Moby Grape

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Moby Grape

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As a young, inexperienced musician, I was fortunate enough to see a Moby Grape concert shortly after this record was released (at the Psychedelic Supermarket in Boston). I still remember that show as the best concert I've ever seen. Unfortunately, I saw them again a year later and, as many people know, things had taken a bad turn by then. I must confess I paid less and less attention to the band after that, but this first album has remained among my all-time favorites. I've recently changed careers after 30 years as a professional musician, a life I may not have had if this record hadn't ripped the top of my head off as a teenager. It makes me feel so great that general interest in this band is returning, even though one of the reasons for it is the death of Skip Spence. Nowadays I listen to jazz and classical, new rock and old rock, but Moby Grape will always be at the top of my list. Do yourself a favor and check it out.

Moby Grape deserves a remastering of this album which is one of the best sets of music to come out of the sixties. This is on a label owned by Matthew Katz, one time Moby Grape manager and owner of much Moby Grape's licensing rights. Katz even owns the name and has locked horns with former members of the use of the name without approval. The retail asking price is outrageous, considering it is a low qaulity CD transfer that sounds like it was transferred from a second or third generation tape. You can get better quality recording of Moby Grape on the internet for free! Katz will continue to exploit Moby Grape name as long as there are people willing to shell out 20 bucks for his garbage.

If bands like Ultimate Spinach and Peanut Butter Conspiracy are significant enough to be accorded remastering, then Moby Grape deserves a well done box set of all of their releases. Don't buy this garbage from Katz's San Franscico Sound label which has all but destroyed the integrity of the original vinyl issue. If Katz can't peddle this overpriced trash, maybe he will relinquish the rights to the Moby Grape albums to the surviving members of the band and they can work to release a proper digitally remastered re-issue of their catalogue. I don't care if they individually release their albums or issue a Moby Grape Box. We've all waiting too long for Mr. Katz to put this great band's music into the hands of someone who will do justice to the Moby Grape legacy.