QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE - What About Me (1970-2012) RM | Serie : Vinyl Replica Collection | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Musically, there is little to delineate the fifth long-player from Quicksilver Messenger Service, What About Me, from their previous effort, Just for Love. Not surprisingly, material for both was initiated during a prolific two-month retreat to the Opaelua Lodge in Haleiwa, HI, during May and June of 1970. The quartet version of Quicksilver Messenger Service -- which had yielded the band's first two LPs -- expanded once again to include Dino Valenti (aka Chester A. Powers, Chet Powers, and most notably on this album, Jesse Oris Farrow) as well as British session keyboardist Nicky Hopkins. The additional talents of Mark Naftalin (keyboards) were incorporated when Hopkins was unavailable. This began his short stint with Quicksilver Messenger Service, which lasted through their sixth LP, Quicksilver (1972). The most apparent change in Quicksilver Messenger Service's sound can be directly attributed to the return of Valenti. The group has departed the long, free-flowing improvisations that prevailed on both their self-titled debut and follow-up, Happy Trails. The songs are now shorter and more notably structured, with an added emphasis on Valenti's compositions. The title track, "What About Me," became an ethical and sociological anthem with challenging and direct lyrical references to the political and social instability of the early '70s. Valenti, whose songwriting credits on this disc are both numerous and attributed to his Farrow persona, also comes up with some passable introspective love songs, such as "Baby Baby" and "Long Haired Lady," as well as a couple of interesting collaborations with Gary Duncan (bass/vocals). The psychedelic samba "All in My Mind" also highlights the often overlooked percussive contributions from Jose Reyes. Two of the more distinguished entries on What About Me are John Cipollina's raunchy blues instrumental "Local Color" -- replete with a driving backbeat reminiscent of their take on the Robert Johnson standard "Walkin' Blues" -- as well as Nicky Hopkins' emotive "Spindrifter." Lindsay Planer  
Tracklist :
1    What About Me 6:42
Written-By – Jesse Oris Farrow
2    Local Color 2:57
Written-By – John Cipollina
3    Baby Baby 4:41
Written-By – Jesse Oris Farrow
4    Won't Kill Me 2:30
Written-By – David Freiberg
5    Long Haired Lady 5:52
Written-By – Jesse Oris Farrow
6    Subway 4:25
Written-By – Gary Duncan, Jesse Oris Farrow
7    Spindrifter 4:34
Written-By – Nicky Hopkins
8    Good Old Rock And Roll 2:30
Written-By – Jesse Oris Farrow
9    All In My Mind 3:43
Written-By – Gary Duncan, Jesse Oris Farrow
10    Call On Me 7:36
Written-By – Jesse Oris Farrow
Credits :
Baritone Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Ron Taormina
Congas, Percussion, Vocals – Jose Rico Reyes
Drums, Percussion – Greg Elmore
Guitar, Bass, Vocals – David Freiberg
Guitar, Percussion – John Cipollina
Guitar, Vocals, Percussion – Dino Valenti
Piano – Mark Naftalin (pistas: 1, 3, 10), Nicky Hopkins (pistas: 2, 4, 5, 7 to 9)
Tenor Saxophone – Frank Morin
Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Flute – Martine Fierro
Trombone – Pat O'Hara
Trumpet – Ken Balzell
Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Organ, Percussion – Gary Duncan