On September 18, 2024, Nick Gravenites died aged 85. He was musician (guitar), singer and songwriter, performed and recorded with Mike Bloomfield, Charlie Musselwhite, John Cipollina and Quicksilver Messenger Service, but was best known as lead singer of Electric Flag. With John Cipollina he formed the Nick Gravenites–John Cipollina Band.
Tag Archives: John Cipollina
Big Brother and the Holding Company: Be a Brother
In October 1970, “Columbia” label released “Be a Brother”, the third Big Brother and the Holding Company album. It was recorded in 1970, and was produced by Nick Gravenites.
Personnel:
- Nick Gravenites – lead and backing vocals
- Sam Andrew – guitar, lead and backing vocals
- David Schallock – guitar, backing vocals
- Peter Albin – guitar
- James Gurley – bass, guitar
- David Getz – drums, piano
- Kathi McDonald – vocals
- Richard Greene – violin
- Mike Finnigan – keyboard
- Tower of Power – horn section
- Ira Kamin
- Mark Naftalin
- David Brown, Jerry Hochman, Sy Mitchell – engineer
- John Van Hamersveld – design concept
- Bob Seidemann – design, photography
Track listing:
- Keep On – Sam Andrew , Peter Albin, David Getz, James Gurley, David Schallock
- Joseph’s Coat – Nick Gravenites, John Cipollina
- Home on the Strange – Peter Albin, Sam Andrew
- Someday – Sam Andrew
- Heartache People – Nick Gravenites
- Sunshine Baby – Sam Andrew, Peter Albin, David Getz, James Gurley, David Shallock
- Mr. Natural – Sam Andrew
- Funkie Jim – Sam Andrew, Peter Albin, David Getz, James Gurley, David Shallock, Nick Gravenites
- I’ll Change Your Flat Tire, Merle – Nick Gravenites
- Be a Brother – Nick Gravenites
Quicksilver Messenger: Shady Grove
In December 1969, “Capitol” label released “Shady Grove”, the second Quicksilver Messenger Service studio album. It was recorded July – September 199, at “Wally Heider Studios” and “Pacific High Recorders” in San Francisco, and was produced by John Palladino.
Personnel:
- John Cipollina– vocals, guitar
- Nicky Hopkins– piano, organ, celeste, harpsichord, cello
- David Freiberg– vocals, bass, guitar, viola
- Greg Elmore– drums, percussion
- Dan Healy, Bob Shumaker, Dave Brown, Mike Leary – engineer
- Dan Healy, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Snarly Grumble – mixing
- John Palladino – executive producer
Track listing:
- Shady Grove – O. Wands
- Flute Song – Denise Jewkes
- Three or Four Feet from Home – John Cipollina
- Too Far – David Freiberg
- Holy Moly – Nick Gravenites
- Joseph’s Coat – John Cipollina, Nick Gravenites
- Flashing Lonesome – David Freiberg, Denise Jewkes
- Words Can’t Say – David Freiberg, Denise Jewkes
- Edward, the Mad Shirt Grinder – Nicky Hopkins
Papa John Creach: Same
In December 1971, “Grunt” label released the self-titled, debut Papa John Creach album. It was recorded in 1971 at “Wally Heider Studios” in San Francisco, and was produced by Papa John Creach and Mike Lipskin.
Personnel:
- Papa John Creach – vocal. electric violin, arranger
- Grace Slick– vocals
- Jerry Garcia– guitar
- John Cipollina, Bruce Conte – guitar
- Jorma Kaukonen– guitar
- Rufus Anderson – guitar
- Bob Wilson – guitar
- Carlos Santana– guitar
- Paul Kantner– rhythm guitar
- Art Hillery – piano, organ
- Mike Lipskin– organ, piano
- Gregg Rolie– organ
- Nick Buck – piano
- Dave Brown, Jack Casady– bass
- Bobby Haynes – bass
- Skip Olsen – bass
- Douglas Rauch– bass
- Peter Sears– bass
- Sammy Piazza – drums
- Tony Smith– drums
- Joey Covington– drums, congas
- Jack Bonus – saxophone
- Greg Adams– trumpet
- Mic Gillette– trombone
- Stan Monteiro – clarinet
- Los Angeles Brass Section – brass
- Los Angeles String Section – strings
- Roger Hamilton Spotts – arranger
- Ken Hopkins – engineer, mixing
- Peter Granet – engineer
- Bill Thompson, Acy Lehman – design, concept
- Bruce Steinberg – photography
Track listing:
- The Janitor Drives a Cadillac – Joey Covington
- Louis Blues – W.C. Handy
- Papa John’s Down Home Blues – Papa John Creach, Roger Spotts
- Plunk a Little Funk – Papa John Creach
- Over the Rainbow – Harold Arlen, Y. Harburg
- String Jet Rock – Papa John Creach
- Danny Boy – traditional
- Human Spring – James Reese, Roger Spotts
- Soul Fever – Miles Grayson
- Every Time I Hear Her Name – Roger Spotts
Brewer & Shipley: Shake off the Demon
In November 1971, “Kama Sutra” label released “Shake off the Demon”, the fourth Brewer & Shipley album. It was recorded in 1971, at “Wally Heider Studios” in San Francisco, and was produced by Mike Brewer and Tom Shipley.
Personnel:
- Mike Brewer– vocals, guitars, piano, mouth harp, percussion
- Tom Shipley– vocals, guitars, bass, banjo
- John Cipollina– electric and slide electric guitars
- Mark Naftalin– piano, organ, vibes
- John Kahn– bass
- Spencer Dryden, “Little John” Harteman III, Glen Walters– drums
- Jose “Chepito” Areas– congas, bongos, timbales
- David LaFlamme– electric violin
Track listing:
All tracks by Mike Brewer and Tom Shipley except where noted.
- Shake Off the Demon
- Merciful Love
- Message from the Mission (Hold On)
- One by One
- When Everybody Comes Home
- Working On the Well
- Rock Me On the Water – Jackson Browne
- Natural Child
- Back to the Farm
- Sweet Love
Mickey Hart: Rolling Thunder
In September 1972, Warner Bros label released “Rolling Thunder”, the first Mickey Hart solo album. It was recorded in 1972, at “Mickey’s Barn” in Marin County, California.
Personnel:
- Mickey Hart– drums, percussion, field drum, timpani
- Paul Kantner– vocals
- John Cipollina– guitar
- Bob Weir– vocals, guitar
- Sam Andrew, Robbie Stokes – guitar
- Jerry Garcia – guitar, insect fear
- Barry Melton – guitar
- Terry Haggerty – guitar
- Barry Melton – vocals, acoustic guitar
- David Freiberg – vocals, acoustic guitar
- Robbie Stokes – guitar, bass
- Grace Slick– vocals, piano
- Bill Champlin– organ
- David Freiberg – bass, piano, viola, vocals, water pump
- Stephen Stills– bass
- Phil Lesh – bass
- Greg Errico– drums
- Carmelo Garcia – timbales, congas
- Mike and Nancy Hinton – marimba
- Tower of Power– horn section
- Steven Schuster – flute
- Alla Rakha– rain
- Zakir Hussain – rain, table
- Dan Healy, Rick Davis, John Wollman, David Freiberg, Mickey Hart– engineer
- Phil Lesh, Jerry Garcia, Mickey Hart, David Freiberg, Dan Healy, Stephen Stills– mixing
- Rock Scully– direction
- Ed Thrasher– art direction
- Alton Kelly – cover art
- Stanley Mouse – cover art
- Ron Rakow, Bruce Baxter – photography
Track listing:
- Rolling Thunder/Shoshone Invocation (Rolling Thunder)
- The Main Ten (Playing in the Band) – Mickey Hart, Bon Weir, Hunter
- Fletcher Carnaby – Mickey Hart, Hunter
- The Chase (Progress) – Mickey Hart
- Blind John – J. Stetson, Peter Monk
- Young Man – Mickey Hart, Peter Monk
- Deep, Wide and Frequent – Mickey Hart
- Pump Song – Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, Hunter
- Granma’s Cookies – Mickey Hart
- Hangin’ On – J. Stetson, Peter Monk; arranged by Mickey Hart
Quicksliver Messenger Service: Just for Love
In August 1970, “Capitol” label released “Just for Love”, the fourth Quicksilver Messenger Service album. It was recorded May – June 1970, and was produced by John Palladino.
Personnel:
- Dino Valenti – vocals, guitar, flute, conga
- Gary Duncan – v ocals, guitar, bass, maracas, wood block
- John Cipollina – vocals, steel, slide and electric guitars
- Nicky Hopkins – keyboards, piano
- David Freiberg – vocals, bass, guitar
- Greg Elmore– drums, percussion
Track listing:
- Just for Love (Part 1) – Farrow
- Cobra – John Cipollina
- The Hat – Farrow
- Freeway Flyer – Farrow
- Gone Again – Farrow
- Fresh Air – Farrow
- Just for Love (Part 2) – Farrow
- Wolf Run (Part 2) – Farrow
Quicksilver Messenger: Same
In May 1968, “Capitol” label released the self-titled, debut Quicksilver Messenger Service studio album. It was recorded in 1968, and was produced by Nick Gravenites, Harvey Brooks and Pete Welding.el:
Personnel:
- John Cipollina- lead guitar
- Gary Duncan- vocals, guitar
- David Freiberg- vocals, bass guitar, viola
- Greg Elmore- drums
Track listing:
- Pride of Man – Hamilton Camp
- Light Your Windows – Gary Duncan,David Freiberg
- Dino’s Song– Dino Valenti
- Gold and Silver – Gary Duncan, Steve Schuster
- It’s Been Too Long – Ron Polte
- The Fool” – Gary Duncan, David Freiberg
Quicksilver Messenger: What About Me
In December 1970, “Capitol” label released “What About Me”, the fifth Quicksilver Messenger Service album. It was recorded May – June 1970, and was produced by John Palladino.
Personnel:
- Dino Valenti– lead vocals, guitar, percussion
- Nicky Hopkins– piano
- Gary Duncan– guitar, bass, percussion, organ, backing vocals
- John Cipollina– guitar, percussion
- David Freiberg– lead and backing vocals, bass, guitar
- Greg Elmore– drums, percussion
- Jose Rico Reyes -conga, percussion, backing vocals
- Mark Naftalin- piano
- Ron Taormina -baritone and soprano saxes
- Martin Fierro- tenor and alto saxes, flute
- Frank Morin – tenor sax
- Pat O’Hara -trombone
Track listing:
- What About Me – Jesse Oris Farrow
- Local Color – John Cipollina
- Baby Baby – Jesse Oris Farrow
- Won’t Kill Me – David Freiberg
- Long Haired Lady – Jesse Oris Farrow
- Subway – Gary Duncan, Jesse Oris Farrow
- Spindrifter – Nicky Hopkins
- Good Old Rock and Roll – Jesse Oris Farrow
- All in My Mind – Gary Duncan, Jesse Oris Farrow
- Call on Me – Jesse Oris Farrow
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