5. It's A Beautiful Day: White Bird
Now remembered as an also-ran, in their day It's A Beautiful Day was a fairly big name locally. Their drawing card was the Haight's violin virtuoso David LaFlamme, who presided over varying lineups of the band until 1972. LaFlamme handled vocals with wife Linda LaFlamme, and the duo favored harmonic ballads, although they would also indulge in psychedelic noisefests, particularly onstage. Their 1969 debut album reached #47 on the charts; the next one, without Linda LaFlamme, made it to #28. "White Bird" was a radio hit from the debut and is a delicate two-part harmony that soars as the title implies, and gets in plenty of good LaFlamme violin. In later years, It's A Beautiful Day remained a Fillmore staple, although in 1972 David LaFlamme was forced out over royalty disagreements; the band released two albums without him in 1973 and 1974, but ultimately dissolved.
6. Steve Miller Band: Livin' In The USA
The Steve Miller Blues Band's genesis was when 12-year-old Steve Miller taught his friend Boz Scaggs a few tunes on the guitar; the pair would play together in a band at the University of Wisconsin. Miller came to San Francisco by way of Chicago, where he soaked up the local blues scene; Steve Miller Blues Band (without Scaggs) made its debut opening for Chuck Berry at the Fillmore in 1967. Scaggs rejoined in time for an appearance at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival; Capitol signed the group after the festival, dropping "Blues" from its name. Their debut album, Children of the Future, made small ripples nationally in 1968, reaching #134, but the followup, Sailor, reached #24, and got some airplay for "Livin' In The USA". Their third album, Brave New World, from 1969, did even better, and featured Paul McCartney in a guest spot. Miller's career stalled in the early 70's, and he also suffered serious injuries in a car crash and a bout of hepatitus, but a thorough reinvention of his sound and persona resulted in a huge hit with The Joker in 1974; he remained a big-seller into the 80's. Scaggs departed after Sailor in 1968; he enjoyed blockbuster success with Silk Degrees in 1976, and has maintained a working career since.
7. Quicksilver Messenger Service: Who Do You Love
Folk singer/songwriter Dino Valenti (who had written "Get Together" under a psudonym, covered by Jefferson Airplane and The Youngbloods) formed the first version of Quicksilver Messenger Service in 1965 with guitarist John Cipollina and singer Jim Murray; bassist David Frieberg, a wellknown presence on the folkie circuit joined shortly after, and drummer Greg Elmore and guitarist Gary Duncan came aboard when their up-and-coming garage-rock band The Brogues split in the wake of two members getting drafted. Ironically, Valenti didn't get to participate in Quicksilver until years later; he was imprisoned in 1965 on drug charges and languished until 1968; he rejoined the band in 1970. Quicksilver Messenger Service, without Valenti, was one of the best of the psychedelic jam-bands; on a good night they could take on the Dead or Airplane. Record companies descended upon San Francisco in 1967, snapping up everything in sight, but Quicksilver resisted signing until they got a huge offer from Capitol. Their debut, Quicksilver Messenger Service, appeared in 1968; Happy Trails, their sophomore effort from 1969, is one of the essential psychedelic albums of late 60's America. Its crowning glories are the side-long psychedelic suite "Who Do You Love?" and the 7-minute psychedelic workout of "Mona" that opens side two; both using a Bo Diddley song (and beat) as a springboard for acid-drenched (but musically acute) improvisation. The album remains their best seller, although they maintained a modest chart presence through 1971; versions of Quicksilver Messenger Service continued releasing albums through 1975.
Article comments
1 - Don
Does anyone know what's going on with Sly? The last I heard is his showing up in costume (bikers helmet) at his sisters concert there in Cali.
2 - uao
No idea; the last two decades are pretty fuzzy. He recorded a flop single in 1987, "Eek-a-Bo-Static", but was jailed for drug possession that year.
He also managed a duet with Martha Davis (of the Motels) "Love & Affection" at about the same time.
He showed up at the Hall of Fame induction in 1993, by all accounts to the surprise of his bandmates.
In 2003, the original Family Stone (without Sly) entered the studio; I don't know if the session amounted to anything.
Freddie Stone is a minister with a website.
Here's the article about Sly showing up at his sister's concert in August 2005, the only news I could find for him for the last decade. He came by 4-wheel Harley wearing a motorcycle helmet, which he kept on all night, and wasn't recognized in the VIP room because most of the VIP's were blind (!)
Al Barger posted this article on Sly's 60th birthday; I was moved by the very personal nature of the comments from fans, friends, and well-wishers that appeared on the thread.
3 - Steve
Visit the John Cipollina website here
4 - uao
That's a beautiful website, Steve. A fine tribute that really gets into all aspects of his career and musicianship. I know you've done him proud.
I'm still preachin' the Quicksilver and San Fran word to the young squirts. Cipollina is a name worthy of remembrance and discovery.
5 - Joanie
Thankfully, we have some great realitvely unknown bands who are carrying on the tradition established during the big Haight era.
6 - Tom Weller
Nice reminiscense on the San Francisco sound. Actually, Country Joe has put out half a dozen albums since 1996. Check out his site (I'm the webmaster).
7 - uao
My apologies for the error, Tom. I've corrected the sentence; I was looking at an outdated discography. Joe deserves his due.
Nice website too!
8 - Dave
FYI, "Loosen Up Naturally" (1968) was the first release from the Sons of Champlin. "The Sons" (1969) is their second release. In addition, they've reformed and have been performing and recording since 1997, with a new release, "Hip L'il Dreams", on August 23rd of this year.
Check out their website at www.sonsofchamplin.com for more info...
9 - uao
Doh!
Sorry Dave. Should have looked for your website first. I can't fix the error here anymore, it has been archived. But I'll fix it on the original blog entry at my blog.
I very much appreciate the webmasters checking in here, though. You've alerted me to the fact you guys are out there, which will help me keep better informed of these musicians (for whom latter-day info is sometimes hard to find or cross-reference for facts). As penance, I think for future playlists of this nature, I'll post links to official websites, when I can find them.
I'm kind of expecting to hear from Joy of Cooking or Dan Hicks next...
It's all meant in loving tribute, though, as well as an introduction for listeners who have never even heard of some of these names.
10 - Hammond Guthrie
Dave - These are excellent album reviews and commentaries. If by chance you also review 60s memoirs please contact me and I would be pleased to send you a copy of my book "AsEverWas" released in 2002 by SAF publishing in London. If you visit their website you can find the pr blip for my book near the bottom of the book index page. In the listing I think you will find books about some of your favored musicians as well - Thanks for taking the time - best of the moment to you and your readers.... Hammond Guthrie
11 - Hammond Guthrie
Sorry for the inadvertant omission - here is the SAF publishing url
http://www.safpublishing.com/
asever - Hammond
12 - uao
I don't review memoirs as a rule, but I do read them on occasion; memoirs of a "Beat Survivor" is germaine as San Fran was beat city before it was psychedelicized. Thanks for the comment Hammond.
13 - Dennis Newhall
The Sons of Champlin's Loosen Up Naturally was their first album. THEN, The Sons (The Sons of Champlin Have Changed Their Name to The Sons)
14 - Temple A. Stark
We can fix the link if you ask uao. Just e-mail the link that gors with this comment.
15 - Temple A. Stark
Late notice but,
This post was chosen by the section editor as a BC pick of the week. Go HERE (link) to find out why.
And thank you
- Temple
16 - Hammond Guthrie
Thanks for your reply - SF takes up a rather small part of the tale - and largely set in Europe late 60s vs. SF. Best to you and your projects.
17 - Blake
great album reviews. I wish i could have lived during the rock/blues and psychedelic era. I agree that blue cheer's lesser known album OutsideInside is better than their debut album, although i love both albums, especially the songs out of focus and babylon.. I also agree with that one guy that the guitarist of quicksilver is amazing and should be remembered next to hendrix, page, clapton... oh man actually there were so many amazing got guitarists that never got the recognition they deserved... like guitarist from tons of garage rock/ garage punk bands.. also from old psychedelic bands.
Mick Abrahms from Bloodwyn Pig and Jethro Tull was great for example.
18 - GoHah
good to hear Dan Hicks, with or without the Hot Licks, still kicking around. I had their LP--might've been called "Stikin' It Rich" or to that effect. All pretty much good-timey music like "The Laughing Song" and I believe "Canned Music was on there too. Then there was the exception--an extended scary number with wigged-out violin titled, appropriately, " I Scare Myself." Truth in advertising, indeed.