Shitty way to end the year - another sad chapter in the saga of Moby Grape
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Artist:
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Album:Dark Magic (bootleg)
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Track:Omaha (live)
(Note the killer live track included above)
Moby Grape CDs have been out of print for a long, long time. They have been pretty much unable to perform under their own name for decades due to the interference of their ex-manager professional-asswipe Matthew Katz. In 2007, that supposedly changed and some kind of agreement was reached. First a compilation of their material came out, then all of their albums were re-issued, remastered with bonus tracks, by the excellent label Sundazed. I passed on the 1st album at the time
since I already had it, as well as all of the bonus tracks on the "Vintage" 2-CD box set that was released maybe a decade ago. 
But I got the rest, although it seemed to take a strangely long time for them to come into stock and be shipped out. Yesterday I thought - well, I liked the other new CDs so much, maybe I should go back and purchase that re-mastered first album anyway, for the artifact, the re-mastering and, hell, to give the band I love so much a few more shekels. So, I go to Amazon and it says the album is only available - used for - ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS! WTF? Then I read this review on the site by David Hoeltje (Santa Clarita, CA United States) (quote: I checked the Sundazed site today and as of November 8, 2007 they are stating that Sony/BMG (at the behest of Matthew Katz?) has pulled the plug on their dist. rights to first 3 Grape CD's - Moby Grape & Wow/Grape Jam (originally a double LP set, but released as two seperate cd's by Sundazed). Not sure if it's permanent but you might want to pick these up now as Amazon seems to have stock that may either sell thru quickly or be pulled from circulation. The remastering on the first, Moby Grape, in particular is just wonderful. You can hear subtle vocal and instrumental parts that were buried in all previous incarnations of this essential recording. So don't hesitate...buy it now and cross your fingers and hope that the surviving band mambers actually make something off of this latest developing, but hopefully short-term, debacle. 12/11/07 - Looks like the Grape have gotten screwed again. Amazon and the rest of the world seem to have sold thru the stock that got out before the title was pulled from distribution. What a shame, this is one of the top 30 Essential recordings from the '60's and it should be available for the uninitiated to discover. I don't know the particulars, but if this latest screwing of the band was done by or because of Matthew Katz he should be ashamed. Having this music available for posterity is more important than his ego or his needing a new BMW every year. As a buyer for a major Distributor in the mid 1970's I had to deal with him on several occassions (he owns the San Francisco Sounds label) and he certainly seemed to be as big a dick as everyone makes him out to be. What a sad, tragic affair. (unquote)This really breaks my heart, as I hoped that they could get some money and interest out of the reissues, and the remaining living members might even tour a bit, and I could possibly finally see them, aged but live in person. That looks a LOT less likely now.
Moby Grape CDs have been out of print for a long, long time. They have been pretty much unable to perform under their own name for decades due to the interference of their ex-manager professional-asswipe Matthew Katz. In 2007, that supposedly changed and some kind of agreement was reached. First a compilation of their material came out, then all of their albums were re-issued, remastered with bonus tracks, by the excellent label Sundazed. I passed on the 1st album at the timesince I already had it, as well as all of the bonus tracks on the "Vintage" 2-CD box set that was released maybe a decade ago. But I got the rest, although it seemed to take a strangely long time for them to come into stock and be shipped out. Yesterday I thought - well, I liked the other new CDs so much, maybe I should go back and purchase that re-mastered first album anyway, for the artifact, the re-mastering and, hell, to give the band I love so much a few more shekels. So, I go to Amazon and it says the album is only available - used for - ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS! WTF? Then I read this review on the site by David Hoeltje (Santa Clarita, CA United States) (quote: I checked the Sundazed site today and as of November 8, 2007 they are stating that Sony/BMG (at the behest of Matthew Katz?) has pulled the plug on their dist. rights to first 3 Grape CD's - Moby Grape & Wow/Grape Jam (originally a double LP set, but released as two seperate cd's by Sundazed). Not sure if it's permanent but you might want to pick these up now as Amazon seems to have stock that may either sell thru quickly or be pulled from circulation. The remastering on the first, Moby Grape, in particular is just wonderful. You can hear subtle vocal and instrumental parts that were buried in all previous incarnations of this essential recording. So don't hesitate...buy it now and cross your fingers and hope that the surviving band mambers actually make something off of this latest developing, but hopefully short-term, debacle. 12/11/07 - Looks like the Grape have gotten screwed again. Amazon and the rest of the world seem to have sold thru the stock that got out before the title was pulled from distribution. What a shame, this is one of the top 30 Essential recordings from the '60's and it should be available for the uninitiated to discover. I don't know the particulars, but if this latest screwing of the band was done by or because of Matthew Katz he should be ashamed. Having this music available for posterity is more important than his ego or his needing a new BMW every year. As a buyer for a major Distributor in the mid 1970's I had to deal with him on several occassions (he owns the San Francisco Sounds label) and he certainly seemed to be as big a dick as everyone makes him out to be. What a sad, tragic affair. (unquote)This really breaks my heart, as I hoped that they could get some money and interest out of the reissues, and the remaining living members might even tour a bit, and I could possibly finally see them, aged but live in person. That looks a LOT less likely now.
Comments (8)
Good grief! This sort of business behavior has to stop. Give artists a chance to have their music around forty years after the fact. Many acts who are no longer with us never had the opportunity to hear their music make it to the digital age or even get to perform on stage. This is simply a question of morals and it is wrong.
Moby Grape deserve their musical legacy!