QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE Shady grove UK Psych LP

£ 36

$ 48

£ 36 Sold For

Jul 11, 2010 Sold Date

Jul 4, 2010 Start Date

£ 10 Start price

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Great Britain Country Of Seller

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Description

Quicksilver Messenger Service

Shady Grove

Very Rare Original US Psych LP released on Capitol Records in 1969. 1st UK pressing on the Yellow Capitol label, the sleeve is fully laminated on the front and back. Comes complete with the original EMI company inner sleeve and has a 'Factory Sample' sticker on the B side label.

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). Ironically, the one stretched-out instrumental is courtesy of their latest acquisition -- Brit recording session guru Nicky Hopkins (keyboards). 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. The band incorporate a number of different styles on the album. 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 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. 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"). However, the down-home cowboy waltz "Word's Can't Say" never gets out of the stable, unfortunately. 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, enthusiasts of those albums will find much more to revisit on Shady Grove than those who favored the first two records.

TRACKS ARE :-

Side One

1. Shady Grove

2. Flute Song

3. 3 or 4 Feet From Home

4. Too Far

5. Holy Moly

Side Two

1. Joseph's Coat

2. Flashing Lonesome

3. Word's Can't Say

4. Edward, (The mad Shirt Grinder)