Moby Grape - Moby Grape
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Music CD Cover
Artist: Moby GrapeEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2007-10-09
Music Label: Sundazed Music Inc.
Soundtracks:
- Hey Grandma
- Mr. Blues
- Fall on You
- 8:05
- Come in the Morning
- Omaha
- Naked, If I Want To
- Someday
- Ain't No Use
- Sitting by the Window
- Changes
- Lazy Me
- Indifference
- Rounder (instrumental)*
- Looper (audition rec.)*
- Indifference (audition rec.)* previously unissued
- Bitter Wind* previously unissued
- Sweet Ride (Never Again)*
Free Music Notes for Moby Grape
Free Music Review: Moby Grape: 100% Pure With No Artificial Sweeteners!
Hit: 5 Stars
First things first. I'd like to express my deepest gratitude to Mr. Matthew Katz, the Grapes' original manager and the GREEDY TROLL who has done nothing but rob fans both old and new of one of rocks' greatest groups. Katz could care about Grapes' legacy as much as Terry Knight cared about Grand Funk Railroad, and it dosen't get any lower than that my friends! This reissue of Moby Grapes' debut album, complete with bonus tracks, was released in October of 2007 only to be withdrawn the following month because of a lawsuit by Katz. The following two titles, "Wow" and "Grape Jam," were also pulled from production. It's such a shame because Sundazed did a stellar job of restoring this classic back to it's original sheen, only to have their time and efforts spit on by a money hungry [...] like Katz. So, if you already know about this album and are curious about one of the San Francisco music scenes hardest rocking outfits of the late '60s (seriously, The Grateful WHO? The Jefferson WHAT?), then put down the extra cash and pick up a copy of this reissue NOW!
"So is it really that good?" Yes it is! Moby Grape was an incredible band of collective talent and a very sad story of one of rocks' could-have-beens. Their overall sound was not unlike a harder rocking version of The Dead but with many more elements in the mix. One minute they were folky (see "8:05") and the next they were prefiguring punk rock a decade ahead of schedule (see "Omaha"). Then you've got the whole "white boys loving black soul" thing going on sung at the top of bassist and vocalist Bob Mosleys' white-soul pipes. Mosely was undoubtedly one of the most powerful vocalist of the era. However, with the Grape, the spotlight didn't just fall one particular individual. Every member of the band, including drummer Don Stevenson, could sing, play, and write. With the bands' debut album released on May 29, 1967, and considerable press coverage, it seemed 1967 might be the year of the Grape. That is, before a few unfortunate happenings took place.
For starters, on June 1st, The Beatles turned the rock music world upside down with the release of "Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band," only a scant few days after the Grape released their debut. The bands' performance at The Monterey Pop Festival, which should have propelled them into the stratosphere, was overshadowed by the likes of Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix. Their record label, Columbia, sought to promote the band by issuing five singles off the L.P. (not one of them containing a non-album cut) all at once which confused the hell out of radio D.J.s! The only single to reach dry land was the fierce rocking "Omaha," which peaked at no. 88 on the charts (at least it made the Top 100).
Since this new, albeit limited edition, reissue has been remastered from the original master tapes, you'll get a few suprizes. "Omaha" runs at least 15 seconds longer now and comes to a complete stop instead of fading out like fans have heard all these years on their original L.P.s. "Hey Grandma" runs a wee bit longer too but it still fades. "Hey Grandma" opens up the album in fine fashion (and it isn't about a teenage boy having a sexual relationship with an older woman, it's an ode to all the S.F. hotties running around in granny dresses so says Jerry Miller). The song features their trademark horse-galloping beat, fierce guitar pickin' from Jerry Miller and the bands' harmonies in place. "Mr. Blues" swaggers in like a drunk returning home from a night at the bar and showcases Mr. Mosley on lead vocals. Peter Lewis then takes the lead for "Fall On You" which is a rocker. "8:05" is a resting spot with feathery layered harmonies and acoustic guitar. It caresses you gently before it's time to get down and sweaty with the soul-shake of "Come In The Morning," another Otis Redding meets The Grateful Dead moment. "Omaha" follows like a wrecking ball hitting you upside the head one direction then back the other! Truly one of the bands' finest rockers, it's hard not to bounce off the walls to this one! "Naked If I Want To" closes side one of the album. It's a short, harmony laden, acoustic ditty that lasts under a minute and tells the tale of the poor, misunderstood, free-loving hippie that just wants the older generation to understand and nothing more.
Side two starts out with "Someday." It's a laid back tune that will conjure up the image of early morning sunlight beaming in through an open window as you sit in a chair and take another hit off that lit joint in your hand. Don't get too relaxed though because you've got a barnyard dance to attend with the rollicking, countrified "Ain't No Use." The mood then shifts to not so much a gentle comedown as it does a completely depressing crash landing with Peter Lewis' plantive cry of lonliness in "Sittin' By The Window." Then it's back on the runaway horse for "Changes" (one track on the album that I wish would've ran a bit longer, it really starts building steam on the fade). For "Lazy Me" it's apparent that soul can be found in just being plain stoned as the lyrics suggest ("I'll just lay here, and decay here"). "Indifference" caps off an incredible album with an incredible rocking arrangement that captures all elements of the band featured on all the previous tracks. I've always found the songs ending quite hillarious. It seems right as the song is comming to a climax where the band will suddenly fire on all cylinders, the drugs they took earlier kick in and the band forgets exactly where they were going! "Moby Grape" closes on that one last, confused, tethered guitar note.
Phew! That was alot to write. Now onto the bonus tracks. "Rounder," recorded during the sessions, was to be included on the album but vocals were never layed down. Needless to say, the song succedes entirely on it's own as an instrumental. It's so good that it's hard to imagine it WITH vocals! Next up are two demos from their January '67 Columbia Records audition. "Looper" is another groovy harmony filled rocker while the early version of "Indifference" sounds tighter but no less heavy than the full blown assault featured on the actual album version. "Bitter Wind" which would be recorded again and featured on their second album in a complete overblown, overly ambitious arrangement, sounds much better here. The last track "Sweet Ride (Never Again)" was recorded in November of 1967 for the film of the same title. Featured here is the unedited version where the band proceeds to crack me up again like on "Indifference." Grape take off jamming and even though they begin to loose direction they continue on until they cannot take it any further! It's great!
"Moby Grape" is an enduring classic and deserves a place in every serious rock fans music collection. It rocks and it lives up to it's reputation as one of the best, if not THE best, album to come out of the San Francisco music scene in the late '60s. It's a shame the Grape never got their due and it's even more upsetting that their former manager Katz does his best to keep it that way. If you can find this great reissue at a reasonable price then grab it as fast as you can. Chances are you're gonna have to pay a pretty penney from here on out to buy one. I'm happy to be a fan of this awesome group....The Moby Grape...they were a GREAT BUNCH.
Moby Grape Poster
Few debuts are as initially powerful and permanently impressive as this 1967 set from San Francisco's Moby Grape. The triple-threat quintet (every member played, sang and wrote songs) serves up an utterly unique first course that mixes psychedelia, hook-filled pop, blues and country elements. The album tosses off diamond-delicate ballads and full bore rockers with equal soul and inspiration -- and more energy than any other band then on the scene. Without a single duff cut, here's an album that plays as fresh and strong as the day it was first released.Pop Music CDs
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