The third long-player from San Francisco psychedelic icons
Quicksilver Messenger Service (
QMS) is a direct contrast from their previous discs.
Shady Grove (1969) is comprised mostly of shorter and self-contained pieces as opposed to the long and extended jams that were so prevalent on their self-titled debut (1967) and
Happy Trails (1969). Ironically, the one stretched-out instrumental is courtesy of their latest acquisition -- Brit recording session guru
Nicky Hopkins (keyboards). Another possible reason for the shift in style as well as personnel is the conspicuous absence of Gary Duncan (guitar) -- who is rumored to have been a "guest" of Bay Area law enforcement at the time. The band incorporate a number of different styles on the album. Kicking off the disc is an up-tempo rocking version of the traditional Appalachian folk song "Shady Grove." The
QMS reading is highlighted by
John Cipollina's trademark fluid fretwork and a familiar "Bo Diddley" backbeat -- reminiscent of both "Who Do You Love" and "Mona" from the live ensemble LP
Happy Trails. The slow and dark "Flute Song" is a trippy minor chord masterpiece that is augmented by the shimmering effect of
Hopkins' airy piano lines which mingle throughout the light orchestration. Additionally,
QMS try their hand at the same country & western-flavored sound that was making the rounds with their San Fran contemporaries
the Jefferson Airplane ("The Farm") and
the Grateful Dead ("Dire Wolf"). However, the down-home cowboy waltz "Word's Can't Say" never gets out of the stable, unfortunately. This somewhat uneven effort would sadly foreshadow
QMS's journey from psychedelia and into a much more pop-oriented sound on their follow-up,
Just for Love (1970). However, enthusiasts of those albums will find much more to revisit on
Shady Grove than those who favored the first two records. ~ Lindsay Planer