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Quicksilver Messenger Service — Gold And Silver
Album: Quicksilver Messenger Service
Avg rating:
6.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1395









Released: 1968
Length: 6:40
Plays (last 30 days): 0
(instrumental)
Comments (234)add comment
 Proclivities wrote:

Let's see: different chord progressions, different melodies.  Not plagiarized, not stolen, though clearly influenced by.  Musicians generally call it a "homage".  Dave Brubeck did not write "Take Five" anyhow.


5/4 time is 5/4 time.  Sticks with you like velcro.
in 6/4 .... not in 5/4......... less good ..... !
 coloradojohn wrote:

I dearly love that I can be sitting here in Boulder, high as a kite on Golden Goat and sipping on exquisite sake from Hyogo-ken after wacthing yet another spectacular lenticular cloud-projected sunset, and jamming to this tasty time-machine music on Radio Paradise!



Hey man,

Whatever  "lenticular cloud-projected sunset" is...I want some. 
 Proclivities wrote:

Let's see: different chord progressions, different melodies.  Not plagiarized, not stolen, though clearly influenced by.  Musicians generally call it a "homage".  Dave Brubeck did not write "Take Five" anyhow.


homage and cover are excellent terms for this.
I dearly love that I can be sitting here in Boulder, high as a kite on Golden Goat and sipping on exquisite sake from Hyogo-ken after wacthing yet another spectacular lenticular cloud-projected sunset, and jamming to this tasty time-machine music on Radio Paradise!
 westslope wrote:

Definitely a period style.  But for a guitar-0riented jam-style piece from that period, it really grows on subsequent listens.

Same time period...The What Love (suite) from the Canadian band, The

Collectors...'bout twenty minutes...

Tony in NJ

W.A.S.T.E.



 Pyro wrote:
extended jams are so not my thing....the reason I'm not a Dead fan, either.  {#Yawn}

I can hear the resemblance to Take 5, but the time signature is NOT 5/4, it's 6/8 (or 3/4).  Much easier to play.




Right - it's in 6/8.
 njswede wrote:

Dave Brubeck called. He sounded pretty upset.

Haa  ?

 westslope wrote:

Definitely a period style.  But for a guitar-0riented jam-style piece from that period, it really grows on subsequent listens.



Kinda damning with a little praise
  No ?
 Azrica wrote:

My eternal memory of this song, me kid sitting on the back seat of my dad's red Wartburg 353,radio speaker said Gold and silver by Quicksilver, my mom had her window down, outside end of summer time sunset colours, Montenegrian old curvy road by the Adriatic sea,
My mom's right hand out of the window, and she just said 'lets fly, and we all stretched our arms out of windows... it was 1977, or 1978, Forever 10!



Shut it  !!!
    I'm jealous
 SgtBeefheart wrote:

Nice to hear QSM again.  Check out how many big name bands Nicky Hopkins went on to supply piano accompaniment.



Thanks for enlightening others.
Definitely a period style.  But for a guitar-0riented jam-style piece from that period, it really grows on subsequent listens.
The more I hear of QMS, the more I understand why they didn't make it as big as other Bay area bands of that era. If this was recorded in a studio, they didn't do a terribly good job. 
Wow.

This smokes!
 njswede wrote:
 Dave Brubeck called. He sounded pretty upset.
 
Ha ha.  No secret that jazz influenced so much music in that era and led to the jam bands that still play today.
Nice to hear QSM again.  Check out how many big name bands Nicky Hopkins went on to supply piano accompaniment.
 njswede wrote:
Dave Brubeck called. He sounded pretty upset.
 
Local influences.  Quicksilver and Brubeck were both from the SF Bay Area at roughly the same time.  Music was very regional back in those days with local artists having large influences on each other, regardless of the type of music that the individual artists were involved in.
Anyone have info on the cover art? The symbol and the bottom looks a bit like the large intestine.
the guitar work on this track—amazing!
https://youtu.be/klh6V9ltNHM
Dave Brubeck called. He sounded pretty upset.
The last 2 hours have been PHENOMENAL, Bill. 
 kurtster wrote:
Brubeck and Quicksilver were both from the Bay Area at the same time. 

Locals influencing each other.  Happens a lot or used to.

 Lets not forget that take 5 is  at it's heart Beethoven's Fur Elise  in 5/4 time. Nothing is new under the sun.


Brubeck and Quicksilver were both from the Bay Area at the same time. 

Locals influencing each other.  Happens a lot or used to.
Okay, let's set the stage... It's sometime in the late 60s. I'm an army brat living in Frankfurt, Germany during my high school years. I suddenly find myself with the cool kids and we're smoking pot and some one puts this album on the record player and I hear the band's name is Quicksilver Messenger Service. I am smitten.
 Proclivities wrote:

Let's see: different chord progressions, different melodies.  Not plagiarized, not stolen, though clearly influenced by.  Musicians generally call it a "homage".  Dave Brubeck did not write "Take Five" anyhow.
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
True.  Still a rip.   Pyro wrote:
extended jams are so not my thing....the reason I'm not a Dead fan, either.  {#Yawn}

I can hear the resemblance to Take 5, but the time signature is NOT 5/4, it's 6/8 (or 3/4).  Much easier to play.


 

This feels like an extended bridge to a better song...Or labored music in the waiting room of a hippie doctor's office. Get to the point, fellas. 
I'm hearing echoes of Take Five in this tune.
paint it black you devil?! but anything from get your ya yas out could work...
the greatest rock ' n roll band in the world
paint it black you devil!

:)
My eternal memory of this song, me kid sitting on the back seat of my dad's red Wartburg 353,radio speaker said Gold and silver by Quicksilver, my mom had her window down, outside end of summer time sunset colours, Montenegrian old curvy road by the Adriatic sea,
My mom's right hand out of the window, and she just said 'lets fly, and we all stretched our arms out of windows... it was 1977, or 1978, Forever 10!
Take five gold and browns:
Ok it was 68!
Marvellous. I’m back in 1967, 17 with my life in front of me. Thanks Bill. Great music.
 Proclivities wrote:

Let's see: different chord progressions, different melodies.  Not plagiarized, not stolen.
 

The only similarity is the time signature. Definitely more interesting than standard 2/4, 4/4 time.
 Pyro wrote:
extended jams are so not my thing....the reason I'm not a Dead fan, either.  {#Yawn}

I can hear the resemblance to Take 5, but the time signature is NOT 5/4, it's 6/8 (or 3/4).  Much easier to play.


 

Let's call it Take Six
 MassivRuss wrote:
Did they pay Brubeck royalties? Or just plagiarize "Take Five".
 

 oldman wrote:

Stole it outright, it seems to me.
 
Let's see: different chord progressions, different melodies.  Not plagiarized, not stolen, though clearly influenced by.  Musicians generally call it an "homage" and time signatures cannot be copyrighted.  Dave Brubeck did not write "Take Five" anyhow.
 michaelc wrote:
Does seem that way to an Eclectic listener 

MassivRuss wrote:
Did they pay Brubeck royalties? Or just plagiarize "Take Five".

  
Stole it outright, it seems to me.
 
They were both acts that called the Bay Area home and who knows who influenced who back then.  A good riff was a good riff and that was all that mattered.  My Dad saw Brubeck IIRC.  Berkeley was home back then.
This smokes!!!
Does seem that way to an Eclectic listener 

MassivRuss wrote:
Did they pay Brubeck royalties? Or just plagiarize "Take Five".

  
Stole it outright, it seems to me.
i've played in too many mediocre bands so i'm accustomed to loud. but these guys live in calgary in i dunno - 1969-ish were the loudest thing i've ever heard then and now. and yes, i now have hearing aids. no kidding. i think ALL music sounds better loud but you pay the price. it's a bit of samsara if you let it be. 
Definitely of historic significance.
 ImaOldman wrote:
You're comparing apples and oranges, this was three years before Live at the Fillmore and the technology of live recording had made major improvements. While I am a huge Allman Brothers fan bands like Quicksilver helped forge the path the Allmans followed.

 
Correction......comparing Peaches and Oranges.........  ;-)
 MassivRuss wrote:
Did they pay Brubeck royalties? Or just plagiarize "Take Five".

 
Stole it outright, it seems to me.
 thewiseking wrote:
amateurs, best forgotten
contrast this with Allman Brothers Live at the Fillmore. two different leagues

 You're comparing apples and oranges, this was three years before Live at the Fillmore and the technology of live recording had made major improvements. While I am a huge Allman Brothers fan bands like Quicksilver helped forge the path the Allmans followed.
Excellent. Great to hear this again. It’s not amateurish, just raw!
Noodly as a bowl of Ramen.  (Not that there's anything wrong with that.)
amateurs, best forgotten
contrast this with Allman Brothers Live at the Fillmore. two different leagues
 QMS's music is AWESOME (imo), and Rick Griffin's Art is ASTOUNDING!!!

Businessgypsy wrote:
 Papernapkin wrote:
Bad typography. And everything else.
Not typography. Can't have typography without type. Lettering Art. By the late Rick Griffin, such a master of the craft that a font was created after his forms, so new kids can indeed execute typography in homage to his style.

 


Yeah man! Great stuff! Dig what kingart said in his Jan. 11 2017 post below.
 hcaudill wrote:

6/8, actually. It's the chord progressions that evoke Take 5, not the rhythm. 

 
I hear similarities in the hi-hat, even if it's not the same time signature, but I'm sure it's a pretty common jazz hi hat pattern, so, yeah...
 Papernapkin wrote:
Bad typography. And everything else.
 
It's calligraphy, not typography.  Come on, man, someone who fancies himself a designer ought to know the difference.
 Businessgypsy wrote:
 Papernapkin wrote:
Bad typography. And everything else.
Not typography. Can't have typography without type. Lettering Art. By the late Rick Griffin, such a master of the craft that a font was created after his forms, so new kids can indeed execute typography in homage to his style.
 
Thank you Businessgypsy.
Rick Griffin was great. Soggynapkin gets it wrong yet again.
Musically though, I gotta say this sounds like the Allman Brothers before they learned to play their instruments.
Nice track by an under appreciated group of musicians.
I'll add my 2¢ by saying "Cobra" is the better instrumental. It has more "juice"..driving drumwork and a freer guitar by Cippolina.
Some of you folks are too negative. That was a cool solo. I was rapt.  So what if it sounded like Brubeck or whomever? It's called a homage, dudes.  I'd bet that guy was stoned and happy and having one of the times of his life expressing his music. WTF is wrong with you? 
An amateurish ripoff
Did they pay Brubeck royalties? Or just plagiarize "Take Five".
 tiggers wrote:

And there was garbage like this too!

 
Garbage is this comment. 
 bachbeet wrote:
Good song from a VERY STRONG album.  Sort of a "raw jazz" sound.

 
FYT
Quicksilver flashback - killer, Bill.  How about the Who Do You Love Suite from Happy Trails?  I dare you! {#Cool}
 BBoyes wrote:
This was 1968 people! Our son said recently, after discovering early Led Zeppelin "you guys grew up during all the good music". Yes, we did.

 
And there was garbage like this too!
This was 1968 people! Our son said recently, after discovering early Led Zeppelin "you guys grew up during all the good music". Yes, we did.
Awesome!

A psychedelic painting featuring a skeleton holding two fossilized eggs in the center.
 Walrus_Gumbo wrote:

John Cippolina formed a group called Copperhead. They released at least one album that I'm aware of.

 
One thing that's maybe worth noting, some of these artists who don't have a lot of commercial recordings, actually perform a few hundred nights a year.  Recording artists and performing artists still live in separate distinct worlds sometimes.

 Papernapkin wrote:
Bad typography. And everything else.
Not typography. Can't have typography without type. Lettering Art. By the late Rick Griffin, such a master of the craft that a font was created after his forms, so new kids can indeed execute typography in homage to his style.


 vandal wrote:

Ahh, finally some of the "good" old noodling hippy music. . .

psycho bannana

 
Love QMS... I'd still be happier than a kitten in catnip if I could hear "Spindrifter," that beautiful instrumental Nicky Hopkins performed before he left this earth... I have it somewhere - if it meets standards, maybe I'll try to submit it... Meanwhile, "Child of Man" is pretty awesome, too...

Dave Brubeck / Paul Desmond influence in this piece?
 prickelpit96 wrote:

As a Mac-User you probably are unable to mute something? Have to ask Steve before....?
 I think you will find Steve is very much in favor of muting anyone/thing he doesn’t want to hear. I can assure you the mute button is prominent on the top right of my Mac keyboard. I’m told on his own personalised keyboard the only key he uses more is the ‘Sack’ button.

Good song from a good album.  Sort of a "raw jazz" sound.
 Photo-John wrote:


Sorry, we're all out of Justin Beiber.
 
"Comment Of The Year" candidate.

 goodgroove wrote:
 One of my thoughts at first, but it's 4/4.  It has beats like that song.
 
6/8, actually. It's the chord progressions that evoke Take 5, not the rhythm. 


 crockydile wrote:
This is like the Allman Brothers...only not nearly as good. Like Allman Brothers Lite.
  Haha, nice observation. Still, while I love the Allmans, this is fine too!


 prickelpit96 wrote:

As a Mac-User you probably are unable to mute something? Have to ask Steve before....?

 
Huh? A Mac hater much?  You are just plain ignorant if you think that Macs don't "mute," and you are small-minded and ridiculously petty if you think it should even be an issue all on this web site.

 That_SOB wrote:

 

 

Played this vinyl until it was only good for extruding a single noodle (very long). If this was released today, it would be an 8, taken out of context it's hard for the youngsters to comprehend the cultural mood this album was inspired by. Lets see long hair, weed, anti-war, cultural upheaval, anti-Nixon, peace, free-love, incense, gettin hip. 
I member bein part of 120,000 people in Seattle who did a sit down on I-5 thus shutting it down. Rock and Roll. "Hell no I won't go !"
We need some of that spirit today.  Peace !

 
You took the words right out of, well, you know



Ahh, finally some of the "good" old noodling hippy music. . .

psycho bannana

Well, what do you know?  We've found a song romeotuna doesn't like.
Other than the Dead which I hear a little more than I want to, sometimes (because my husband listens to the Dead channel on Sirius in the car) I have to hear some hippie music everyday. I've always told people "You know there's lots of other psychedelic music besides the Dead...
 Most of 'em say: "Oh, you mean Phish?"

 

 

Played this vinyl until it was only good for extruding a single noodle (very long). If this was released today, it would be an 8, taken out of context it's hard for the youngsters to comprehend the cultural mood this album was inspired by. Lets see long hair, weed, anti-war, cultural upheaval, anti-Nixon, peace, free-love, incense, gettin hip. 
I member bein part of 120,000 people in Seattle who did a sit down on I-5 thus shutting it down. Rock and Roll. "Hell no I won't go !"
We need some of that spirit today.  Peace !


 Wuddi wrote:


HORRIBLE TRACK !
 

Sorry, we're all out of Justin Beiber.
 iTuner wrote:
Thank doG it's over.
 
I don't believe you said that. {#Lol}


This is like the Allman Brothers...only not nearly as good. Like Allman Brothers Lite.
What a pleasure to hear this again after all these years!
 prickelpit96 wrote:


 

HORRIBLE TRACK !
 iTuner wrote:
Thank doG it's over.
 
As a Mac-User you probably are unable to mute something? Have to ask Steve before....?

Thank doG it's over.

Excellent R&R from yester-year. I had to buy a second album as the first was played into
submission (loaned it out one too many times.) As has been mentioned in prior comments,
these guys were far ahead of their time, although, they did cover a lot of Ellas McDaniel's tunes, e.g. "Who do you love"  A true psychedelic relic, acid rock in real time.. . .  
  " Happy Trails" ya'all !

 Walrus_Gumbo wrote:

John Cippolina formed a group called Copperhead. They released at least one album that I'm aware of.

 

John and another great guitarist (Steve Kimock) also founded a band called Zero in the 80s-90s.  Some great live shows if you can find them. 
 gatorade wrote:
Another great band that laid it down for the next generation of rock and rollers. A ten all the way. So far ahead of their time.
 
Wow. Don't think I would have ever followed this up with Norah Jones. Head spin.
 Randomax wrote:


Ditto!
 
BUMP!
Another great band that laid it down for the next generation of rock and rollers. A ten all the way. So far ahead of their time.
 CascadianPDX wrote:
I really liked "Pride of Man" as a kid, and heard another great cut—an instrumental like this one—called Cobra, on KPIG. Check 'em out. 
 
"Cobra" was on Just For Love.

Nice. I have a Dino Valente solo album who was a member of this band. Great stuff.
Govi wrote:
Glorious olde psychedilicke Rocke an' Rolle! Hi-yo, Quicksilver!

Compleat
with Rick Griffin cover lettering

QMS got a lot of play in my VW bus. We had to hook a 12V battery to the tape deck to play tunes back then...
Please make it stop!  {#Arghhh}
 HarrO wrote:
A 6.7 ???

You people are hopeless.
 

Ditto!
Bad typography. And everything else.
Ah, the early days of the jam bands. I can certainly remember having this on as I drove to the beach.
Wasn't really paying attention to the music, but after the intro, my brain said "sounds like Golden Brown".
So I look and well, it is Gold (and Silver). But after more goes by, I do here the Take Five in it as well.
So, I wonder, was Golden Brown influenced by these then?

Sounds very Allman Bros. Interesting to think of QSM being an inspiration for the king of the Southern Rock bands.
Just spun this vinyl last night - great tune!
I really liked "Pride of Man" as a kid, and heard another great cut—an instrumental like this one—called Cobra, on KPIG. Check 'em out. 
 Randomax wrote:
Surprised this is the only song you have on RP.  There are several primo QSMS tunes!!  What a time....
 
This is the only one of this album, but there are lots of others getting played here:

Song Title                                     Album
Dino's Song                                  Sons Of Mercury (1968-75)
Edward, The Mad Shirt Grinder    Shady Grove
Fresh Air                                      Sons of Mercury
Gold And Silver                             Quicksilver Messenger Service
Pride Of Man                                Sons Of Mercury (1968-75)
The Fool                                       Sons Of Mercury (1968-75)
What About Me                             Sons of Mercury
Who Do You Love                         Sons Of Mercury (1968-75)


 HarrO wrote:
A 6.7 ???

You people are hopeless.
 

What he said.
 WonderLizard wrote:

It's the time signature, 5/4. IMHO, Cippolina's response to Brubeck. Brubeck was local to SF at that time, lionized in the press, and certainly well known to a stylistic sponge like Cippolina. Cool, eh?

 
Not to put too fine a point on it, but listen carefully to Greg Elmore's drumming—amazing note work. Compare it to Joe Morello's on "Take 5." There's an eerie similarity. QMS was one hell of a band.

 Jamunca wrote:

I'm hearing LOTS of Take 5 in this. lots and lots.

  

One of my thoughts at first, but it's 4/4.  It has beats like that song.


 Jamunca wrote:

I'm hearing LOTS of Take 5 in this. lots and lots

 

S'ok. See below..........
extended jams are so not my thing....the reason I'm not a Dead fan, either.  {#Yawn}

I can hear the resemblance to Take 5, but the time signature is NOT 5/4, it's 6/8 (or 3/4).  Much easier to play.


I'm hearing LOTS of Take 5 in this. lots and lots.


 mjaded wrote:
Wow- Bill's favorite guitarist! out of SF anyway.

Wikipedia is a bit thin on this guy- other than that he left us too soon.  What did he do after QMS?
 
John Cippolina formed a group called Copperhead. They released at least one album that I'm aware of.

 mjaded wrote:
Wow- Bill's favorite guitarist! out of SF anyway.

Wikipedia is a bit thin on this guy- other than that he left us too soon.  What did he do after QMS?
  Unfortunately, died of chronic emphysema, as near as I can tell.


 chamrousse1450 wrote:
"golden brown" by the stranglers?
 
definitely.... pretty great influence too
Wow- Bill's favorite guitarist! out of SF anyway.

Wikipedia is a bit thin on this guy- other than that he left us too soon.  What did he do after QMS?


 WonderLizard wrote:
It's the time signature, 5/4. IMHO, Cippolina's response to Brubeck. Brubeck was local to SF at that time, lionized in the press, and certainly well known to a stylistic sponge like Cippolina. Cool, eh?
Sweet. I love the history I learn around here.
A 6.7 ???

You people are hopeless.
{#Cowboy}{#Music}{#Propeller}{#Guitarist}{#Drummer}{#Motor}{#Notworthy}

 cherinoel wrote:
Surprised this is the only song you have on RP.  There are several primo QSMS tunes!!  What a time....
 
Whoah! I'm haven a flashback here!!!

BTW I've heard other QMS here.  Lots!

 dolfan wrote:

The music we love is the soundtrack of our life.

 
{#Cheers} Cheers to that!

 jagdriver wrote:

To add to this:

(Then residing in Michigan) the first time my wife and I visited Point Reyes Nat'l Seasore (northwest of the Golden Gate), we had rented a really cool cottage built on stilts over the Tomales Bay mudflats (well, at least they're mudflats at low tide). It was about '89 or so.

We had walked down to The Grey Whale (now Priscilla's) in Inverness and had gotten an awesome "California-style" pizza (read: artichoke hearts). Afterward, back at the cottage, I channel-surfed on the FM radio, stumbling across a faint signal of a old, combined Dead/QMS concert with John Cipollina and Jerry Garcia tradin' licks. I explained to my wife the significance of the time-warp we were listening to, also noting the Cipolina, QMS and Big Brother had all resided nearby at one time.

It was a fabulous blast from the past, and as one who had a California fantasy while growing up in the Detroit 'burbs, easily brought my fantasy back front and center.

Sidenote: We had also stayed one night in the old Sausalito bordello-turned B&B, the same place Cream stayed on their first tour. I found this out years later after reading a book about the group and seeing a photo of them posed in the stairwell!
 
This is the kind of post I love to read.  The music we love is the soundtrack of our life.