Quicksilver effectively ceased recording in 1973, yet there have been countless dubious CD releases ever since. Sadly, this three-disc-and-DVD set is yet another hotch-potch affair, the first disc comprising largely unremarkable outtakes from their debut album, the second drawing from decent-sounding Fillmore shows in 1966 and ’67, highlighted by Gary Duncan and John Cippolina’s fiery, contrasting guitars. Sound quality dips severely on Disc Three, which also marks the unheralded arrival in 1970 of the mercurial Dino Valenti and English session pianist Nicky Hopkins. Sadly, the DVD is even poorer visually: completely unwatchable once you get past Dino’s Song, from Monterey Pop and clips from the rarely-seen film Revolution.
Bizarrely, the best music in the entire set is (despite its title) from 1973: a stunning Winterland performance featuring an expanded QSM line-up boosted by an extra bassist, drummer and percussionist. Amid the shapeless black-and-white images there is, however, a glimpse of the much-derided Dino Valenti’s charismatic presence in a set that’s part vintage Quicksilver (a pacey Who Do You Love?) and part Aabraxas-era Santana. The attractive clamshell package also includes a curious linen “poster” ideal as a bandana or, in our climate, headscarf.
