Search - Moby Grape :: Wow/Grape Jam

A Great Album, a Horrible Manager and His Discs

AudioObscurica | United States | 09/02/2001

(1 out of 5 stars)

"When "Wow" was issued in 1968, it featured a 78 RPM track called "Just Like Gene Autry;A Fox-Trot". Where is it here? "Bitter Wind" had a sound collage at the end, where is it? The bonus "Grape Jam" LP ran near 40 minutes long. So where is the missing 13-15 minutes? Matthew Katz has done it again at ripping the band off. Avoid this disc at all costs and go for the out of print "Vintage" or the original LPs. This is a disgrace."

Rip-off city

M. Bobbe | The Netherlands | 07/16/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"You might think that my rating and the title to my review are contradictory......... well, here's my motivation.
The record company owned by the Grape's former manager, who keeps them in court until this day btw, saw it fit not to include Skip Spence's Just Like Gene Autry and Grape Jam's 5th track on this CD. Also they faded out the ending of Bitter Wind way before the regular ending of the song. Aforementioned manager credits himself for producing this album. David Rubinson who did the production isn't mentioned at all. Get the picture ?
Should all songs have made it in their historically correct form on this CD Wow / Grape Jam should earn 4 stars easy, but as is it's a rip-off........Peace,
Martin"

Do not second guess the band...

M. Bobbe | 03/26/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This album, coupled with the freebie "Grape Jam" is certainly a classic of the Bay Area rock bands, and although it shows some meddling on the part of the record company executives (we assume) to compress some of the material into a marketable form, still it is a good effort to break a few molds. The final track on the LP (omitted on the CD) was recorded in 78 speed (and if you're not sure what that is, you're too young to remember this album's release), and featured a really cool intro by Arthur Godfrey (..."and now, from the Seacaucus Lounge, high above Weehawken New Jersey...") it has been dismissed by some as "gimmicky"...It's not, and the omission of this piece, with its admonition to "kindly get up and change your turntable to 78...thank you", is an historical gem sorely missed on the CD. Tom Petty repeated this on one of his albums by calling for"a pause" on the CD in fairness for his LP or cassette listeners. Also be advised that the "Jam" album is missing the delightful piece "The Lake", a wonderful "Grantchester Meadows" sort of tune that sums up an after hours acoustic reverie. The material is good, the production good, the choices of the band were their own...the people who reissued this piece on CD have made a mistake in editing the two LPs. We can only hope that "Truly Fine Citizen", the band's best effort will be issued on CD and not tampered with."