QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE - Comin' Thru (1972-2012) RM | Serie : Vinyl Replica Collection | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

The last of Quicksilver's albums before they broke up is a disappointment, and a real poser for all but the most dedicated fans. The songwriting was getting thin by this time, as indicated by the presence of numbers like "Chicken," a traditional piece arranged by Dino Valenti, which is little more than four minutes of wasted time on a 36-minute record. This track, and Valenti's promising but ultimately disappointing "Changes," were a sure sign that the band was delivering an album, but nothing more than that, as a way of fulfilling a contract; it's even hard to visualize the group doing this material on-stage. The presence of trumpets, trombones, and saxes is also a problem, because they make Quicksilver sound more like Blood, Sweat & Tears than themselves, and Valenti wasn't David Clayton-Thomas. But then there are hard-rocking numbers like "Doin' Time in the U.S.A." and "California State Correctional Facility Blues," which actually work, with slashing guitars, organ playing that is alternately soaring and funky, and a great beat. So about two-thirds of this album is what you would want and expect from Quicksilver, even if it isn't their best work, and the rest can be skipped. Bruce Eder
Tracklist :
1     Doin' Time in the U.S.A. 4:20
Gary Duncan
2     Chicken 3:58
Traditional    
3     Changes 4:01
Dino Valente    
4     California State Correctional Facitlity Blues 6:27
Gary Duncan / Greg Elmore / Dino Valente
5     Forty Days 5:51
Gary Duncan / Greg Elmore / Dino Valente
6     Mojo 5:38
Dino Valente     
7     Don't Lose It 6:08
Gary Duncan / Dino Valente
Credits :
Bass – Mark Ryan
Drums – Greg Elmore
Guitar, Vocals – Gary Duncan
Organ – Chuck Steaks
Saxophone – Don Menza, Sonny Lewis
Trombone – Charles Loper, Pat O'Hara
Trumpet – Bud Brisbois, Dalton Smith, Ken Baizell
Vocals, Guitar, Congas – Dino Valenti