- Format: CD
- Label: Sundazed
- Genre: 60s Garage / Surf / RnB
Just in time for 1967's Summer of Love, Moby Grape rode its
thunderous, three-guitar, five-part vocal harmony lineup — and its excellent
songwriting — so hard they were a slam-dunk for rock 'n' roll
immortality. And now this illustrious band will have its classic Columbia
Records catalog restored to print by Sundazed on October 9, beginning
with the first three Moby Grape albums: Moby Grape, Wow and Grape
Jam. The final two Columbia albums by this San Francisco legend —
Moby Grape '69 and Truly Fine Citizen — will follow in November.
The initial trio of Moby Grape albums will be made available as
remastered compact disc reissues, complete with many bonus tracks,
rare photos and detailed liner notes. Sundazed will also issue exact
replicas of the original 12-inch vinyl versions of these three much-heralded
releases.
Sharing stages with fellow San Francisco heroes Jefferson Airplane,
Janis Joplin with Big Brother & the Holding Co., the Grateful
Dead and Quicksilver Messenger Service, Moby Grape was a scintillating
blend of all the music they loved: rock 'n' roll, blues, folk and honky
tonk — with just enough psychedelia to blow more than a few minds.
Bassist Bob Mosley, guitarists Skip Spence, Jerry Miller and
Peter Lewis and drummer Don Stevenson sounded like they'd been
waiting all their lives to cut their breathtaking, self-titled 1967 debut
album. Featuring topnotch songs like "Omaha," "Fall On You" and
"Hey Grandma," it almost doubles as a Greatest Hits package. Wow,
the Grape's second longplayer, released in 1968, is also laced with absolute
winners, including courtroom-paranoia classic "Murder In My
Heart For The Judge," the sprawling, two-wheel tale of "Motorcycle
Irene" and the rollicking, horn-laced epic "Can't Be So Bad." Originally
packaged together with Wow was Grape Jam, a loose-knit LP of
the band jamming with Mike Bloomfield and keyboard whiz Al
Kooper on a set of full-ashtray, 4:00 am recordings.
Long overdue for this vital reissue release, the catalog of Moby
Grape can now take its rightful place alongside the work of the Grateful
Dead, Janis Joplin and Jefferson Airplane as the cornerstones of
San Francisco's celebrated Love Generation, a movement that truly
changed the world.
Track listing: Never / Boysenberry Jam / Black Currant Jam / Marmalade / The
Lake / Grape Jam #2* previously unissued / Grape Jam #9*previously
unissued / Bags' Groove* previously unissued //
*CD bonus tracks
