Quicksilver

I bought the 1994 release of this the 6th album by QMS. This is my favorite of all time-the best acid rock with punch you'll ever experience with the possible exception of Blows against the empire (Jefferson Starship/Airplane). The 1994 disc sounds awesome don't know what else could be done to make it better without being an edit. The vinyl still sounds good too. I gave up $12 for the CD but I see the import remaster (2015) wants half again more. Can anyone critique this newer CD?

One of the great bands coming out of San Francisco in the mid-to let 60's. They spawned a signature sound thanks to the band members, Gary Duncan (guitars, vocals), Greg Elmore (drums), John Cipollina (guitars), David Freiberg (bass, vocals), Nicky Hopkins (piano) and Dino Valenti (lead vocals, guitars). Members of the band were also part of other bands such as Jefferson Starship, Copperhead, Raven, Man among others. They are very deserving of induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

This LP got egged by critics and was largely ignored by everyone else, when released in late 1971. The brunt of the bad press rained down on lead singer Dino Valenti, who wrote all but two of the songs here, and if you never cottoned to Valenti's alternately thin and piercingly shrill vocals, this album won't do anything to change your mind. I've never been more than a casual QSM fan and came to this record decades after its inception, but I was pleasantly surprised upon listening to it. Losing David Freiberg and John Cippolina was certainly a blow, but bassist Mark Ryan and keyboardist Mark Naftalin proved to be strong additions, effectively bolstering Valenti and co-founders Greg Ellmore and lead guitarist Gary Duncan, who penned the pair of remaining songs. What's more, this collection provides a fascinating sonic snapshot of its time, making it better perhaps in retrospect. Give it a listen; it certainly won't kill you.

Although I have to say Quicksilver is coming in as my all time favorite group and although my favorite album of the 8 or 9 I have (don't remember right now) changes from month to month, this album stands out as an instrumental tour-de-force. It's like the Beatles' playing on Abby Road -- that kind of perfection -- only you just know Quicksilver could walk out on a stage today and play this album live and it would be equally masterful.I love this group and love this album.

as with all music that touches or speaks to us, it is the context of our lives at the time we were introduced as much as anything. this album synthesises my loves and rebellions from a space in time. nostalgia is not what it used to be. paul

I have enjoyed this CD tremendously and glad that I found it with Amazon.

This one was a pleasant surprise. Their first one and this one are now my two favorite QMS CDs.

Awesome!!! Good condition and great album! Thank you!!

Great offering from this legendary San Francisco rock band Dino Valenti is at the top of his game on this album pure soft melodic vocals he sounds a lot like Johnny Rivers .If you are in to Quicksilver Messenger service then this is a must have .

Dino Valente was one of the founders of Quicksilver Messenger Service and their singer. He also wrote the song "let's get together" but sold the copyright before it became a hit and was recorded by dozens of artists. Then he was jailed for 2 years for possession of marijuana just before his band hit the (relative) big time, so not appearing on their popular first 2 albums. No luck! The band never became really big like fellow SF bands Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, the Steve Miller Band but they had a following and were widely acclaimed for their first 2 albums 'Quicksilver Messenger Service' (not to be confused with this one 'Quicksilver') and 'Happy Trails', the latter being a live album with extended guitar solos, generally considered a psychedelic classic. Their other singers were alright too (notably David Freiberg), but never quite as distinctive as Dino. Some lament the return of Dino to the band, and his songs overshadowing the guitar playing; some say this was the reason for legendary guitarist John Cippolina leaving the band. Cippolina's deservedly-praised style, with its distinctive over-the-top use of the vibrato arm was one of the big attractions of their most popular album, 'Happy Trails '; but I think that they'd gone as far down the Happy Trail as they could go, and the remaining guitarist Gary Duncan, though not so unique, is still delightful - a great, soaring melodic style. It would have been nice to have Cippolina too, but they are still a great rock band. On the first 2 albums you get this great rock band plus Cippolina's guitar; here, you get the band plus Dino's songs and singing - I think it balances out. I can't remember if this was the first album to feature Dino after his return, but it's certainly the one that got most of his best songs. The only 2 songs not on this album that stick in my mind from the later QMS period are 'Fresh Air' from the 'Just for Love' album and 'What about me' from 'What about me'(funnily enough). Nearly all the later tracks on the 'Sons of Mercury' compilation are taken from the album I'm reviewing here, so someone seems to agree with me. This is everything a great rock band should be - great singer, great songs (from the catchy and raunchy to the ethereal like 'Fire Brothers' and 'Don't cry my Lady Love) and scorching guitar playing from Gary Duncan. What more could you ask? Great bass playing too from David Freiberg(later of Jefferson Starship) and fine drumming throughout(Greg Elmore, I think). Some nice piano too - it might be Nicky Hopkins, the legendary English session man ( Rolling Stones, Jefferson Airplane, Jeff Beck Group, Steve Miller Band and a host of others), but I'm not sure - he became a member of the band for a while, and played on most of their other post-Cippolina albums, but I haven't heard that he played on this one.

本国でもパッとせず(初めてチャートのTop 100にも入らなかったらしい)、まして日本では殆ど話題にならなかった本作だが、予備知識もないまま購入した高校時代以降、40年近く経過しても愛着は増すばかりである。独特の「ヨレた」感じと、淀みなく張りつめたギターのうねり。(Nicky Hopkinsではないが)この上なく美しいピアノの音に心が洗われる｢Don't Cry My Lady Love｣。カオスの中のリリシズムといった感のある不思議な音世界。

It's a classic. One of Quicksilver's best, for those of you who love Dino Valente. The Truth, the longest song on this album, is a sheer delight! Those who know the album "Just for love" or "What about me", but haven't heard this one will find that it is on the same high level. In fact it's surprising that reviewers haven't paid more attention to it.Thoroughly recommendable.PS: Quicksilver albums are rarely found low-priced, but their '67 to '71 repertoire is well worth the extra money. I was lucky to find this one used but in good condition.

The early albums 'Quicksilver Messenger Service','Happy Trails' and 'Shady Grove' were of the acid rock era featuring the twin guitars of John Cippolina and Gary Duncan, with David Freiberg on vocals (pianist Nicky Hopkins replacing Gary Duncan on Shady Grove).Dino Valente then came out of prison to take over the group on 'Just For Love' followed by 'What About Me'. In spite of popular singles being drawn from both of these latter albums, Valente's dominance did not go down well with many former fans. Valente's voice grated with many, and there was a feeling that the albums were sloppy and contained too many fillers. Guitarist Cippolina, pianist Hopkins, and bassist/vocalist Freiberg left after this but curiously the following album 'Quicksilver' saw both Valente and Duncan deliver some of their best songs, played with considerable brio. Romantic, lush, comfortable but joyous. Quite unlike the early QMS but good in its own right. Following this 'Coming Thru' was dismal and lame.