Happy Trails is the second album of the American band Quicksilver Messenger Service. Most of the album was recorded from two performances at the Fillmore East and Fillmore West, although it is not clear which parts were recorded at which Fillmore. The record was released by Capitol Records in 1969 in stereo.
Sometimes you discover a great new band. This wasn't that time.
I enjoyed side 1 as, despite it being a 26 minute song in 5 movements, it was accessible and a pleasant listen. Perhaps helped that it was a well known cover ('Who do yo love?'). It was also well performed - I didn't realise it was a live version until the applause at the end. Side 2 is somehow even more self indulgent. 4 songs this time. 2 are ok covers (although Henry from Neighbours still has the definitive version of 'Mona') and the other 2 just sound like dull jams with nothing going on to keep my interest. My snap judgement: QMS maybe good at noodling on a guitar, but are not blessed with much in the way of creativity or songwriting talent.
"Extended free-form jazz excursion" - Spinal Tap
You know, they could've shot the messenger.
Quite a confusing album. Didn't really read or hear anything to suggest it's a worthy "1001" album and didn't massively enjoy it either. 4/10
Oh Christ, here we go. Even just looking at the cover I can guess two things: nowhere near as country as you'd think, and (probably) psychedelic rock instead. Plus it's 1969, so expectations are low. aaaaand boom, not country at all! Just psychedelic rock, extended jam SHIT. It was so boring I forgot it was on and only paid attention once spotify started playing "radio based on" songs. Fuck this stuff. it's an angry 1/5.
pretty accessible psychedelic rock with some darker, jazzy blues riffs, and a vague desert-y vibe. Good contemplation music. A bit too long for a casual listen.
Maybe it was subversive, edgy or outsider when it first came out but it sounds a lot like every jam band since. Reminded me of the Grateful Dead or Jefferson Airplane. I'm not sure why this would be considered important unless it were earlier than the Grateful Dead or Jefferson Airplane and influenced them.
This album is a great guitar solo, don’t think I needed to hear it though
A song I vaguely know followed by 40 minutes of what sounds like people tuning their instruments, concluded by the worst version of Happy Trails I've ever heard.
Saved Prior: None Saved Off Rip: None Cutting Edge: None Overall Notes: This is one of those albums where it inspired a lot of music that ended up being much better. The first couple of tracks were pretty cool how they overlapped and sounded like one long jam session, but not something I'll be returning to.
As much as the music wasn’t at all offensive, I didn’t really enjoy listening to a band jam for 30mins. It wasn’t terrible music and would normally be a 2 star, but because half the album is a cover, I have to mark it down as I did for The Sonics. The infamous “star rating system” is nothing without consistency.
Wow drugs
truly dreadful. First song is one verse of a Bo Diddley song then 20 minutes of uninspired blues noodling. And that's the highlight! Each track gets steadily worse, with awful hippy grunting on top of amateur guitar riffing. 2nd to last track is literally 13 minutes where nothing happens at all, but even this is preferable to the final track which is as brief as it is awful. might be one of the worst albums I have ever endured.
This album shouldn’t work as well as it does. I feel like if you asked anyone if they want to listen to a half hour rendition of Who Do You Love they would say no. But if you just put this album on without any context they’d think it kicks ass
Holy fuck. What have I been doing with my life that I haven't listened to this before now? This is exactly what I want out of psychedelic blues rock. A whole side dedicated to an absolute killer rendition of "Who Do You Love?" Yes please! I am now looking for the Pure Pleasure pressing of this as soon as I'm done my vinyl diet.
Who spiked my LSD with retrospective adulation? I had a good time with this. Brings to mind Paul Butterfield’s Blues Band - this is a compliment. Those were the days: you could amble onstage dragging curly leads, thwack off over a couple of Bo Diddley covers for an hour, and then sixty years later have some faded Gen-X’er be compelled to write about your vintage jizz as it is now classic jizz that you must listen to before you die. Sounded even better on second listen and only didn’t make it to a four because the last song annoyed me. Reading the Wikipedia page on this album is confusing fun; reading QMS’s Wikipedia page is confusing poignancy - you can tell they were legit from the premature deaths with tints of bitterness, ey.
Per Wikipedia: Quicksilver Messenger Service began as a SF-based horseback courier, but was forced to pivot their business to psych rock after an unfortunate sexual incident involving a large, valuable parcel and an Appaloosa. Tip of the hat to QMS for somehow, against all odds, squeezing a half hour of juice out of the 2 chord Bo Diddly beat and keeping it pretty interesting. C+ Also very interested to see Josh's review since he usually isn't a fan of live albums but has a special place in his heart for QMS.
Its ok but not interesting enough to get away with no Lyrics. 2/5
The first 25 minutes or so is a very long and experimental version of Bo Diddly's 'Who Do You Love'? that meanders around pretty aimlessly and doesn't ever come close to being as good as Bo's version. So there's that. It's not a 1/5 but it's unspectacular. Heard better stuff from bands who were wildly off their tits in the same era.
this is like the musical equivalent of those 52-in-1 game cartridges for the NES. theres country, jazz, psych rock, blues, and even ambient on Cavalry???????????????? and why are half of the songs named one of the 5 W's with "You Love" stuck on the end???????? this may be the weirdest one yet.
Love that this was recorded live and hat hte musicians just put thier stamp on some Bo Diddley tunes. Great psych rock record to listen to.
A hidden gem.
Alright I’m biased as a big fan of psychedelic bands from the 60s, especially ones from San Francisco, but surprisingly I didn’t know much about quicksilver other than hearing who do you love on car commercials. I thought about giving it a 4 because it certainly won’t appeal to everyone or be “objectively” great, but it’s accomplishes everything it’s going for and more. It’s an impressive feat to be a musically talented half forgotten live acid band in the 60s and yet still have your music played in mainstream 2020 commercials.
the past 2 acid rock albums ive heard were both pretty underwhelming, but this one was great!!! about half the album is taken up by one long continuous track, apparently it's a bo diddley cover? im gonna be honest ive never heard a bo diddley song i dont think. maybe one on the radio but thats it. the cover is really good though, it goes thru a ton of sections that're all pretty cool (Where You Love is some rly weird improvisational bs for 1969), and the guitar tones are really good. Mona isnt my favorite thing ever but it picks right back up after that! also worth mentioning: this is the first live album ive gotten from this site! not sure how many there are :o very nice guitar tones on here, cool noodling. most of it is instrumental (i kept forgetting there was a vocalist at all) so its pretty nice to put on in the background and just let it go wild in the back of ur brain. great stuff :D 9/10
What the f——-? Mind blowing guitar solos. Like Roy Rogers on acid. Loads of fun but I don’t think I’ll be listening to it again except as mood music for my apocalyptic western RPG.
Half the album sounds like an improvised jam session and I am absolutely on board with that. A joyous treat of psychedelic rock and amazing guitar work. Will definitely stay in rotation for me.
Fantastic long form 60’s psych. Experimental and jammy, with touches of avant-garde guitar interplay, noise and feedback, you can hear the influence this record might have had on a band like Sonic Youth. With such a dynamic sense of improvisation and tight rhythmic focus in these live performances, I’m left wondering, “Why on earth would anyone listen to the Grateful Dead when this exists?”
Reminds of my first job in high school, working for the Cheyenne Messenger Service. Used to deliver daily telegrams to ol' Tracy McCraken at the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. He'd sometimes scold me for being late, other times he'd buy me a beer from the Railspur across the street. Then me and the fellas would roll up a joint and listen to Happy Trails behind the rail yard. I dreamed of better days, not realizing I was living them all along. Happy trails my friends, happy trails.
It's ok. Just fine. Don't know why I had to listen to it though. I'm from the SF Bay Area and never heard of Quicksilver Messenger Service before.
Literally just 50 minutes of boomers noodling on guitars. 4/10
No. 229/1001 What Do You Love Pt. 1 3/5 When You Love 3/5 Where You Love 1/5 How You Love 2/5 Which Do You Love 2/5 What Do You Love Pt. 2 3/5 Mona 2/5 Maiden of the Cancer Moon 3/5 Calvary 2/5 (2x) Happy Trails 2/5 Average: 2,27 Didn't enjoy this one.
Loved it, loved their other music as well
Three takeaways: - Kevin Bacon was a terrible day trader, but didn't know he made music - "happy trails" -heh - Where You Love is terrible - otherwise this is one of the greatest stoner rock albums ever -
Awesome psych rock album, great solos
Возвращаюсь в игру. Тру Детектив + Джентльмены Гая Ричи (в подтверждение!!! у меня после окончания альбома медиатека продолжила проигравание похожего и включила Cream — Sunshine of your love из Джентльменов) Такое я люблю Очень приятные мне звучание и музыкальность, кайфово просто сидеть и слушать, следя за мелодией
A live album, the first track, "Who Do You Love Suite", which would have occupied the whole of the first side of the original vinyl album, is a 25-minute cover of Bo Diddley's "Who Do You Love?" in classic 1960's Psychedelic Rock / Acid Rock style. A great album.
YES! So trippy. Where has this been all my life???
Loved this album. A staple in psychedelic rock
Over half the album is one big fucking jam. Sick
It would’ve been better as a concert film, but regardless, it’s wonderful. Groovy, dynamic, artistic, I’ll definitely come back to this.
10/10 super nice, proggy stuff love it
очень круто! треки перетекают один в другой, альбом как одна полу-импровизационная композиция (как выяснилось (так пишут в вики) - смесь рока и джаза) захотелось снять короткий метр построенный полностью на хэппи трэйлс (что опять же говорит о его структуре)
This project's taught me that I don't like the wider world of 60s psych rock as much as I thought, so it's great to find something that sounds like what I actually had in mind. Y'know, jam music
Meu favorito até agora! Kkkk Muito bom. É bem mais rico do que os outros que eu escutei até agora. 5/5. Definitivamente.
Tasty tasty psychedelic rock! This album has been one of my favorites since my deadbeat school buddies listened to it getting high. Amazing guitar work, joyful jamming. Sure, a bit self-indulgent but I put myself in the shoes of the grooving hippies who got to see John Cippolina live. The man definitely deserves a spot on this list, and this album (especially side 1) shows him off at his finest. Favorite tracks - When You Love
Sent me into a trance with it’s 27 minute track - not sure it’s for me but love the audacity and enjoyed it over a pint as I’m sure is best
This is a wonderful tribute to Bo Diddly. Most of the album is comprised of Bo Diddy covers or Bo Diddly inspired tunes. Side one is a tour de force - Who Do You Love Suite. Almost all rock groups in the late 60s and 70s wore the Bio Diddly influence on their sleeves for a song or tune. What Quicksilver Messenger Service did was something different. Rather than simply play or modify the famous Bo Diddly rhythm, they use it as a starting point and explore all the intricacies contained therein. I also love that it was recorded live at Fillmore East and Fillmore West, but they don’t tell us which coast.
kärlek som tema, ett koncept kanske. trevligt koncept 60-tal. och en gunghaj spelar gitarr och en flaska rom. tyvärr inte rom utan droger. eftersom ett gäng narkomaner. DRUGMAN!!! DRUG FREAKS!!! de gjorde fortfarande bra musik även om det inte fanns något mandat att använda dessa droger om det skulle behövas wjere do you love
Instrumental 60's rock. Yes, please.
This was right up my wheelhouse. I was wondering how long track 1 could be when I looked and realized I was deep into track 3. I mean that as a compliment. The whole first side of this album was a fantastic and interesting jam. Like the pig-pen era Grateful Dead with a harder and tighter edge. Great guitar parts. I never heard to this and will come back to this for sure.
honestly the best album here so far with the nick drake one, love the transitions, love the grooves, love the cover, just a great vibe generally
I dig this a lot.
Fantastic freak out medley on side 1. Then "Mona" Maiden Of The Cancer Moon" Does any other album scream San Francisco more than this?
I'm not even finished listening to it and I'm giving it five stars and putting it on the playlist for when I go up to the cottage with my girl to get real high and f*** all weekend
I'd never heard of them until now, but having listened to the album everything suddenly makes sense. A definite missing link in psych-rock, and they seem pretty influential too.
Dødskult og rar psychedelisk rock med innslag av americana/country
Loved this.
Somewhere in the last 30 years I became that guy that can happily listen to something like this because I wouldn't have had the patience years ago. Don’t know how that happened but I don’t mind that it did. Some of my friends today will likely be dismayed by my favorite song pick. I really was surprised how into this I was. Closing with "Happy Trails" was a great touch! The perfect transition back into real life after a groovy listen.
I don't always love long long wandering rock, but it must have been the day because I liked this fine. It went well with a long long wandering walk.
Exceeded my expectations. Starts as fairly common 60s rock, then shines with seamless song transitions and fascinating experimentation.
4.25
Very good.
Not bad but not perfect, side one is just really nice though
Alrighty, from Donovan's drippy end of psychedelia, to the proggy jam band guitar wailing end. I enjoyed this a lot. Fave track - the entire first 6 tracks being one long noodly "Who Do You Love?"
Better than I was expecting it to be, based on the reviews. Unlikely to make it into rotation though.
super pour marché à l'ombre quand il fait chaud
Psychedelic Rock Bo Diddley remixes 13 minute instrumental A lot of guitar riffs
Every so often there comes an album where the music does more of the talking than the vocals do. This is one of those. It is not for lack of singing, but for what little lyrics are presented on this album, the music makes up for in giving those few words gravitas and meaning. This is hard to do either direction, but QMS dare it be said delivers so nicely here. This is not a well-balanced album in that sense, there are moments where a verse or at least a bridge would be a welcomed break in the groove, but overall no regrets are to be had here. While not exactly experimental in which the music feels aimless, it does have a trip-trance-like ebb and flow where the journey does not feel blind, as though the music is the resolve and that is where the strength of this album lies in comparison to other psychedelic offerings. Each key change, or change in melody is a resolve, the music feels complete in that sense. While some experimental or psychedelic music puts an emphasis on being lost, where QMS delivers better is best summed up by Tolkein's Gandalf, where not all who wander are lost. The 12-minute track "Calvary" is a decent example of this. If using one's imagination they could build an anthology story in their own mind of what each section could be about, and build a fitting end to each. The album is simply satisfying.
This album cover really made me think this would be a country soundtrack or something so I was pleasantly surprised by the club style psych rock I was met with. The first half being split up seemed a little pointless to me but if that's the way they wanted to present it, I think it's a cool idea. Overall - 8.1
Enjoyable classic rock music.. right up my alley.
Vaguely remember the group's name but never heard their music. Liked it.
A nice slice of psychedelia. Like a DJ trance mix with guitars. A total surprise and definitely one I'll revisit.
What a great album. It was like discovering another early Grateful Dead I never heard of. Must have been a wild party in those San Fran days!
I really liked this album so much more than expected.
I kinda dig this album. The guitar-work in particular is awesome.
Love the concept of blowing a song up this much but a lot of it winds up sounding samey
Cool mostly instrumental album.
Groovy, gritty and legit bluesy psychedelia. The vocals aren't exactly soaring, but the axe explorations are steadily impressive and totally diggable. Dumb ending cut, though. Had to be there, one supposes, and wouldn't that have been fun, at either Fillmore.
Cool jam bad album, starts out strong with "Who do you love" and is basically a set. Solid song changes. Lots of mood changes. Cool album
Good album! Transitions songs really well
Zuivere rockmuziek live gebracht. Erg leuk album
Really cool, A side is phenomenal but B side got a little boring, it’ll get played again
Love me some psych rock and extended jams are my jam so this was right up my alley. The side B tracks are great too.
Hmmm. They show up with three KSHE Klassics, but none on this album. Fun to listen to, but mostly instrumental. Many of the songs are variations of Bo Diddley's "Who do you Love". I like it. Good jamming background music.
Great psych/acid rock. Really shows the artistry that took over Haight/Ashbury in the late 60s.
A little self indulgent, but a lot of fun nevertheless.
Yup. Gonna keep this one on a faves list for a while. I can see it now.
It was good. Jazzy in a way that reminded me of Jethro Tull. I would definitely listen to it again.
Loved it, very chill.
A very specific mood. It's nice, hippie alt rock realness
My dad has this record, I heard it a few times in high school because it was one of his favorites so even though it's the 1990s this is blasting out of the speakers in our home. It's a good record to my ears still. I like the psych. And I probably got that from my POP. But also, you see, there's this Boris record Rainbow with guest guitarist Michio Kurihara who likened inspiration for his tone to the tone of the lead guitar on this record. And, all I have to say is that as good as Happy Trails is that Rainbow record slays it. So it's hard to not rate this one relatively and in that context.
really enjoyed listening to the first few, nothing mindblowing
So 60s, so viby
Achei que fosse mais musica de cowbory corno mas parece mais um Deep Purple!
Verloop good music, i like the guitar parts
I wasn't holding out a lot of hope for this based on the name and the cover art, but it's true what they say about assumptions. I really liked this album. It was really ahead of its time given the whole "do you love" theme, connected tracks that bleed together, and the fact that they seem to have beaten everyone to the drug-rock era (clear and obvious influence on the Doors and others). I'm giving it a bump in the rating just for being early to this scene.
4/5. Jammy electric guitar riffs and solos, with upbeat drum kicks and deep-voiced vocals. The first 25 minutes is just one long, rambling and waning guitar riff. Great background music for introspective, manly things.
@@@½. all-time classic, nice playing, hippie stuff.
Well I was kind of distracted so I will listen again. Sounded indulgent. But I think when I listen again with my headphones I will really like it. So going to give it a four.