of material, although the performances are different."

Artist:	QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE
Title:	Live At The Filmore Auditorium, 6th February 1967
Label:	BEAR RECORDS (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$19.00
Catalog #:	BEARVP 108CD

"This recording, while being a single disc, contains many highlights including superb versions of 'You Don't Love Me' and 'A Fool For You.' While not radically different from the set of the 4th of February, although shorter, the set does include 'Gold And Silver,' 'Walkin' Blues,' 'I Hear You Knocking' and 'All Night Worker' and shows the band were flexible and able to put together a set that highlighted their musical dexterity and also their choice of material -- although the performances are different."

Artist:	QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE
Title:	Live At The Carousel, 4th April 1968
Label:	BEAR RECORDS (UK)
Format:	2CD
Price:	$25.00
Catalog #:	BEARVP 109CD

"When this recording was made, it was just a few weeks after the release of the self titled debut from Quicksilver Messenger Service. The set included 'The Fool' and 'Light Your Windows' from the debut alongside live favourites 'Who Do You Love,' 'Babe I'm Gonna Leave You' and 'Walkin' Blues.' The second disc, however, is the real pull for Quicksilver fans, as it contains just the one track of the band doing what they do best and what sealed their reputation as a live band. The disc is taken up with 'The Jam,' an extended piece which never outstays its welcome but which underpins the band's musical inventiveness and dexterity."

Artist:	QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE
Title:	At The Kabuki Theatre
Label:	CHARLY (UK)
Format:	2CD
Price:	$15.00
Catalog #:	SNAD 556CD

2007 release. "The first authorized release of the final show from Quicksilver's classic line-up with John Cipollina & Dino Valenti, from San Francisco on December 31st 1970. A Double CD set with bonus studio tracks. An exhilarating view of one of the great San Francisco hippie bands at their peak, featuring founder member Dino Valenti (vocals), David Freiberg (bass, vocals), Greg Elmore (drums), and the driving twin lead guitars of John Cipollina and Gary Duncan. The first official, re-mastered, authorized and complete version of an historic show, long featured on inferior bootlegs. Features a comprehensive tracklisting of songs from albums released in the band's very fertile period in 1970 and 1971 plus core Quicksilver favorites such as 'Mona' and 'Pride of Man.' Includes four bonus studio tracks from 1969 featuring the late great Nicky Hopkins."

Artist:	QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE
Title:	Castles In The Sand
Label:	CHARLY (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$12.00
Catalog #:	SNAP 297CD

"First authorized release of a one-off informal studio jam session by the classic later line-up of one of San Francisco's quintessential bands. One of the first studio sessions by Quicksilver's then new line-up of Dino Valente (vocals), John Cipollina (guitar), David Freiberg (bass & vocals), Greg Elmore (drums), with the British session pianist Nicky Hopkins. Mainly acoustic, it took place in Corte Madera, California in late 1969/early 1970. The sound and mixes are excellent. The songs are often spontaneous, spare and unfinished in places and were likely intended as references for later development by the group. As such they offer a fascinating work-in-progress glimpse of this highly-talented group of musicians re-inventing themselves and developing new material under studio conditions. Most of the songs, a couple of them running for nearly nine minutes each, were never to appear on album, although they featured in the group's concerts. As well as working on new songs such as 'Subway' and the rarely-performed 'The Fool,' the band run through several country, gospel and blues standards that they were familiar with, such as 'I Know You Rider,' 'Walk In Jerusalem,' Hank Williams' 'May You Never Be Alone' and Cindy Walker's 'Warm Red Wine.' The booklet's sleeve notes cover the group's circumstances at the time of the recordings and the featured songs."

Artist:	QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE
Title:	Quicksilver Messenger Service
Label:	TOSHIBA/EMI (JAPAN)
Format:	CD
Price:	$24.00
Catalog #:	TOCP 67731

"Five classic albums by West Coast psych-rock legends Quicksilver Messenger Service, reproduced as mini-vinyl CDs -- each title faithfully reproduced using original LP artwork including the inside sleeve. All titles are the most recently mastered audio versions with bonus tracks where applicable. Limited editions specially imported from Japan." This is their first record, originally released on Capitol in 1968. Includes lyrics in Japanese and English.

Artist:	QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE
Title:	Live At The Carousel Ballroom, 4th April 1968
Label:	VINYL LOVERS (RUSSIAN FEDERATION)
Format:	2LP
Price:	$37.00
Catalog #:	VL 900731LP

"One of the best bands live ever, QMS were ready to record much before their eponymous debut in 1968. The acid psych combo formed by John Cipollina, Gary Duncan, Jim Murray, David Freiberg and Gary Elmore had been active in West Coast venues and live festivals since 1965, mainly as a jam session band with long lasting performances in the typical pre hippy Bay Area style. This April 1968 concert at the Carousel Ballroom, performed a month before their vinyl debut, unveils the mesmerizing and hypnotic power that the band was developing at this early stage. Amazing audio quality for a double album that will disappoint neither core fans nor newcomers." On 180 gram vinyl.

Artist:	QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE
Title:	Live At The Fillmore Auditorium, 4th February 1967
Label:	VINYL LOVERS (RUSSIAN FEDERATION)
Format:	2LP
Price:	$37.00
Catalog #:	VL 900878LP

"Finally available to fans after more than four decades in the vaults, this live performance at San Francisco's Fillmore is a delicious early glimpse at one of the architects (alongside Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead) of West Coast acid rock in the months leading up to the Summer of Love. In fact, QMS was opening for Jefferson Airplane the night this album was recorded. Although the band had been playing live all around the Bay Area since 1965, their official Capitol Records debut would not come out until the following year, making this album a rare opportunity to hear what the band sounded like a full year prior... and as a five-piece (singer/harmonica player Jim Murray quit the band before their debut was recorded, and the band continued from that point on as a four-piece). It also features original intended front man, and future QMS member Dino Valenti (best known for having written the hippy anthem 'Get Together'), performing several of his own songs, not heard on any other album! Essential listening!"

Artist:	QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE
Title:	Live At The Avalon Ballroom, 1966
Label:	VINYL LOVERS (RUSSIAN FEDERATION)
Format:	LP
Price:	$24.00
Catalog #:	VL 901219LP

"These recordings of the QMS at the Avalon in September and October of 1966 are the earliest existing recordings of one of the original architects of acid rock. Here QMS is a five-piece featuring original vocalist Jim Murray, who quit the band shortly before their long-awaited debut was recorded for Capitol in 1968. Highlights include 'Pride Of Man' (which would eventually find its way onto their debut album), 'Mona' (which would show up again on their classic LP Happy Trails), and (in keeping with their reputation for being a great jam band) a 20-minute version of Willie Dixon's 'Hoochie Coochie Man'. Recorded live at the Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco on September 9 and October 28, 1966." On 180 gram vinyl.

Previous Page Index of Artists Next Page