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: Quicksilver Messenger Service
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
Quicksilver Messenger: Quicksilver
In November 1971, “Capitol” label released “Quicksilver”, the sixth Quicksilver Messenger Service album.
Personnel:
- Dino Valenti – vocals, guitar, flute, percussion
- Gary Duncan – vocals, guitar
- Chuck Steaks –organ, piano
- Mark Ryan – bass
- Greg Elmore – drums, percussion
Track listing:
All tracks by Dino Valenti except where noted.
- Hope
- I Found Love – Gary Duncan
- Song for Frisco
- Play My Guitar
- Rebel – traditional, arr. by Dino Valenti
- Fire Brothers – Gary Duncan
- Out of My Mind
- Don’t Cry My Lady Love
- The Truth
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 Service: Comin’ Thru
In April 1972, “Capitol” label released “Comin’ Thru”, the seventh Quicksilver Messenger Service album.
Personnel:
- Dino Valenti– vocals, guitar, congas
- Gary Duncan– vocals, guitar
- Chuck Steaks – organ
- Mark Ryan – bass
- Greg Elmore– drums
- Sonny Lewis – saxophone
- Donald Menza– saxophone
- Ken Balzell – trumpet
- Dalton Smith– trumpet
- Bud Brisbois– trumpet
- Pat O’Hara – trombone
- Charles C. Loper – trombone
- Cecil Jones – engineer
- Johan Wilson – mixing
- John Hoernie – artwork
- Burray Olson – illustration
Track listing:
- Doin’ Time in the U.S.A. – Gary Duncan
- Chicken – traditional, arranged by Dino Valenti
- Changes – Dino Valenti
- California State Correctional Facility Blues – Dino Valenti, Gary Duncan, Greg Elmore, Chuck Steaks
- Forty Days – Dino Valenti, Gary Duncan, Greg Elmore
- Mojo – Dino Valenti
- Don’t Lose It – Gary Duncan, Dino Valenti
James Cotton
On March 16, 2017, James Henry Cotton died aged 81. He was musician (harmonica), singer and songwriter, had a successful solo career, recording albums under his own name, and recording and performing with number of great blues and rock musicians including Gregg Allman, William “Billy Boy” Arnold, Elvin Bishop, Mike Bloomfield, Joe Bonamassa, Paul Butterfield, Grateful Dead, Pat Hare, Howlin’ Wolf, Janis Joplin, B.B. King, Freddie King, Alexis Korner, Steve Miller, Charlie Musselwhite, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Keith Richards, Todd Rundgren, Santana, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Otis Spann, Taj Mahal, Big Mama Thornton, Jimmie Vaughan, Joe Louis Walker, Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson and Johnny Winter.
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
Quicksilver Messenger Service: Happy Trails
On March 29, 1969, “Capitol” label released “Happy Trails”, the second Quicksilver Messenger Service album. Most of the album material was recorded on the bands two performances in “Fillmore East” and “Fillmore West” in 1968. In 1992, the album was certified gold by “RIAA” in US. In 2013, magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked “Happy Trails” at number 189 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of all Time” and at number 44 on magazine’s list of “50 Coolest Records.” Album song “Mona” was ranked at number 88 on the “100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time” by “Rolling Stone” magazine.
Personnel:
- John Cipollina – vocals, guitar
- Gary Duncan – vocals, guitar
- David Freiberg – vocals, bass, piano
- Greg Elmore – vocals, drums, percussion
Track listing:
Who Do You Love Suite:
- Who Do You Love (Part 1) – Ellas McDaniel
- When You Love – Gary Duncan
- Where You Love – Greg Elmore
- How You Love – John Cipollina
- Which Do You Love – David Freiberg
- Who Do You Love (Part 2) – Ellis McDaniel
- Mona – Ellis McDaniel
- Maiden of the Cancer Moon – Gary Duncan
- Calvary – Gary Duncan
- Happy Trails – Dale Evans
Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman, Nicky Hopkins and Ry Cooder: Jamming With Edward!
On January 7, 1972, “Rolling Stone “label released “Jamming with Edward!”,album by Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman, Nicky Hopkins and Ry Cooder.“ It was recorded in 1969, at the “London’s Olympic Studio”, and was produced by Glyn Johns. “Edward” was pianist Nicky Hopkins.
- Ry Cooder– guitar
- Mick Jagger– vocals, harmonica
- Nicky Hopkins– keyboards, piano
- Bill Wyman– bass guitar
- Charlie Watts– drums
All tracks by Ry Cooder, Nicky Hopkins and Charlie Watts, except where noted.
Track listing:
- The Boudoir Stomp
- It Hurts Me Too – Elmore James, Mel London
- Edward’s Thrumb Up
- Blow with Ry
- Interlude a la El Hopo – includes The Loveliest Night of the Year – Webster and Ross
- Highland Fling
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