However, enthusiasts of those albums will find much more to revisit on Shady Grove than those who favored the first two records. The third long-player from San Francisco psychedelic icons Quicksilver Messenger Service (QMS) is a direct contrast from their previous discs. This somewhat uneven effort would sadly foreshadow QMS's journey from psychedelia and into a much more pop-oriented sound on their follow-up, Just for Love (1970).
However, the down-home cowboy waltz "Word's Can't Say" never gets out of the stable, unfortunately. Additionally, QMS try their hand at the same country & western-flavored sound that was making the rounds with their San Fran contemporaries the Jefferson Airplane ("The Farm") and the Grateful Dead ("Dire Wolf"). The slow and dark "Flute Song" is a trippy minor chord masterpiece that is augmented by the shimmering effect of Hopkins' airy piano lines which mingle throughout the light orchestration. Kicking off the disc is an up-tempo rocking version of the traditional Appalachian folk song "Shady Grove." The QMS reading is highlighted by John Cipollina's trademark fluid fretwork and a familiar "Bo Diddley" backbeat - reminiscent of both "Who Do You Love" and "Mona" from the live ensemble LP Happy Trails. The band incorporate a number of different styles on the album. Another possible reason for the shift in style as well as personnel is the conspicuous absence of Gary Duncan (guitar) - who is rumored to have been a "guest" of Bay Area law enforcement at the time. Ironically, the one stretched-out instrumental is courtesy of their latest acquisition - Brit recording session guru Nicky Hopkins (keyboards). Shady Grove (1969) is comprised mostly of shorter and self-contained pieces as opposed to the long and extended jams that were so prevalent on their self-titled debut (1967) and Happy Trails (1969).
#SHADY GROVE QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE ALBUM PROFESSIONAL#
Professional ratings Review scoresĪll songs written by Dino Valenti except where indicated.The third long-player from San Francisco psychedelic icons Quicksilver Messenger Service (QMS) is a direct contrast from their previous discs. Shady Grove (1969) is comprised mostly of shorter and self-contained pieces as opposed to the long and extended jams that were so prevalent on their self-titled debut (1967) and Happy Trails (1969). The album saw a major decline in sales: whereas their previous four albums had reached the Top 30 on Billboard, Quicksilver failed to dent the Top 100. As on the previous two albums, Dino Valenti's compositions dominate, with all but two written or arranged by him. Several tracks, including "Song For Frisco" and "The Truth", had been premiered on stage in 1970 with the earlier lineup and were already well-known to Quicksilver fans. Nicky Hopkins had also left at this point to continue his successful journeyman career, replaced by Mark Naftalin only Gary Duncan and Greg Elmore remained from the original quartet. Guitar duties were entirely taken over by Gary Duncan, while Mark Ryan took over on bass. Released in November 1971, it was the first album without original members John Cipollina and David Freiberg. Quicksilver is the sixth album by American psychedelic rock band Quicksilver Messenger Service.
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