Quicksilver Messenger Service ~ "Fresh Air" 1970 HQ

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Song by Quicksilver Messenger Service from the album Just for Love "Fresh Air" is a 1970 song written by Gary Duncan, lyrics by Jesse Oris Farrow, the nom de plume of Chester William "Chet" Powers, Jr., who also used the stage name of Dino Valenti. It was first recorded by the San Francisco-based band Quicksilver Messenger Service, which Valenti had recently rejoined. "Fresh Air" was the only single released from the album Just for Love. The single peaked on November 7, 1970 at No. 49 during a nine-week stay on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the band's most successful single.The song was recorded as part of the sessions for the Just for Love album between May and June, 1970. Both this and the follow up album What About Me were recorded during the band's relocation to Hawaii. Matthew Gruenwald of Allmusic opined that the song featured some of John Cipollina's best guitar work. In concert, the song was used to open the set.Just for Love is the fourth album by American psychedelic rock band Quicksilver Messenger Service. Released in August 1970, it marks the culmination of a transition from the extended, blues- and jazz-inspired improvisations of their first two albums to a more traditional rock sound. Founding member Dino Valenti, who returned to the band after a stint in prison on drug charges, was largely responsible for the new sound. Valenti's influence is readily apparent throughout; he composed eight of the album's nine tracks under the pen name Jesse Oris Farrow. Despite the marked change in the band's sound, it was their third straight album to reach the Top 30 on the Billboard charts, peaking at number 27. The only single culled from the album, "Fresh Air", became the band's biggest hit, reaching number 49 on Capitol Record label Producer John Palladino.