Quicksilver Messenger Service Part One: 1965 to 1969

     Quicksilver Messenger Service was formed in 1965 in San Francisco, California. The band played it's first concert as Quicksilver Messenger Service in December 1965. The line up consisted of Gary Duncan (guitars/vocals), John Cipollina (guitars/vocals), David Freiberg (bass/vocal), Greg Elmore (drums) and Jim Murray (guitars/vocals). The band would eventually go on to play the Monterey International Pop Festival in the Summer of 1967. Jim Murray left shortly afterwards.

     In late 1967, the band signed with Capitol Records while recording two songs for the film Revolution. The band also began recording it's first album which would become Quicksilver Messenger Service. The band had asked Nick Gravenites, Harvey Brooks and Pete Welding to produce. Horns were brought in during the recording sessions. The band wasn't happy and Capitol allowed them to re-record the album again.

     Capitol released the band's first album in May 1968 and it made it up to number 63 on the Billboard charts. The album is one of the band's strongest. The album opens with Hamilton Camp's Pride of Man. Gary and David share songwriting credits on Light Your Windows and the trippy The Fool. Gary wrote Gold and Silver along with friend and reed player Steve Schuster. It barrows on the Dave Brubeck song Take 5. Dino's Song was written by founding member Dino Valenti who had been busted on drug charges during the band's formation. Dino had also written the song Get Together which was a big hit for the Youngbloods.

     Outtakes from the album have been released on the out of print Unreleased Quicksilver Messenger Service - Lost Gold and Silver. They have since been re-released on the Beat Rock Records re-issue of the first album. They have also appeared on Anthology 1966 -1973 on Cleopatra/Purple Pyramid Records.

     The band began recording songs for the next album, Bears and Stand By Me. However, the band was also touring heavily during this period sharing the bill with groups like the Grateful Dead. The band ditched the idea of a studio album in favor of a live one. The band second album, Happy Trails, was recorded at Fillmore East and West with additional recording at Golden State Recorders.The album was recorded in 1968 and released in March 1969. The first side is given to a workout on Who Do You Love? with everyone getting a chance to show off their chops. The second half kicks off with Mona and is followed by Maiden of the Cancer Moon, Calvary and finishes with a short rendition of Happy Trails. Gary Duncan does the lead vocals on the album but he had decided to leave the group during it's recording. The best sounding version is the Repertoire cd issue from 2000.

     British studio keyboard player, Nicky Hopkins had relocated to the Bay Area and was busy doing session work with other Bay Area bands. He was working at Wally Heider Studios in San Francisco where the remaining band members began work on the third album. Nicky joined the band. The band began sessions at Wally Heider in July and August. The album would be finished at Pacific High Recorders in August and September 1969.

     Shady Grove would be released in December 1969. The album sounds unlike anything that came before but it's just as good. From the opening shredder Shady Grove to the sweet  Flute Song to Edward, The Mad Shirt Grinder. The band had three fantastic albums in a row.

However, the guys found the album a bit of a chore. Around the time of the album's release, Gary Duncan was back in the picture. In fact, Shady Grove would be the only Quicksilver album he didn't play on. Gary would also bring Dino back with him.