Happy Trails

Felt like this melted out of my brain as soon as I stopped listening to it. It was some sort of instrumental classic rock as far as I recall but there didn't seem to be enough going on to carry it without lyrics. Mostly sounded like a jam session. It was decent enough I think, could have possibly been very influential if they were an early example of this sort of thing but cant imagine I'll ever be back. 2.5 I guess.

I really didn't mind it when it was on, but immediately forgot any of the tracks coming to write this review. Mary was good, but disappeared down itself a bit.

2 very similar albums, both from 1969, back to back. Again, enjoyed it. Probably more backgroundy than Credence yesterday. Also very kinda progressive and meandering compared to yesterdays. Prog blues rock. 3.5

Seems to be beloved by critics, but didn't grip me. The live tracks have excellent audio quality and I like the covers, but I won't return to this album.

Heard of them, but never heard them. They're OK.

I come back from vacation and pausing my activity, and the first album I get is called "Happy Trails". It's funny how such coincidences can happen. Anyway, I can't say that I've heard of the Quicksilver Messenger Service before. They are a psychedelic rock band that broke big in the San Francisco Bay Area as part of a wave of album-oriented acts that didn't rely on singles to achieve success. This album, in particular, is a compilation of live performances across both Fillmore venues and various studio recordings and overdubs. After giving it a listen, I consider it a decent record, albeit more as a novelty than anything truly innovative. The focus of this record is on the covers they pulled off, specifically the 25-minute medley of Bo Diddley's "Who Do You Love", running through multiple movements of sweeping guitar and bass improvisations. It's technically impressive with the degree to which they played their instruments and came up with new renditions for that song and the other Bo Diddley cover, "Mona". But outside of the group's demonstrated skill on those covers and a few original instrumental compositions that were fine, there isn't much to write home about here. Happy Trails is a solid album for sure, but in the grand scheme of psychedelic rock, I wouldn't consider it that much of a standout. Take that as you will.

6/10 classic rock, easy listening, inoffensive, some sweet guitar

Nice jam album. 3/5

Not at all what I was expecting from the cover, but a pretty good classic rock album. Not sure I'll spend much time coming back to it, but it was a fun listen.

Reminded me of a computer game I used to play.

Hippy Trails! Good album from its time.

Excellent sounds, and some types of melodies were very unique and evoked some interesting and fantastical images, of folksy rock bands sitting around watching each other figure out how to play their instruments yet somehow it all bledning together nicely. This does not follow pop song structure, which was fun. You never knew what was happening next. A bit repetitive on repeat and I often wasn't sure I was hearing the next song or if it was still the same song.

Alright

I found this to be a good album. Nothing to get excited about. Perhaps the longest version of “Who Do You Love?” ever recorded for no particular reason.

veel genoedel

zwei bis drei

i didn't know this at all, but i liked it

I like Who Do You Love...but an entire album of it? It's too much. Jam-bandy. Not bad but not that interesting to me.

I actually enjoyed the cover of Who Do You Love and the solos quite a bit. it's a fun take on a cover and well-performed, especially as I do really enjoy extended, jam-y (re-)interpretations of songs. seems like most of this album is covers though. overall, it's pleasant to listen to, but not exactly a standout already for that reason alone.

2.6 Another 60s gig I didn't ask to go to. Like most of these albums that have appeared, probably be great to be there on the day with some acid but 60 years later, sober at work, it isn't really hitting very well.

Good 60s instrumental music.

Ehhh idk i think its good but not my taste

Es curioso: por lo general, no me gustan las jam bands, y, sin embargo, hasta ahora los dos álbumes de jam rock que me ha tocado escuchar (uno de The Grateful Dead y este) me han encantado. Me flipa que esta gente haya podido tomar una canción de rock'n'roll clásico de menos de tres minutos de duración y extenderla hasta los 25 minutos sin que llegue a aburrir. Y para más inri, se trata de una canción bastante peculiar, con esa clave de son tan característica de Bo Diddley, lo que hace el jam aún más interesante. El resto de los temas tampoco están nada mal, típico rock psicodélico virtuoso de finales de los 60. Mención aparte merece el tema "Calvary", con sus influencias flamencas. Un disco del que solo conocía su primer tema, y que me ha encantado descubrir en profundidad.

It’s chiil

3.5

Good kinda boring but good

I hope you like “Who Do You Love” by Bo Diddley because it’s half the record. This is classic 60s era live psychedelic noodling in the same vein as The Dead’s Live/Dead. If you like that, this is a masterpiece. If not, you might find this a self-indulgent bore. I’m in the middle.

***

Not the best, but far from being the worst. Psychedelic rock typical of the late 60s/70s. Jazzy, bluesy, noodly kind of rock. Listenable, but rather too long.

Cool, kinda full on

Side A is one long jam. Some good background music and very few vocals. I can appreciate it. Where do You Love is kinda jarring and goes nowhere. I had a mostly pleasant, positive experience with this album. You don't have to actively listen to it. It sounds better than most live albums.

The skill in musicality was definitely evident in the guitar playing and composition, however more vocals would have pushed this above to a 4 and possibly above.

++: Who Do You Love Suite: Who Do You Love (Part 1), Who Do You Love Suite: When You Love, Who Do You Love Suite: Where You Love, Who Do You Love Suite: How You Love, Who Do You Love Suite: Which Do You Love, Who Do You Love Suite: Who Do You Love (Part 2), Happy Trails +: Maiden of the Cancer Moon, Calvary +-: Mona 7,6/10

Between the Doors and Led Zep but not as good as either. Indulgent noodling on the guitars mostly. Back half is a bit original and almost saves it. 2.85

No idea what I was getting into here, but did not use a private spotify session. A lot of this album is an Bo Diddley extend cover. I listened to this album twice, but I don't seem to have any strong feelings toward it, neither positive or negative.

okay lots of good ideas here guys lots of good ideas

Enjoyable classic rock. Very American, a little folky. Favorites: Mona, Who Do You Love Pt 1, Calvary

Nice album for its age seems to answer the question who what where with 1 track spread over 5 Songs

Loose, bluesy, and way too long in spots, but I was vibing more than I expected. A beautiful mess.

cowboy rock. Calm.

Listening to this may not teach you How You Love. Though it may tell you Where You Love.

I'm mostly interested in this band because they definitely influenced some live bands I grew up around. That said, I don't really love taking a song out this long. They had a bit of instrumental variety, so it wasn't all bad. It's just not my cup of tea.

It’s okay I guess

As someone who likes 60s psychedelia, jam band shit, and patience-testing exercises, I like this. Do I love it? No. It’s one of those “hidden gems” you see record collectors pull out and can’t understand why they love so much. I enjoy it when it’s on but I can’t see myself returning to it.

This was a good album, but it really just came and went. Anytime I was tuned in it was perfectly fine, but I often forgot I was listening to anything. 3.5, but never really caught my attention so I'll round down

I think the Grateful Dead heard this and was like “we can do better”

Not the genre I was expecting based on the title, but it was alright. Vocals could have been a little better.

Classic free form concert fare from 1969. Plus it's got that Bo Diddley beat, so fire up the hi-fi and listen to this album.

Somewhat of its time, but interesting in parts. 3/5

This was ok, just kind of long feeling. 3/5

Heel raar, en nogal ongefocust. Met vlagen leuk.

It could be my ADD but I just lose track of what I’m listening to a track or so into a record like this. Maybe it’s a good or great record but it’s not something I personally care for.

Neat

Prior to getting this album on the list, I had never to my knowledge ever heard this band (though I had heard of them). Side one appears to consisy of an extended workout of versions of Bo Diddley's Who Do You Love. There more Bo Diddley on side two as well. All in all, it's a pretty ordinary sort of psych album. Not something I'd rush back to.

This was not what I expected based on the cover. Fine enough jammy blues songs, won't be revisiting.

Odd, but enjoyable. Thursday afternoon in a dive bar in the US vibes. Not too much call for that kind of music in my life, but also not something I'd rush to the jukebox to change.

Listened to this a few times. I enjoyed it overall but can’t help but toss it in the #bg bucket as another album where I had a hard time actually staying engaged and it just became background music. But hey, good background is still a vibe.

Music

Some very strong tracks but others dragged on too long reminded us too much of experimental jazz solos.

вполне понравилось, конечно ничего не добавил к себе но всё же

Lord, they born a ramblin' band. Tryin' to write an album but doin' the best they can. When it's time for ratin', I hope they understand, I can't stand a ramblin' band.

hey wait a sec!! did these guys influence the Dead? Why are they reminding me so much of them

I'll buy. If you're going do it. Go all in. These boys certainly do. Riding a simple riff from dusk til dawn - it transports to a time and place. Seems like a pretty good place to visit. Way better thank I would have expected. And one star better than Steely Dan.

decent sound, kind of reminds me of the Doors or Cream. Probably 3.5.

Instrumentalnie fantastyczne dzieło. Z jednej strony mnóstwo indywidualnych popisów, z drugiej to wciąż klimat muzyki rozrywkowej, relatywnie niewiele jest takich ciężkostrawnych momentów dla koneserów ("Where You Love" to chyba najbardziej awangardowy utwór, jedyny faktycznie trudny). Brzmieniowo jest to moim zdaniem bardzo nietypowy album. Ani to rock, ani jazz, ani funk. Trochę eksperymentalny, a trochę jednak rozrywkowy. Ciekawa rzecz. Nie jest to do końca mój styl, ale bardzo szanuję wysoką jakość muzyków. Myślę, że gdyby Ci sami ludzie zrobili podobny album w połowie lat 70-tych, kiedy już Floydzi wywarli swój wpływ na muzykę, to powstałoby coś jeszcze lepszego. Ale i tak mega solidny krążek.

Moderate trails.

Nice jamming. I can see why the first side isn't for everyone considering it's basically just one long 20 minute plus song, but I really enjoyed it. Second half not quite as good but still a very decent album.

Y'know, before I started listening to this album, I felt like I had to ask myself a simple question: do I actually like jamming or not? Now, I'm the first person in my group who'll defend live albums to the dickens and back for capturing a band's sound like a studio album never could, but... Jamming, specifically. The art of noodling around, live on stage. Is that a part of live albums I actually enjoy? I'm only asking myself this 'coz... Well, this is a late 60's psych rock live album. The last time my group had to deal with something like that, it was the Grateful Dead's LIVE/DEAD, and I wasn't exactly a huge fan of that one. As much as I felt like I could understand where Deadheads are talking about when they bring up the group's "intangible X factor" — the group's "vibe," in a simpler word... Frankly, I just wasn't too impressed. Vibes can only take me so far. I mean, you can describe "Dark Star" as "entangling yourself in a field of energy" all you want, but eventually I'm gonna need a hook to ground myself with before it all just starts sounding like noise. Luckily, thankfully, this album didn't really have that problem — not entirely, anyway. I don't know if I'd say this band is better players or jammers than the Grateful Dead, but dang it, they actually managed to play a couple of melodies I could latch onto. Even when I wasn't entirely focused on it, it still made for better, more pleasant ear wallpaper than the Grateful Dead's album did. It's absolutely not what I was expecting from an album that spends its entire first side on an extended Bo Diddley cover. Still, as pleasantly surprised as I was by this album, I don't wanna act like I'm too crazy for it. I'll mention again that large parts of it ended up as ear wallpaper — and as I've said before, I don't think that sort of thing is bad or invalid. However, at the same time... Y'know? I'unno. I mean, it's not like I'm gonna remember terribly much of this album even a day from now, and I doubt I'll ever really feel the need to listen to it again. Why would I, when I have better live albums **and** better ear wallpaper? 'Coz, yeah, I didn't dislike this album, but... Yeah, no, I can't really name the "intangible X factor" that's supposed to make me wanna come back. 'Coz it's not like this album doesn't dip into its share of noise either. So... This thing's a 3? Is a 3 fair? That's the same rating I give LIVE/DEAD, and while I **do** mean this 3 in a much more positive way than I did that 3... Yeah. At the very least, it did reaffirm that I can like jamming as long as it doesn't end up as "vibes" noise. Hopefully that carries over to something like Deep Purple's MADE IN JAPAN, but, y'know, we'll see. Well, happy trails, Quicksilver, I guess. I'unno if we'll ever cross paths again, but... 'Ey, you never know.

Not much that I can say asides from this just being some decent live psychedelic rock. Solid 3 Stars.

I was around, but I was never a big fan.

Vooral instrumentale gitaarmuziek. Prima te luisteren, maar ik zou het album zelf niet kopen. ***

Happy Trails is a wild, trippy ride through the psychedelic '60s, with Quicksilver Messenger Service delivering a sprawling, jam-heavy experience. Their extended reimagining of Bo Diddley’s "Who Do You Love" is a hypnotic, guitar-driven journey that’ll either blow your mind or test your patience—depending on how much you enjoy unfiltered improvisation. While the album’s experimental nature might alienate casual listeners, its raw energy and iconic guitar work make it a must-hear for diehard fans of psychedelic rock. Just be prepared to embrace the weirdness—Side B in particular might push you to the edge of your attention span.

6/10

3/5

I have no proper introduction for this band. Because I have zero knowledge of them, and even after doing a quick Google search on them, there isn’t much to see either way. This group didn’t gain nearly as much of the success that their 60s psychedelic contemporaries, like Jefferson Airplane, received. So I guess I’ll just get straight into the music itself. This isn’t labeled as a live album, but it is technically one, since all of the material here was performed live at the Fillmore East and Fillmore West. Although it isn’t known from when or where came what songs. And this can basically be split into two parts. The first of which occupies the entirety of the A-side. Titled simply as the “Who Do You Love” suite, it is a much more drawn out and very exhaustive cover of Bo Diddley’s song Who Do You Love? The original is less than three minutes long, and this cover is nearly 15 times the length of that. And they sound completely different in almost every way. It’s a bit of a strange song to cover, especially at such a dramatic length. This suite of songs isn’t too far off from what other psychedelic jams bands of the same era were doing. The other half of the album is composed of four songs that are separate from each other, but all fade into one another. I believe these are all original material, but they still fall into the same category of music as the cover. The one positive I can give this before I explain why I don’t like this is that the production is actually solid. Especially in terms of how the bass sounds. Maybe one of the most surprisingly full bass sounds I’ve heard from the decade. My gripes are very plain and simple. This is just boring. There isn’t a part of me that is capable of viewing what is basically band members twiddling with their instruments mindlessly for nearly an hour a proper jam. Or even a properly enjoyable listening experience. I had hoped the shorter and more conventional songs would provide me with something. But they are just as directionless as the cover song. There are sparing moments of something interesting here and there, but those usually come before or after an unnecessarily long section of buildup. Buildup which often leads to a very uninteresting climactic moment. Sucks that something with such a cool cover contains music which is the antithesis of how good this kind of music can be. Rating: 5/10

No more than OK

It’s just one long song played over a single jam session. 5/10

Good jammin

I was pretty sure I was going to hate this, but it just ended up being pretty inoffensive. It's not great, but I kinda get why it's here. Total jam band nonsense though. Keep this and get rid of Live/Dead.

It flows well. Maybe too well because I felt there were barely moments that stood out.

Excellent guitar. Really dug the first 5 songs. But it was very repetitive. And I lost interest after that.

Interesting guitar work but it all seemed to run together after a time.

Excellent psychedelic rock with a flair for the theatrical. The songwriting didn’t stand out to me as much as the style and the energy of the performances. Lots of great jamming in these live recordings.

At the first guitar entrance to the first track, I was really getting an initial feeling that the sound of this record would reflect the album art; maybe some western American story of a messenger cowboy leaving his wife in a hurry to tell the nearby town the breaking news of some important event that has been shared with him. Then after only about 20 seconds it breaks into a classic rock jam, which admittedly was a bit of a let down. I'm not upset about it, but I was expecting something a little more cinematic. My fault for judging a book its' cover. The sound overall is nice and I don't dislike it. It's a little bit standard and doesn't really throw enough at me to be super impressed. I liked the experimenting of the guitarist(s) in the third track, "Where you Love" though.

Country rock, casi todo melódico. Suenan bien.

Tolle Musik.

very neat.

Cool album! The cover art reflected the feeling I got from the album: Some western vibes with a modern take. I usually don't like these kind of records that just sound the same throughout the whole album. It is quite standard rock in some sense, but the guitar just sounds so gritty and cool, and that paired together with the overall theme just works very well for me somehow. Makes me want to go camping in the Rocky Mountains or something. There is not really any single song that stands out that much, but it is more the complete package as a whole that is good. If I have to name any songs, it's probably 'Who Do You Love - Pt. 1', 'Mona', and 'Maiden Of The Cancer Moon'. Overall cool record, strong 3.

It’s pretty much one long jam.

Very cool - kind of like a dirtier Dead in some ways

Turns out I like excessively long jam band freakouts better than I like excessively long prog rock tunes. Not bad if you're into that sort of thing.

Didn’t hate this one but didn’t love it. Of all the San Francisco psych stuff I find it probably the least interesting

OK

As late 60s live albums go, it’s not bad. A bit jammy and jazzy, so not bad as background music, but it’s far too repetitive.

5.5/10

good

## In-Depth Review of *Happy Trails* by Quicksilver Messenger Service Released on March 17, 1969, *Happy Trails* stands as a significant entry in the psychedelic rock genre, showcasing the unique sound and improvisational prowess of Quicksilver Messenger Service (QMS). This live album captures the essence of the San Francisco music scene and reflects the band's innovative spirit during a transformative era in rock music. ### ****Album Overview *Happy Trails* is notable for being a live album recorded at the iconic Fillmore East and West venues. It features a blend of original compositions and covers, primarily centered around Bo Diddley’s "Who Do You Love," which occupies the entire first side of the record. The album's structure is ambitious, with the first side consisting of a continuous suite that spans over 25 minutes. ### ****Musical Composition The musical landscape of *Happy Trails* is characterized by its intricate guitar work, fluid improvisation, and a fusion of rock with blues and psychedelia. - **Instrumentation**: The album prominently features John Cipollina's distinctive guitar style, which oscillates between sweet melodies and harsh feedback. His interplay with Gary Duncan’s rhythm guitar creates a dynamic sound that is both layered and engaging. - **Improvisation**: The band’s ability to improvise is evident throughout the album. Tracks like "Calvary" showcase extended instrumental passages that highlight each member's musicianship, particularly in their ability to maintain cohesion while exploring spontaneous musical ideas. - **Production Quality**: Recorded live, the production captures the raw energy of QMS's performances. The sound is clear and vibrant, allowing listeners to experience the immediacy of a live concert. The mixing balances the instruments well, ensuring that no single element overpowers another. ### ****Lyric Analysis Lyrically, *Happy Trails* reflects themes common in psychedelic music, including exploration, love, and existential musings. - **"Who Do You Love"**: This track serves as a vehicle for lyrical exploration through its episodic structure. The lyrics convey a sense of searching and longing, enhanced by the song's shifting musical motifs. - **"Mona"**: Another Bo Diddley cover, "Mona" features lyrics that celebrate romantic desire while maintaining a rhythmic drive that complements its blues roots. - **Original Compositions**: Other tracks like "Calvary" are largely instrumental but evoke imagery through their musicality rather than explicit lyrics. The absence of traditional lyrical content allows for a more abstract interpretation, inviting listeners to engage with the music on a deeper emotional level. ### ****Themes Thematically, *Happy Trails* encapsulates several key aspects of the late 1960s counterculture: - **Exploration and Freedom**: The album embodies the spirit of exploration—both musically and personally—reflecting the era's fascination with freedom and self-discovery. - **Psychedelia**: The influence of psychedelic experiences is palpable throughout the album. The title itself suggests a journey influenced by hallucinatory experiences, which aligns with the cultural context of LSD use during this period. - **Connection to Nature**: Tracks like "Calvary" evoke imagery reminiscent of vast landscapes and natural beauty, suggesting an intrinsic connection between music and nature. ### ****Influence *Happy Trails* has had a lasting impact on both contemporary music and the legacy of psychedelic rock: - **Cultural Significance**: As part of the San Francisco sound, it helped define an era in rock music characterized by experimentation and improvisation. Its influence can be seen in later bands that embraced similar musical philosophies. - **Legacy**: Although it did not achieve immediate commercial success comparable to other albums from that era (like Jefferson Airplane’s *Surrealistic Pillow*), *Happy Trails* has gained recognition over time as an essential work within QMS's discography and psychedelic rock as a whole. ### ****Pros and Cons #### Pros - **Innovative Structure**: The suite format of "Who Do You Love" showcases QMS's creativity and willingness to push musical boundaries. - **Musicianship**: Exceptional guitar work from Cipollina and Duncan highlights their technical skills and improvisational abilities. - **Cultural Reflection**: The album serves as a time capsule of 1960s counterculture, capturing themes relevant to its era. #### Cons - **Accessibility**: Its lengthy instrumental sections may deter casual listeners who prefer more structured songs with concise lyrics. - **Commercial Appeal**: Compared to contemporaries like The Grateful Dead or Jefferson Airplane, QMS did not achieve significant mainstream success during their peak years. - **Niche Audience**: While revered by fans of psychedelia, its experimental nature may limit its appeal to broader audiences unfamiliar with this style. ### ****Conclusion In summary, *Happy Trails* by Quicksilver Messenger Service remains a landmark album within the psychedelic rock genre. Its innovative approach to live performance, combined with rich musical textures and evocative themes, solidifies its place in music history. While it may not have reached widespread commercial acclaim during its initial release, its enduring influence continues to resonate with musicians and fans alike. Through its intricate compositions and exploratory spirit, *Happy Trails* invites listeners on a journey that reflects both personal introspection and collective cultural experiences from an unforgettable era in music.

мех

Kelpo musiikkia vuodelle 1969 ei samaa humpuukia jota alettiin musiikkimaailmassa tehdä silloin hehh stays in place....

I had not heard of Quicksilver Messenger Service. I'm glad this project introduced me. I like a good jam band, and QMS is a good jam band. The "Who Do You Love" suite is great! Excellent jamming. But even so, I can't quite put this at the 4-star level. The second half, for one, is weaker, although "Mona" is quite good. "Calvary", on the other hand, didn't need to be 13 and a half minutes long. It's a good album, but it's not 4 stars.

Man, I hate jam bands.

Definitely sounds like Bo Diddley - because the first half of the album is a Bo Diddley cover. I like what the band does, I just wish they would've used more than two chords. 3.25

Bit repetitive, but solid

Неплохо. Но не мое.

Happy Trails is a decent little album. This album does seem to go for a country sound for some of it despite the album mainly being psych rock and i think it sounds good here. The guitars themselves were really well handled and generally had some cool riffs and leads. However, the main issue with this album is one word, repetition. This album mostly consists of the same type of sound throughout and while it does sound good, with it's 50 minute runtime, it could get pretty tiring to listen to after a while. Despite that, this album is still a decent one that i don't regret listening to. Best Song: Who Do You Love Worst Song: Where You Love

More of a jam than an album. Electric blues in no hurry to get anywhere.

Meh

Not usually much for psychedelic jam bands, but this wasn’t half bad.

Got this one straight after the Black Keys and it’s odd how much the Black Keys want to be this.

Cool stuff! Very cool first side with one theme, and enjoyed the long song. Joe core. More enjoyable than expected!

O sea, está bien el disco, pero es como si estuviesen grabando un ensayo de los Doors al que faltó Manzarek y donde Jim Morrison estaba con resaca y pocas ganas de cantar y entonces se pusieron a zapar

Some of these songs are very familiar, and I've definitely heard them before. But not this version, e.g. Who do you love - pt.1 - I knew it from the OG Bo Diddly or George Thorogood's version.

This feels like the original jam band or something, but the whole album seems like 1 song. Who do you love? Normally I’d score this higher, but not feeling this one so much today.

i thought i had saved something on this, but it's a good representation of the 60s and 70s San Francisco hippie sound with psychedelic rock on a live recording.

Definitely need drugs for this

Overrated. Yes there’s some virtuoso playing, but it’s kind of a so what. You can get that anywhere. Does it have songs? No. Does it have good vocals? No. So it’s just a jam over a Bo Diddley track? Yea. Maybe I don’t get it, but this ain’t a classic.

Late 60s/early 70s guitar jamming. Unfortunately I recently listened to Carlos Santana, so this never stood a chance.

Interesting

Western vibes for sure. Wouldn’t return to this although it was a nice vibe while I’m out west

Didn't make much of an impression but was a pleasant enough listen. Good sort of psychedelic/ambient music.

Ok. Sounds like good prog rock of the era. Would probably love it if I'd grown up listening to it, or put in the effort now and have it several listens. But probably won't.

Though a lot of this album didn't capture my attention, the seamless transition between the first two tracks is always a huge plus for me. There were also a lot of good blends between 60s/70s rock and classic country which I appreciated. Overall a fine listen, but not one that was particularly memorable for me. Notable Tracks: - Who Do You Love - Pt. 1 - Maiden Of The Cancer Moon - Calvary - Happy Trails 6/10

I like guitar solos… but not this much.

Ohhhh these songs! Don't dislike, but am generally weary of the late 60's/early 70's genre (if you're paying attention, 1001 algo...). I can hear the undertones of blues and country throughout and appreciate the influence and recognizability this album has. The beginning of jam bands? Or maybe just an early example. In any case, without a muddy field, crocheted halter, and copious amounts of shitty beer... I won't listen again.

one hit. small hit. classic funky rock

Quite interesting. One chord vamps as done by Bo can be done well. This is. Wouldn’t we be better to hear Bo? Or early John Lee hooker? Nonetheless worth a listen. 2.5 The second side starts with another bo Diddley.

This album is so San Fran, psychedelic, Summer Of Love it ain’t funny. I found it to be a terrific listen. Bo Diddley can never get too many kudos for his contribution to rock & roll. I was lucky enough to see him at the Stagedoor Tavern in Sydney in December 1979. Like Chuck Berry, he would tour here without a band & pick up a local band to back him - I think they were called The Aliens. He was still great. And Q.M.S. do pretty well with their versions of Who Do You Love & Mona. John Cipolina’s guitar work is outstanding here, as it is on the 13-minute epic, Calvary. Roy Roger’s Happy Trails (I never knew it was written by his wife, Dale Evans) really takes me back to my childhood. Really enjoyed this album.

Faded into background noise, but not unenjoyable background noise.

Not what I expected. Not bad, not great.

Much more enjoyable to me than some of their San Fran Psych peers. Basically just a jam loosely based on Who Do You Love, very bluesy. If it weren't for the lengthy improv jams and jazzy parts, this would be a pretty straight forward live blues album.

hippies!

Happy Trails is a mesmerizing journey through psychedelic rock, highlighted by its sprawling jams and inventive guitar interplay. As someone unfamiliar with this album prior to this listen, I was struck immediately by the interplay between the two guitarists. The guitars often reminded me of early Santana albums, with intricate solos and melodic phrasing that feel both adventurous and familiar. One notable feature of the album is the way vocals are mixed—mostly subdued, a byproduct of its live recording at the Fillmores or just a creative decision made during mixing. The sparse vocal presence shifts the focus to the instrumental prowess of the band, allowing the extended guitar solos and improvisational jams to take center stage. The “zone-out” noisy sections are particularly compelling, drawing listeners into a trance-like state with their hypnotic quality. The crowd noise is mostly buried, a decision that might seem odd at first. However, this choice makes a key moment when audience interaction on “Where Do You Love” is brought to the forefront even more striking. The ambient mics capture the crowd’s energy on this section, adding an engaging layer to the live experience. The album’s centerpiece is the epic rendition of Bo Diddley’s “Who Do You Love,” which spans an entire side of the LP divided into six movements. This track showcases the band's ability to stretch out a song into a prolonged jam, filled with dynamic guitar interplay and a captivating bass solo that provides much-needed variety. Following this with another Bo Diddley song, “Mona,” which mirrors the exact same chord progression and jam format of “Who Do You Love,” which cracked me up. The slight variation in approach between the two tracks demonstrates the band’s ability to experiment within a consistent framework. “Calvary” stands out with its choir-like vocal sections that, although difficult to hear clearly, add a cinematic depth to the song. This ethereal quality might make it my favorite track on the album, adding a unique and evocative element to the overall experience. Overall, Happy Trails is a fascinating exploration of live psychedelic rock that successfully blends long jams, innovative musicianship, and trippy atmospheric experimentation. The album piques interest in Quicksilver Messenger Service’s broader discography, leaving me eager to delve further into their music. 3.5

Psychedelic rock is growing on me. This was a decent listen, although not terribly different from track to track.

Started nice but ended up getting bored. I’m not a fan of guitar noodling.

It has its fun moments, but there are also plenty of times when you think, 'OK, get on with it.'

Pretty much one long jam. Pretty cool

I normally don’t love albums where they’re just kind of jamming, but this was alright! “Calvary” was definitely too long.

Definitely more interesting than I expected. The first half medley is pretty decent with various solos or breakdowns which is nice. The second half might get a little dry at points. 6/10

Interesting listen 3/5

Weird but alright. Too long though.

Some good jamming

Far more enjoyable than I thought it’d be! Difficult to listen to on account of it being so old but solid.

Pleasant surprise - sort of experimental instrumental rock, reminiscent of some of Band of Gypsies. Mostly noodly guitar solos, but generally good

Not as bad as I thought it was going to be . Almost enjoyed it

They put a lot of heart into their jams. I can put my inner flower child at their show pretty easily, swaying to the psychedelic sounds. That said, I got a little bored with some of the jams too.

Some interesting stuff here, but probably would not listen again.

Quintessential, psychedelic rock music from the beginning of the genre.

Pretty chill

Album 441 of 1001 Quicksilver Messenger Service - Happy Trails Rating : 3 / 5 Just some jamming. It wasn't the greatest but it certainly wasn't the worst. You're not going to find any catchy tunes here. Just some decent music that will help you pass an hour.

Definitely not what I was expecting. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. The ideas are at times not developed enough to be truly interesting, but their musicianship is worth a listen nonetheless.

There are much more exciting bands from the San Francisco psychedelic scene to listen to. Competent but dragging.

Meanders a bit more than is justified, but what's psychedelic rock without some gratuitous noodling. Production quality is fantastic.

Well-executed psychedelic blues in same the vein of early Grateful Dead, but nothing that made me stand up and pay close attention.

This must be a one hit wonder group. I never heard of them and this is the time when I was listening to music a lot. It isn't music you can dance to and that's what we wanted in the 50's, 60's and 70's. It's more like background music for a movie or tv show.

I think the whole idea of the "Who Do You Love Suite" is a novel idea. It's just that I've heard "Who Do You Love" done a bunch of times, and I keep thinking of Bo Diddley or even George Thorogood as a better version. The intro to QMS' version is just not as exciting to me. "Calvary" kinda peters out at the end for me, and I wish there was more info as to where each of the songs was played (Fillmore East or West), but it sounds like the band was so high they probably don't remember. As it is, it's good, but doesn't stand out for me. I had always heard of these guys, but if this is their best, I'm glad I hadn't sought them out before.

Who Do You Love parts 1 and 2 are cool homages to Bo Diddley, as is Mona. They show the chops on guitar of John Cipollina and Gary Duncan and do acid rock in a way that is not annoying and/or tiresome. I'm not sure if I can say the same thing for the rest (15ish minutes) of the Who Do You Love Suite (i.e., side one). Those songs in between (almost solos for each band member) have some cool moments (distortion in the middle of Where You Love, pretty bitching guitars on all of How You Love) but it feels a little drawn out. I guess I could've done with a 15min jam session instead of a 25min jam session. Side two is more of the same - recorded in studio but produced to feel like a 25min jam session. While I'm good with the 7min Mona and the 3min Maiden of the Cancer Moon, I got less and less captivated as that side went on and I find myself a bit bored during the 13min Calvary. This album almost feels like a 3.5 - there's some great musicianship but it just kind of drags at times. Maybe if it was tighter I would've been more of a fan. Or maybe I'm being overly critical and not appreciating the musical mastery these guys produced. Whatever the case, I gave it an average rating. And I think the fact that I didn't really get into any of the similar tracks that Apple suggested afterward made me feel confident I was making the right choice.

Not bad, not great

Jam album, floated along like they do

I didn’t realize this would be jam band because I was expecting to hear the radio version of who do you love seeing the track list. I figured out early on they must have been recording live because everything seemed to blend together but was expecting more singing. I don’t mind jam bands when I’m in the mood but it always seems like they just know each others’ sound and play without really defining any specific songs (even the lyrics here sounded improvised) and I imagine a concert would never have the exact same version as the album (or any shows would be the same) which is cool when you’re in the mood for that. Not sure I would listen to the album again but would enjoy them live I’m sure!

Would've been a great Woodstock filler band.

Decent listen

A cool journey in early psychedelic/progressive rock

Jees psyche rockia. Sopii paremmin taustamusiikiksi, koska ilmeisesti livenä nauhoitettu niin kappaleet ajoittain aika improttuja ja päättömiä. Hyvä kokonaisuutena. Parhaat: Maiden Of The Cancer Moon, Who Do You Love Pt1 ja 2, Mona

Bold putting an extra long cover version of a full half of an album. I don’t think it’s the best cover of who do you love either. Overall this is a good jam/ psychedelic album, deserves to be on the list, but there are better examples of this music already in the book.

3.5

Ég hafði aldrei heyrt um þessa hljómsveit áður og hefði aldrei dottið í hug að hlusta á hana enda ekki mikið fyrir kántrí en svo er þetta bara ekki kántrí. Þetta er bara rokk eins og ég fíla það. Platan var bara hin prýðilegasta plata en það stóð samt ekkert upp úr. Ég myndi sem sagt hlusta á hana aftur en ég mun líklegast ekki muna eftir þeim.

Catching up, so I just finished this one this afternoon. It was cool though, I liked the vibe. Lots of jamming with no lyrics. Nice driving tunes.

When you think about the original final format of this album came in, it begins to make a lot more sense. The Who, When, Where, How, Which, and Who Do You Love are really just one 25 minute long song on side A. Although the rest of the songs on side B are named more uniquely, they really just blend right into each other. The whole album feels like two big cohesive songs. This is another example of an album that works better as a whole than any individual song song by itself.

Sixties blues jam rock. A great live exhibition, if that’s what you’re looking for.

Some guys jamming, but it got a bit out of hand, and now it's on a record

This reminds me of just about every basement jam I've been in in the 70's . At least it sounded that way to my fuzzy 18 year old brain. John Cipollina is well known by guitarists of that era. He was a very creative player and had some unconventional approaches to gear. I feel like this studio recording doesn't quite capture what these boys must have sounded like live

daora e dançante

This was an interesting experience. Firstly, the opening track is quite good. And I loved how each song transitioned into the next. That’s always something that easily draws me into an album. But after that first song, the others are not really that great. Way too many instrumentals here. I usually like those but this is too much. 6.5/10 Top 3: 1. Who Do You Love - Pt. 1 2. When You Love 3. Mona

Interessant. Stellenweise toll groovig. Stellenweise krass verspult

Jam band covers album. Interesting but not my favorite.

Don't judge a book by its cover - the artwork seems so random after listening to the album 🤷‍♂️ I'm not really into jam bands, but this was somewhat mesmerizing. I was surpirsed and impressed that it was actually live; the quality was great, especially for the time, and you wouldn't even know if it weren't for the crowd at the end of part 2. I enjoyed it more than expected, but it's not something I would actively seek out.

Not bad

Solid representation of the Bay Area Scene.

We get it. You're high and you like guitar solos.

Good rolling beat. 3

Fun album but not enough to keep me engaged. Good background jamming music. Strong 6

Not a great live album.

This is just nice enough. Not mind blowing.

The first half of this is an extended jam session on a single musical theme that is pleasant enough but only moderately held my attention. I’m sure it seemed epic to tripping hippies in 1969 who had not yet experienced the great prog epics to come. The rest is also pretty noodley and unmemorable. The guitar and bass tones are great though.

I enjoyed it initially, but grew tired throughout.

i like the first song. seemed like nice noodling the rest of it.

feels like the Doors. pretty average no weird instruments or key changes, just some nice and relaxing background noise.

Proto jam band. Some good songs. I favor versions of "Mona" and "Who Do You Love" by other artists, though.

Uhhhh find de ahfang maximal geil? Macht mega spass zum lose. Oooookeee ich bi ziemli schnell is wtf is going on ine… wtf is going on?! Das chaos omg das album findi eh ganz schlechti repräsentation vom cover… Aso who do you love, how do you love, Mona (!!), sind banger Where do you love=?? What is going on?? Which do you love isch mid… De rest isch eifach oke? Hmmmmmmm idk

Calvary rips. Best album cover on the list so far.

Today is yet another artist I haven’t heard of before. The album art is leading me to expect music you might find in a Spaghetti Western, but then Apple Music lists it simply as rock so I’m not entirely sure what to expect here. I’ll go in with an open mind and hopefully find something good. Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Who Do You Love Part 1 I didn’t mind this in parts, but it just felt too long for me. It reminded me of when I went to see the Black Crowes and every one of their songs ended up taking 20 minutes because of the endless jamming which bored me to tears. In small doses, I can see this being pleasant. As a full album, it was a bit too much for me. I did quite like the last song though. It sounded a bit saloon-ish and made me think of Red Dead Redemption.

I liked the 60's guitar riffs and the vibes. I did not like the clapping section at the end of Where You Love. My standouts were Mona and Who Do You Love pt 1

I would have liked to talk to my Dad about this album, as it is right smack in his mid-twenties, and he definitely had opinions about music from this era. Otherwise, it's psychedelic rock that sounds fine for its era but doesn't show me anything new or fresh. It is enjoyable but creates no lasting memory.

unexpectedly groovy; good work listen

Pretty solid country rock. I’d be lying if I called this my thing, despite warming up to honky tonk stuff, but I get why it’s here. C

Fairly standard late 60's psychedelic Rock? I've seen this around before but it's a bit disappointing.

Started listening. "This sounds like a watered down Grateful Dead." Reads bio and sees they're a late 60s, Bay Area jam band. But to be fair, for what they were - a blues/jazz inspired rock band - they were alright. But to really enjoy you really have to have a head full of acid. So much noodling. Songs that just don't end or are hard to even can songs. It's like a 2.5 for me but I'll round up.

Didnt hate it some cool prog rock stuff but overall just okay

Not bad, can definitely hear their influence in other acts.

Country rock, casi todo melódico. Suenan bien.

061223 19:12 3

Thoughts before listening: This will definitely be a first listen for me. I believe these guys were a 60s San Francisco band in the same scene as the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, and Janis Joplin. I'm expecting psychedelic blues rock with lots of guitar solos...I also assume that I'll enjoy this. Review: There is definitely some great guitar work on this album. The first half of the record is just a jam on Who Do You Love broken up into multiple instrumental parts, and the second half continues the same mostly instrumental vibe. This is just okay to me. I'm sure these guys were awesome live, but on a studio album they come off a little boring. Lots of guitar noodling that doesn't really go anywhere. Maybe this lack of songs is why their contemporaries like the Grateful Dead and the Allman Bros had 50 year careers and Quicksilver Messenger Service were left as a largely forgotten also ran. As for the playlist, the best song on here is the multi-part Who Do You Love, but that's broken into different tracks that won't translate well to a playlist. I'm adding the first Who Do You Love as well as the next track What You Love which is a really good guitar jam. I'll also add Mona which is an original although it sounds very similar to the Grateful Dead's take on Not Fade Away All in all these guys were an early jamband and I love jambands! However, like with most jambands, they're style just doesn't translate very well to studio recordings. Maybe I can find a live show to listen to.

An interesting take on the ol psychedelic rock, not the strongest outing but it did have some worthwhile songs added to playlists.

This album is very of its time. It's blues influenced psychedelic jam band noodling. The first half is a cover of Bo Diddley's 'Who do you Love?' broken up into several movements and played live. The second half is a few more tracks mostly written by the band. The musicianship is good and the band is tight, but these extended jam tracks just don't do it for me. It may have been a different experience live, but it just doesn't translate well on tape and over 50 years later.

Nice Classic rock. Good guitar solo. Bass lines are fun too. 3 stars

Ok

Late-60's jam band stuff. Interesting to listen to but I'm not sure I need to hear any more.

It's by no means the worst one of these I've heard. Feels like actual chaotic prog rock rather than forced. But I won't be coming back.

Un album qui m'a rappelé cet épisode où j'ai renoncé à acheter une casquette Roxy alors qu'elle m'allait très bien pour la simple et bonne raison que je suis un homme.

pretty alright

Un dels millors discos de jam de l'época. La versió de 'Who Do You Love' ocupa tota una cara i és força més llarga del que sembla a l'escoltar-la. La versió de 'Mona' també és de mèrit i els dos temes que tanquen el disc -melodia de 'Happy Trails' apart-no desentonen. Un clàssic obscur i perdut, però certament reivindicable

This is Sergio Leone on acid.

Underwhelmed, kind of slack jam band forgetability to me. Probably would have been a blast to be in one of the actual audiences, most likely super duper high.

I tend to give mediocre albums 3/5. This is just another psych rock album and I have already forgotten half of it right after listening. No highlights.

Fett guitar men var på stranda og raka så idk 3,5

Some good music. I never listened to it before.

Late 60s country psych..?

A good time if you just want to hang out and listen to some melodic soloing over some country/desert rock/white rabbit type beats

Since this was instrumental, I didn’t mind it as much as the other rock on this list. I wouldn’t listen to it again but it wasn’t too shabby.

AJ: the most San Francisco-y

first group in this project i've never heard of. I liked it. Always down for lots of good instrumental tracks.

I listened to this album at 8:00am very sober. It was fine. Nothing that excited me, save for maybe when they moved on from one idea to the next. Tended to drag at points, but overall it's clear these guys are talented.

I found this interesting and unique. Psychedelic cowboy sounding stuff from the 60s? 3.7

Interesting chords and wildy progressive for the time, however there isnt enough here for me to be wowed. Its some cool chords that were on the front at the time, but years later it is hard to find enjoyment in thsi when theyre are better records

3.5

Good album, interesting choice to record it live

Started fun, but bored me a bit after a while. Also, some parts are just bad.

Nice album but after a while the songs felt a bit long

Je ziet de hoes en weet: 'Dat wordt trippen'. Maar dan volgt toch een onverwachte start. Blijkt het toch een jazzy rockband. Dus maar eens struinen op het internet. En dan lees je vooral dat de A kant één nummer is. Het ligt maar aan je definitie. Je zou de A kant ook een (half) concept album kunnen noemen. Ondanks de gedeelde basis, liggen de delen soms toch flink uit elkaar. Want warempel. Dan krijgen we even later toch die trip geluiden waar de hoes al voor waarschuwde. Zonde wat mij betreft. Uiteindelijk hebben ze een echte luisterplaat neergelegd, met ups en downs. Kom ik op uitgemiddelde 3+.

boring

A bit too much directionless noodling at times. The better parts of the album were when they strayed away from the boring generic blues-rock.

Ja, sta een beetje in dubio. Hoor best wel aardige dingen, soms zelf wat Doors-achtig. Maar ook wel veel gepiel in de marge. Nou vooruit door de creatieve bandnaam rond ik het af naar boven.

Found this fun enough. Liked the guitar. Got a lot of work done with it so I guess it’s pretty effective study music. The tracks with lyrics were the strongest.

5/10. Now *these* guys saw the Electric Prunes' ad for the Vox Wah Wah Pedal

It was ok at times. Very Grateful Dead at times. Some of side 2 reminded me of late Doors.Long live jams but I'm not sure it merits being on the list.

I’m really just not in love with jam band stuff. The musicianship is good on this album but it never feels like it goes anywhere.

I did enjoy listening to this. Still, it was mostly instrumental so not my cup of tea.

A little too jam band for me, but still decent..

I know a lot about love now, but one thing I know for sure is that I don't love their music.

The solos on the first half of the album was a great example of chill psych rock, then the second half of the album was pretty average. It was a lot slower and didn't grab me the way the first half did. Best: Who Do You Love - Pt. 1 Worst: Happy Trails 2.5 stars

very pink floyd-esc 3.5/5

Nice smooth, funky guitar rock! Enjoyed this but won’t be rushing out to buy it I don’t think? Maybe add to the list but not as a priority purchase. Enjoyed how tight the band sounded.

This album had some moments that really grabbed me, like had me rockin' with it or saying, "oh, I like this part"...but there were only some of those moments. I really wasn't inclined to give it a second listen, but I had the time today and it actually was easier to digest, although I think part of that was because I let it blend into the background. I can sense some quality here, but I guess it wasn't my jam to hear this band's jam.

When the first track started, I was all, "all riiiight!" But then the rest of the album happened. Lots of jamming. Too much jamming.

Easy down the trail, pardner.

Who Do You Love got a little weird

Really insane guitar solos during certain songs. I thought this was going to be a country album

I found the opening sounds very promising. The wildness introduced in the first track however, I was hoping would be harnessed into something more concise, but that never really happened. Intellectually I can appreciate it as a psychedelic jam record, and a snapshot of the San Fran Haight Ashbury scene of the late 60's.

Jam sandwich.

A seemingly pretty authentic snapshot in time of a psych-acid-jam band. Never heard of them before but it was an enjoyable listen, although nothing really grabbed me. Definitely one to have on vinyl and listen all the way through though. 3.5 down to 3.

Didn’t know what I was getting into on this one. It was a good record.

Pretty pleasant listen. Who Do you Love - Pt 1 was my favorite track. Mona and Calvary both felt long and boring to me, cut those two tracks and the album goes up a solid star for me.

Quite enjoyed this album so an easy 3*

I have heard about the band before but never listened any of their albums before this one. 'Happy Trails' is a good psychedelic-rock album, which is mostly instrumental. Because it is so jammy, this music is better to listen to live than on a record, though. But overall it was an enjoyable listen.

Alright psychedelic rock. Gets very jammy at times which I usually don't mind but I wasn't really in the mood for it when listening to the album. I think I've gotta give it a 3.5 of 5

Meh

njae, mitt emellan tvåa och trea. dom goa låtarna är rätt goa men långa konstiga solon är inget för mig.

This is really good background music for a beach blanket Babylon where you're more interested in the vibe than in the music itself. I am not at a beach blanket Babylon.

I like some of this. I love some of this. But I’m not really sure why it should be on this list.

I usually don't have the patience for this kind of music, but this didn't annoy me. Probably underrated, because very few people mention them these days. On the other hand, they're not as good as Led Zeppelin or Pink Floyd. Favorite song: when you love.

It was a pleasant listen. So pleasant I fell asleep. Oops.

Building half your album around an extended jam session inspired by [checks notes] a guy who generally managed to keep his songs well under 4 minutes... was a choice, I guess. Okay, clearly these guys can play. But man, was this jammy, unnecessarily so. One thing I will say for it is that you're a good 10 minutes into the album before you realize that oh, this is live. That speaks to Quicksilver Messenger Service's technical talents, but that only carries this album so far. Musically this was fine, probably one of the better live recordings I've heard yet, but I don't have any interest in returning to it. Fave Songs: Who Do You Love Suite, Mona

3 stars

Good

Ouf, c'est pas pire par endroit, amsi bon il s'éclate carrément à la guitare tout le long. Cependant, j'ai de la difficulté à voir le fil conducteur parfois. Je n'ai pas trop aimé meme étant guitariste... 3

Very odd - in a good way! Extended jazz-like improv, recorded live (mostly), but note perfect (as far as it can be for songs largely made up on the spot!). Not one I immediately loved, but there is plenty there for repeated listening. The kind of album that is the reason for me doing this project - I'd never have heard it any other way.

Ok

While it is a good album, I do love rock guitar, and it may be a pioneering album. It falls short of a great album. Most of these works have been done better by other artists.

This was actually a good time. I love that it's just two giant songs and I love the love themed names that go through the first set

they love who do you love

Early noodle rock that blends into one big song

Old school cool

I do love that guitar

Sinceramente no es la gran cosa un 6/10, un disco que para la epoca propone ciertas cosas pero son mínimas. Si bien se enteinde el concepto de album conceptual tampoco se es tan incisivo al contarlo, las primeras canciones no tienen casi variación y no tienen eje en comun para reconcoer algo como ese amor (love).

Nice

3,5

Pretty darned good guitar work...but not sure how often I could listen to this....

Never come across even the name of this band before, so was totally unprepared for it. On first listen, really enjoyed the music and will come back to it. 3 stars is really only a place holder. Needs to be listened to more.

Starts off brilliantly, tails off by the end of the record sadly

I loved the a-side. A raw blues rock collection of standards, with great guitar work. But the b-side, sliding into psychedelic, loses its edge, and while the guitar remains as impactful, my interest fades.

Decent almost-instrumental album but quickly forgotten again

Didn’t do it for me

Highlights: "Mona," "Calvary" The jam is cemented in pop this year; we have CCR two months before, and King Crimson in the Fall. We can credit Quicksilver for their craft in jamming: they vary dynamic range, listen to each other, feature each other, and move cohesively through ideas. I can't properly credit them for any particular riff or lick -- maybe later after hearing more context for them. It just lacks standout moments or statements other than the base material, which is not theirs. We have now heard Bo Diddley three times, a man not featured on this list! Why not give him the Fats Domino treatment at least? This is a much better 'raga' than the Byrds offered five years ago, but not a remarkable album apart from how it lays out the grab bag of jamming gimickry. Accelerando! Turn on an effect! Call and response! Breakdown! Buildup! They're holding the line for a form I think is boring and dishonest, but yes they're holding the line.

Fun jam album, seems like it was pretty influential to many other jam bands as were as others from the era

Can appreciate, but not for me

It was ok. I don’t think I will listen to it again.

This is a very interesting album. Listed as rock but feels like country. Long stretches of instrumental guitar made it feel like a cowboy on the range. And with Happy Trails and Who Do You Love, this feels like an album that has been used by others so I’m assuming that means it’s well liked. I found some of the songs to be rambly, but that also feels like the point.

When I saw the tracklist I started laughing, and then I looked it up and was laughing even more. A Bo Diddley "Who Do You Love" suite in a live performance, exploring the facets of who/what/when/where is a hilarious concept. Unfortunately for me, there's not much humor in the music itself. It's good, don't get me wrong, I was just bracing for laughs, and it's very sincere. Some really enjoyable pieces, including a couple from the suite. Is Bo Diddley even on this list? I'm gonna guess no. But I'm not upset with this one, even though it's technically a live album. Favorite tracks: Who Do You Love pt. 1, When You Love, How You Love, Calvary. Album art: Really love the cover, great image and art style, great font. Looks intentionally older and wistful. Strikes me as odd that they wouldn't refer to the love suite in the title, but maybe they didn't want legal trouble. 3.5/5

better than expected but also i don't remember any of it

A 25min rendition of Bo Diddly’s “Who Do You Love”. What’s not to like? I also wear a rattlesnake as a necktie. Reminded me of the Doors “Live at the Hollywood Bowl and their (relatively short) 8:15 rendition of “Light My Fire”. By the time I got to Calvary, I was pretty spent on the jam session, however.

Cool Concept. Excellent playing, the guitar is exceptional. On Mona...Wow. the band interplay also fantastic. I'm just not a big blues rock fan, however I think just from a historical and quality point of view this album should be in my collection. Just wish I liked it more. 3.5 stars

Decent, but way too long.

I don't have many feelings about this album. Feels more like background music I would hear in a party than something I actively listen to. So don't love, don't hate, just kinda there. Favourite song: Which Do You Love Worst song: Happy Trails

Man, I do like this album art. The playing on this is just fine, just fine indeed. But jam bands, brother, they go into the background for me.

I love the Bo Diddly song "Who Do You Love" but this is jam band overkill. This is a fun band party vibe but unforgettable. I could probably listen to this album again and pick out a few "kewl" moments but I wouldn't replay it for enjoyment. I don't hate it but I understand why I'd never heard of this record. It drifted off into obscurity and there it should have remained. It's between a 2 and 3 but I can see myself recording something like this in the garage with my drinking buddies so I'll bump it up to 3.

Nothing special. Just fine.

I've heard the name of this band before because they were part of the same Bay Area music and psychedelia scene in the 60s, but I am not sure if I've ever heard their music. I know this is a live album and I have a feeling this is a lot better than it might have been had it been a studio album. They are having fun and they are into the music as they perform, and I can hear that. I can also hear how good they are as performers and improvisers. I can get past the way they sound and their music choices -- which have been done by so many for so long -- because this is earlier in the rock path that was developing at the time. The lead singer's voice and vocal performances remind me a lot of early Grateful Dead's Ron "Pigpen" McKernan. I'm sure a lot of blues-rooted rockers of the time sounded that way. I don't see myself coming back to re-listen at all, but I get the importance of the album given the time, the culture, and so on.

“Happy Trails” isn’t really billed as a live album. But it was recorded live over multiple performances. I’ve complained about live albums on the list many times, but I think it’s the greatest hits nature of many of them, not the way they are recorded. Record in a studio in multiple takes. Record on a stage in a single take. You do you. Quicksilver Messenger Service does it with some terrific classic guitar work. But their psychedelia got a little out of hand. I’m more worn out by psychedelic rock at this point than I am of live albums.

Lots of great stuff here, but like all jam bands, it gets boring and hard to differentiate the who and what (the where was easily the worst)

They kept it interesting for the first two movements of Bo Didley’s Who Do You Love. Then as all jam bands do, they shift into some random noise exploration that just kills the momentum on Where You Love. It’s several minutes of minimalism with picks scraping across guitar strings and claps and whoops from all over. What a disappointment.