Song of the Day 11/5: Quicksilver Messenger Service, “Fresh Air”
The only song by this quintessential San Francisco psychedelic outfit to make the singles charts, this Santana-sounding 1970 cut talks about something in short supply these days in fire-ravaged California. Dino Valenti, who had just rejoined the group after a prison stretch for marijuana possession, moved the band to Hawaii to record their “Just for Love” LP in an unused warehouse, which is why it sounds as if it were recorded in Luray Caverns. Like most Bay Area bands of the day, QMS specialized in turning songs into half-hour jams at their live shows, and guitarist John Cipollini and pianist Nicky Hopkins each get to strut their stuff, which might be why the song topped out at No. 49 in Billboard.
I was 14 when this hit and watched all the rock shows of the time, Quicksilver Messenger Service always seemed on the verge of making it big , but never going the distance. This was the high water mark, and a cool song.
yasssssssss I have two QMS LPs. Good times.