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."
Member Dino Valenti drew heavily on musical influences he picked up during the folk revival of his formative musical years. The style he developed from these sources is evident in Quicksilver Messenger Service's swing rhythms and twanging guitar sounds. After many years, the band has attempted to re-form despite the deaths of several members. In 2006, original members Gary Duncan and David Freiberg toured as the Quicksilver Messenger Service, using various backing musicians.
albums by Quicksilver Messenger Service
Songs by Quicksilver Messenger Service
Have another hit of Fresh Air.
OH BOY!! This is another of the LPs my dad/step-mom had in their-turned-my collection. Out of about 1000 total records, I have vivid memories of maybe 100 total, and remember I was between 6-12 years old when I got to play with them (which for an only child was a great companion!) and it wasn't until my HS days that I found out this was my dad's "getting high" song. Unfortunately, getting high for my dad wasn't a recreational thing; in fact it was such an addiction that I'm surprised I even like this song for all the shit I put up with as a youngster because of his habit.
And I LOVE this song. Somehow the idea of my dad hitting the crack pipe and listening to this song actually makes me smile. Like, with all the pain, destruction, guilt, money problems, etc. etc., that being a crack addict adds to life, realizing the release he got from it and how happy he must have been listening to this....yeah....seems weird I know...esp. since I'm not doing great at finishing my thought.
So I rate this a 9 and yeah...Long Live RP!!
I'm kind of embarrassed that I know who this is.
decent, but did not age well at all
Yeah. The lyrics really don't apply to today. Or do they?
You poisoned my sweet water
You cut down my green trees
The food you fed my children
Was the cause of their disease
My world is slowly fallin' down
And the air's not good to breathe
And those of us who care enough
We have to do something...
What you gonna do about me?
What you gonna do about me?
I work in your factory
I study in your schools
I fill your penitentiaries
And your military too!
And I feel the future trembling
As the word is passed around
If you stand up for what you do believe
Be prepared to be shot down
Um, the song is nearly 50 years old and reflects the feelings of the day. Its an anti war song. There was this little war going on in SE Asia and a thing called the draft in place, not to mention the other little thing called the Cold War. You are too young to be affected by these things and be impacted by the song's message, which like many songs of the day are still relevant even though the sound may be dated to many.
Perhaps if you were subject to the draft, your feelings about this song may be different.
Perhaps because of songs like this, there is no draft today ...
oldman wrote:
Stole it outright, it seems to me.
Let's see: different chord progressions, different melodies. Not plagiarized, not stolen, though clearly influenced by. Musicians generally call it an "homage" and time signatures cannot be copyrighted. Dave Brubeck did not write "Take Five" anyhow.
Like many comments on songs from that era and genre (hippie music as you inferred) my response is, you had to be there. There is just no way most 20-somethings these days can understand music from that era because there was a certain vibe, that really only lasted a short time, and if you weren't there to experience it then you just have no clue...and I can understand that, so no offense meant....but you just had to be there.
Welcome to Radio Paradise! 🙏
My mom's right hand out of the window, and she just said 'lets fly, and we all stretched our arms out of windows... it was 1977, or 1978, Forever 10!
They were rebellious times, Vietnam war, Prez Nixon, etc. Young against old.
Those were the days, my friend. we thought they'd never end!!!
PEACE!!!
And you, Sir, can't tell the difference between 60's and shinola. John Cippolina was one of the great guitarists of the era. As for the "brilliant improvisation" of the Grateful Dead, sometimes it was brilliant and sometimes it was annoying noise running on for over half an hour.
This rhythm makes me think of Not Fade Away.
A 10.
Hi Jenecho, I'm a little confused, so if you would be kind enough to help me out.
You are obviously logged in to RP since you are able to comment so there is NO need to login. You have a keyboard and can make the effort to type your comment.
The only thing you really need to do is click the skip button and move to the next song. Why do you feel it necessary to make critical comments about a song that you personally do not like?