Quicksilver Messenger Service - Q.M.S. (1968)

Quicksilver Messenger Service were one of the best West Coast psychedelic bands of the late 60s', and released two classic albums in 1968/69 with their eponymous debut and the classic 'Happy Trails'. When they released 'Quicksilver Messenger Service' in May 1968 they'd already been around for a couple of years playing local clubs, and even laying down some tracks in the studio, but they'd held off committing to a record deal until late 1967, when they eventually signed with Capitol. By this time they actually had enough material in the can to release their first album straight away, although it would have been mostly made up of covers rather than the self-penned songs that they eventually issued. However, it would still have been an impressive record, as they put their own stamp on every song they recorded (and don't forget that The Grateful Dead's first album had a lot of covers on it, so it's not unprecedented for a debut). If they had decided to start their recorded career a little earlier then this is what their first album could have sounded like. I admit that it's nowhere near as good as their real first record, but it's nice to hear it anyway.

Track listing

01 Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You

02 Codine

03 I Hear You Knockin' (It's Too Late)

04 Your Time Will Come

05 Back Door Man

06 Walkin' Blues

07 Bears

08 Stand By Me

09 Smokestack Lightning

The first two songs were recorded for the soundtrack to the 1967 film 'Revolution', tracks 7 and 8 were a stand-alone single released in 1968, and the rest are out-takes from the first album sessions.