Happy Trails Quicksilver, Happy Trails

This month one of the best live albums of the 1960's is celebrating 50 year landmark.  It was in an age where live albums were not out all the time and in a time where artists of the San Francisco sound were grossly misrepresented well by such live albums.  Sure we have Live Dead, Bless It's Pointed Head, and The Live Adventures of Mike Bloomfield and Al Kooper all great capsules of the San Francisco sound but they did have the high energy of a true, lost group of the likes called Quicksilver Messenger Service.  Quicksilver and the Grateful Dead were the only artists to a song on one side of the vinyl with huge success.  "Who Do You Love Suite" lasted over 25 minutes in a sadly edited form that was two more minutes more.  There are reasons that they had to edit it, but I won't get into that.  

I stumbled upon this album as a teenager while I was record shopping.  The cover art does not depict a band playing live, or the venue which was the Fillmore West at the time, or even the band itself, but an old globe productions painting on the front as you see above.  I quickly bought it and went to that old handy book about 60's albums I should own and as described in two quick paragraphs it told me that this album is a perfect capsulation of live music from the 1960's and the very underrated Quicksilver Messenger Service.

Often and not thought of the San Francisco scene Quicksilver Messenger Service (QMS) was a band at first listen was a keeper for me.  I loved everything about them. Started in 1965 QMS had a large following. They were offered record deals just like their counterparts; Grateful Dead, and Jefferson Airplane.  In 1967 they decided to bite and take an offer with Capitol.  Like their San Fransisco counterparts they also had a two guitar attack, but unlike the bands from the same scene, their two guitar players were very talented in their own right.  Gary Duncan was no slouch and neither was John Cipollina.  If there was talent in these two it sure was shown on everything they did.  Both were in the band for quite some time and still don't get the recognition they deserve.

The only thing different about this live album although it was recorded at the Fillmore some of the album was also record at the Fillmore East too.  Their is no information about this on either the CD issue or the LP.  My only complaint is that in the age of re-issues and deluxe treatments of albums or live performances that this should get a remastering and or an expanded edition.  What would be even better would be is a nice essay about the band.  I would love to see even pictures of the band on the Fillmore stage or just out takes from band photos from wherever.  Oh! Yeah! add the two minutes they left out of the "Who Do You Love" medley.

I don't know the date this was recorded in 1968 and possible through checking the internet, this might have been the show.  Not a bad bill if they shared the stage with the Grateful Dead.  One will never know and more we look I will not get an answer to the shows date for the recording.  One listen this kinda encapsulates what it was like at a live show by QMS. For me I want to hear more and or see them the next night they play.  The running joke is their take on Happy Trails the song by Dale Evans.  It's the last song on the album and the most curious one because it's not live and it feels like their last hurrah.  It's not by any means, but it is the last of the classic QMS.

I will admit, if you have not noticed already, that I'm a product of the 1960's.  When I read or listen to these albums I kinda wish I was there.  The music is just starting to blossom and even the musicians we listen to are just getting their feet wet.  This is one of many from that time period that just wish you were there watching this happen.  Quicksilver is not different then any other band at that time, they are one the many though that were in the shadow of so many larger bands of the time, and for a moment Happy Trails put them on that pedestal. For me, QMS has always been up on that pedestal and we should keep them up there.