#gary duncan

[jt1674]

Visit Original Link

[boxwright]

Quicksilver Messenger Service - John Cipollina

[van-cortlandt]

Quicksilver Messenger Service, 1968

[spilladabalia]

Quicksilver Messenger Service - Fresh Air - 12/28/1975 - Winterland - San Francisco -

[spilladabalia]

Quicksilver Messenger Service - Mona - 8/15/1969 - Sonoma State College -

[moviecriticseanpatrick-blog]

Documentary Review: 'A Crime on the Bayou' is Essential Documentary Filmmaking

Director Nancy Buirski's continuing attempt to keep our history of racial injustice in the spotlight continues with the powerful 'A Crime on

[music-crush]

Gary Duncan Greg Elmore

Happy birthday Gary Duncan and Greg Elmore of Quicksilver Messenger Service!

[in-the-morning-dew-blog]

Quicksilver Messenger Service - Fresh air

Quicksilver Messenger Service was one of the earliest bands to typify the San Francisco psychedelic rock sound. Despite mild commercial success, and singles that rarely charted, they were integral to their genre, scene, and the development of classic rock. Their biggest single was “Fresh Air”, which reached number 49 on the charts in 1970, and was written by lead vocalist Dino Valenti.

“Fresh Air” was the only single from the band’s fourth album, Just For Love. The album was more of a traditional rock effort, but still bore the marks of Quicksilver’s folk, blues, and jazz influences. It peaked at number 27, the band’s third album to breach the Top 30. Dino Valenti had just gotten out of prison after being convicted on drug charges, and wrote eight of the nine tracks. 

Often used to open live sets, “Fresh Air” embodied the sound so often imitated but never replicated. It’s a summery tune, featuring some of Cipollina’s best guitar work. Nicky Hopkins provides soulful yet cool piano playing. Valenti’s voice ebbs and flows, screaming then crooning, as the song continues. It is everything right with the era it came from. 

Although Quicksilver did not do as well as contemporaries such as the Grateful Dead, their San Francisco psychedelia sound did impress upon the counterculture in the song “Fresh Air”. For good reason. Tinged with the blues but reminiscent of a summer long since past, “Fresh Air” is an incredibly strong tune from an era boasting an impressive catalog of hits.