Search - Moby Grape :: Live Grape

It's not the same when all five aren't present

Chris Frohring | Cleveland, OH USA | 10/17/2007

(2 out of 5 stars)

""Live Grape" is a welcome addition to any Moby Grape fan's collection because of its historical importance, being the 1978 reunion album. Truth be told, the contents are slight because of the absence of original drummer Don Stevenson and original bassist Bob Moseley. Skip Spence apparently makes a cameo or two ("Must Be Goin' Now Dear"). With substitutions Cornelius Bumpus (later in the Doobie Brothers) and John Oxendine, the playing is very well executed and the energy level is high. However, the creative songwriting impetus that carried them through their first five albums seems to be lost. There are some highlights, including the Peter Lewis compositions "That Lost Horizon" and "Up In The Air". Overall, one gets the impression that Moby Grape were, at this stage, a great bar band (the Cornelius Bumpus tune "Set Me Down Easy" is a great example). Unfortunately, without the full quintet of principals, the writing isn't as varied. One misses the the throaty soulfulness of Moseley, the other half of the Miller/Stevenson writing duo and the mercurial fire of a fully-participative Skip Spence."

Skip Spence returns and the Grape regains 3 guitar attack

AudioObscurica | United States | 10/02/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great album! Issued in 1978 without any mention of "Moby Grape" anywhere (no pictures either) it was a record that fell into the bins because it was released by a small label that didn't promote. But hey, any album that is released on a small indie label gets that treatment. This features all the original Grape guitarists together again for "Must Be Goin' Now,Dear", a new Spence track. Recorded some 10 years after he left the band (discounting the reunion in 1971)after his last performances. Also featuring Cornelius Bumpus (Doobies,Steely Dan,etc.) and John Oxendine on drums. The record sounds part studio, part warm-up, some live. Out of print, but worth finding."