THE LEGACY OF BILL GRAHAM
AUTHENTIC POSTERS
INCREDIBLE PHOTOGRAPHY!

Quicksilver Messenger Service

Sample this concert
  1. 1Smokestack Lightning11:46
  2. 2Suzie Q04:46
Liner Notes

John Cipollina - guitar, vocals; Gary Duncan - guitar, vocals; David Freiberg - bass, vocals; Greg Elmore - drums

This is the second night of three extraordinary QMS shows at the Fillmore West. The wonderful quality of the recording aside, this is also a fantastic performance.

This is a partial show recording, and this fragment begins with "Smokestack Lightning," a staple of all early QMS sets. The song starts with the classic riff that defines this song, but soon ventures off into some ferocious jamming territory. It builds momentum several times with Cipollina and Duncan's intertwining guitars leading the way, before they bring it to a close.

"Suzie Q," a song more often associated with Creedence Clearwater Revival, is played similar to the CCR arrangement, but with a more aggressive dual guitar attack. This is a strong version that they were perhaps considering for the Happy Trails LP, but remains unreleased to this day.