[.ca] Legendary Grape

Purple Passion:
Although there were no master tapes to be found, the cleaned up sound of this previous cassette-only release is tremendous. The album has been re-sequenced to lead off with a rousing version of Skip Spence's "All My Life". Skip was not a performer during these sessions, but his spirit resonates through the track. Other standout tracks include Bob Mosley's "Bitter Wind In Tanganika", Jerry Miller's "Give It Hell" and On The Dime", and the lone Peter Lewis tune, "Changing", one of the eight bonus tracks included. A lost classic, lovingly restored and expanded by the staff at DIG Music.

Moby Grape's Forgotten Swan Song:
This is a the final Moby Grape reunion album which they released in cassette tape form only in 1990, under the name of the Melvilles. The Melvilles was as close as they could come to the Moby Grape name without being sued by Matthew Katz, their original manager, who still owns liscening rights to the Moby Grape name and much of their music. I was aware of the Melville tape but never could find it until it was released in 2003 on CD as "Legendary Grape". Mr. Katz should reliquish the rights to all things Moby Grape he owns. He has single handedly destroyed the legacy of a group, that deserves a whole lot more than Mr. Katz's ruthless exploitation of thier name and musical catalog. I had some misgivings about buying "Legendary Grape" when it became available in CD form. Skip Spence didn't participate in this project, and for me, Skip was the keeper of the flame for this amazing band. I didn't want the final chapter of Moby Grape's history to be tainted by a lifeless and weary parody of their former glory. From the opening chords of "All My Life", a Skip Spencer song which he contributed despite his non participation, the reconstituted Grape plays with passion and power evoking the muscular guitar crossfire and delicate choir boy harmonies that was the signature sound of Moby Grape. Skip may have passed on this project but his fingerprints and DNA are all over it. The "Legendary Grape/Melvilles" project melts away the years to the heady days of San Francisco, 1967, when few bands wanted close a show with Moby Grape on the bill, because this band's volcanic charisma and take-no-prisoners approach to playing music, simply blew away every other band in their path. Peter Lewis, Bob Mosely, Don Stevenson, Jerry Miller and even Skip Spence, despite his many demons, never gave up on the dream. Each member of Moby Grape never defined themselves as anything other than a working musician. This inspiring coda to the Moby Grape legacy deserves to be heard on it's own terms as a great rock and roll album. No matter who Matthew Katz and his lawyers sue, he cannot steal what was never his to take; the hearts and minds of Moby Grape and their fans; who will one day do justice to the Grape legacy. This is a great Moby Grape album and deserves to carry Moby Grape name.

moby grape's grand finale:
this is a good, solid cd . it is not as spectacular as moby grape's debut album (which ranks high on my top 20 all-time favorite list), but it holds up well with repeated listening. the skip spence tune, "All My Life" starts things off with a big, full sound, and lots of multi-voiced harmony."On The Dime" is a fun song, as is "Bitter Wind in Tanganika", and the bonus track(not on the original release) of "Changing" by peter lewis is a charming look backward and forward. "Took It All Away" is a reminder of how management always seems to get the profits while the musicians fade from fame and fortune. the biggest surprise in this album was "Talk About Love", a cover version that really rocks and brought back memories of that glorious debut album. this is a worthwhile addition to anyone's collection.

They Really Gave it Hell:
Any fan who caught the Grape during their '89 to '00 run knows how hard they tried to get back on the horse that bucked them so roughly in the past. This album was a work of great ambition and hard work that, unfortunately did not lead to the new recording contract they richly deserved. The songs represent the rip-roaring old Grape sound of the Sixties as well as the more lyrical sound of their late Seventies "Live Grape" recording. Its all good and some of it is magnificent, particularly the extra track "Changing". It loses one star only because of the sound. DIG did well with what they had , but apparently the masters of these sessions were not in the best condition. That should not stop any fan from getting this CD , either as a more permanent replacement for the original, fragile, casette version or as a sorely missed addition to the Grape's legacy.

• All My Life
• Nighttime Rider
• Give It Hell
• On the Dime
• Lady of the Night
• Changing \o#\c
• Took It All Away
• Bitter Wind in Tanganika
• Talk About Love (I'm Talking About You)
• You'll Never Know
• You Can Depend on Me
• Further on Up the Road \o#\c
• It Don't Take Much \o#\c
• Gettin' Used to Being Treated Wrong \o#\c
• Forty Feet Tall \o#\c
• Forbidden Love \o#\c
• Telephone Love \o#\c
• Rodeo \o#\c