Here are a couple of pictures (taken by Jim Marshall) from the album cover photo shoot. The first one was the image that was used for the front jacket art but notice that the American flag was colorized. And here’s an outtake…
Misplaced sense of patriotism on the part of the Columbia Records art department, I guess. Hippies and the America flag don’t mix.
The photo shoot was staged in front of “Junktiques”, an appropriately named antiques shop located at 341 Bolinas Road in Fairfax, CA (Marin County). The block was redeveloped for residential in 1973 and this is what it basically looks like today…
Thanks, too bad it doesn't exist anymore. kind of eerie how those trees kind of resemble the blacked out flag on the cover (especially the one on the left)
Great album with some lovely guitar, melodies and harmony signing. I have managed to pick up some gorgeous copies of this record at record fairs over the years. It transports me to West Coast USA when I play this. Very evocative music.
A great album that's got everything you want: Tight, cohesive playing & singing with every band member contributing to the overall sound. Despite coming out of the San Francisco scene, Moby Grape were quite different from the other leading lights (Dead, QMS, Big Brother etc). Whereas the others could be loose and a bit sloppy (especially Big Brother), The Grape created tight 3-4 minute tunes that rocked hard and displayed their musical capabilities. Ability-wise there wasn't a weak link: However, management-wise that's another story...
I have the album. Yes it's so great to listen to from time to time. Music of the 60s and the 70s is the best.
A top 5 album for me. It rocks as hard as nearly any album of the era yet has gorgeous gentle moments as well. I'm not sure if Jerry Miller's stinging leads or the glorious harmonies all over the place are what makes this such a cornerstone slab for me, but I don't really care. These guys were firing on all cylinders here and it should be more well-known (not to mention more readily available). "Moby Grape '69" is nearly as good, and even more obscure than the debut. Ain't that a shame. Aaron
That would be the Wow track that you had to change your turntable speed to 78 rpm It is one of those "Winchester Cathedral" types of song in a 20s-30s style
Moby Grape and the Sons of Champlin were a cut above everyone else out here. Terrific first album, sometimes fate deals you that hand. Skip Spense was dynamite on stage. By the way that store is still there, that guy James got it wrong, and yes they have a photo of the album in the window.
I've heard it but don't have a copy. I bought Great Grape years ago which I still play often which is excellent. A 1974 UK re-issue. Great stuff. Strange cover, a whale on land with a bunch of purple berries above it. Not sure what that's about.
FYI Arwen Lewis,who is the daughter of Moby Grape original member Peter Lewis,released an album in 2015 simply titled "Arwen" which was all MG songs done pretty close to the original style but with female vocals,obviously. Most of the songs are from the debut MG album and her father plays on a lot of it. I only became aware of it a couple of years ago but I really like it,and as far as I know it's her only solo album, though it appears she still plays quite a bit around SoCal.
I think there’s a thing about flag etiquette that the flag shouldn’t be used in a commercial type setting or in decorating. For those kind of applications red, white and blue bunting is used, but not an actual flag. There’s a long list of don’t do this. Few things are against the law type of things, mainly frowned upon things. You can wear red, white and blue stars and strips. But, you can’t take a flag and make a dress out of it. long list of no-no’s
