I post a weekly diary of historical notes, arts & science items, foreign news (often receiving little notice in the US) and whimsical pieces from the outside world that I often feature in "Cheers & Jeers".
OK, you've been warned - here is this week's tomfoolery material that I posted.
CHEERS to Bill and Michael in PWM — hopefully on-the-road to nirvana — our Wyoming-based friend Irish Patti and ...... well, each of you at Cheers and Jeers. Have a fabulous weekend — Happy Easter, if you celebrate it — and week ahead.
ART NOTES — an exhibition entitled Adiós Utopia — billing itself as the most comprehensive and significant presentation of modern and contemporary Cuban art shown in the United States since 1944 — will be at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, Texas through May 21st.
Houston exhibition closes May 21stHAIL and FAREWELL to the character actor Clifton James— whom I recall as Sheriff “J.W.” in two James Bond films — who has died at the age of 96 ….. to the veteran session guitarist Bruce Langhorne — best known for his work with Bob Dylan, and who I recall for his accent guitar on Tom Rush’s version of the Joni Mitchell song “Urge for Going” — who has died at the age of 78 ….. and to the Italian woman Emma Morano — who was the last person alive who was born in the 1800’s (with three forms of ID having the identical date of birth) — who has died at the age of 117.
IN a TIME WARP — at New York’s Museum of Sex, a space usually dedicated to books has been converted — through September — into a disco area meant to evoke the 1970’s scene at Studio 54 and other dens of iniquity in the pre-AIDS era.
THURSDAY's CHILD is named Magic the Hiking Cat — whose outdoor adventures around the Pacific Northwest are shared with the world through social media.
Magic the Hiking CatENVIRONMENTAL NOTES — with global clothing production doubling between 2000 and 2014, some manufacturers are trying to ease the strain on resources: with one British menswear designer trying to extend wearability (with stronger seams and treatments to prevent shrinking) and Patagonia sending vans to campuses to help students patch up jackets and trousers.
IF THERE CAN BE SAID to be a silver lining to the Trumpster not releasing his tax returns— it is this: right-wingers have always been able to use either April 15th (or the so-called tax ‘freedom’ day) as a weapon to hit us over the head with. Now, we have a rapid-fire response …. probably won’t stop them, but now we have a weapon of our own to partly neutralize them.
FRIDAY's CHILD is named Watson the Cat — an English kitteh born with legs that twist inwards, leaving him unable to walk and in constant pain … now with a special pair of plastic boots, that get rid of his pain and allow him to run and play.
Watson the CatBRAIN TEASER - try this Quiz of the Week's News from the BBC.
MOST YEARS the date of Easter is celebrated on different dates by Western and Eastern Christian churches (as the former uses the Gregorian calendar and the latter the Julian calendar). Today, they both coincide … but a plan to fix the date as either the second or third Sunday in April seems to be gaining ground. Proposed in 2015 by the Coptic Pope (Tawadros II) the idea has support from both Pope Francis and the Archbishop of Canterbury, who said last year that an inter-denominational deal might be done within a decade—a mere blink of an eye, after 17 centuries of disagreement.
SEPARATED at BIRTH — Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL) and former Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA).
Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL) Former Rep. Jack Kingston...... and finally, for a song of the week ...........................… while I can’t say that I was a big fan of the 1960’s San Francisco-based band Moby Grape — many other people are, and regular readers know that I am an absolute sucker for a fascinating back-story. This band had a three-guitar sound (which became more prevalent in the 1970’s) and mixed folk, blues, country and psychedelia in a way that didn’t always work but was distinctive, with a truly notable debut album. But they suffered from a perfect storm of bad management, record company excess, some legal troubles and mental illness that led to their break-up in late 1969. Though they have reunited from time-to-time, it’ s been at a cost .. and journalist Jeff Tamarkin says, “Moby Grape could have had it all, but they ended-up with nothing … and less”.
The band’s origins began in 1966, when the Ontario, Canada-born Alexander (Skip) Spence left the Jefferson Airplane after recording its first album as its drummer. That’s a story in itself: as Spence was a guitarist who walked into a San Francisco folk club when Airplane founder Marty Balin saw him and thought, “That’s my drummer”. Spence had actually played percussion briefly in a marching band in his youth, and was able to acquit himself reasonably well (as well as contribute songs).
But his drug habit caused him to miss shows without warning, and he was replaced by the band in favor of Spencer Dryden (a more experienced drummer) in late 1966. Around the same time, the band also fired its manager Matthew Katz (in favor of promoter Bill Graham) and the two decided to form a band with Spence returning to his role as rhythm guitarist and composer. And they recruited four musicians who (like Spence) were not Bay Area natives.
Lead guitarist Jerry Miller and drummer Don Stevenson were in a Seattle band on tour in the Bay Area … when none other than Jerry Garcia convinced them to quit and relocate there. Bassist Bob Mosley played in bands in his native San Diego before relocating, and rhythm guitarist Peter Lewis played in a surf band in Los Angeles (and is the son of Academy Award winner and TV star Loretta Young). The band name, judicially determined to have been chosen by Bob Mosley and Spence, came from the punch line of the joke “What’s big and purple and lives in the ocean?”.
Although having different styles (which later were a factor in their dissolution) they did click musically right away. They had the potential to become superstars … and then ….
First came the trouble with their manager. Matthew Katz had fronted the bandmembers some money in the early days and — not wanting to be fired as the Airplane had done — induced them into signing a contract that gave him the right to the band name. Peter Lewis said that Neil Young was in the room at the time yet did not say anything to the band (until later). Still, they received a contract from Columbia and released a self-titled debut album in 1967.
And it was met with critical praise, with some of the most popular tunes being “Sitting by the Window”, “Changes”, “Lazy Me” and also “Hey Grandma” — which was covered by The Move shortly thereafter (and by the Black Crowes decades later). The one song to make the pop charts was Omaha (written by Skip Spence) reaching #88.
Once again, problems arose. First off, Columbia Records bore some blame: in the late 60’s, one single (or at most, two) would be released for a new band. Columbia released five singles at once— which only served to confuse radio stations (and smacked of record company hype, not popular during that era). Next, three members of the band were arrested for cavorting with underage females … and while the charges were dropped, it made booking the band on tour an issue for a time.
In June 1967, they were booked to play at the landmark Monterey Pop Festival, that made stars out of many performers (notably The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Otis Redding and the Mamas & Papas) — partly for their actual performance and partly due to the concert film release. That could have happened to Moby Grape ….. but did not: due to both the aforementioned legal troubles and manager Katz’s insistence on a hefty fee to be filmed. So instead of a Saturday night slot and film notoriety: they appeared as the first act Friday night, when many were not in attendance .. and did not appear on the original film release. (It was not until 2007 that the Grape appeared in a re-mastered film, following legal battles).
During the recording of their second album (which began at Columbia’s New York studios in late 1967) it became apparent that Skip Spence was suffering from more pronounced mental problems than had been previously observed. Reportedly after receiving some bad LSD, he attempted to break-into Jerry Miller’s hotel room … with an axe. After being held at NYC’s notorious Tombs jail, he was committed to Bellevue Hospital’s psychiatric ward for six months. Things would not improve.
Their second album — initially a double album, with a standard studio first disc and the second a collection of jam sessions — is often derided for some gimmickry. Certainly one tune on the first disc (an ode to Gene Autry!) had to be played at 78 to be heard properly, the second disc (Grape Jam) was later sold separately after it was widely panned, and many critics felt the normal first disc was quite a let-down from their debut album. But the second album (entitled Wow) today receives much more favorable reviews. "Murder in My Heart for the Judge" (written by Don Stevenson) was later recorded by Three Dog Night and Chrissie Hynde, and “Bitter Wind” has remained a favorite of fans ever since.
Their third album (and esentially the final album of the original band, while they were a going concern) was entitled Moby Grape 69— which was actually recorded over the course of 1968 — and had a more country-rock feel to it, presaging the rise of Poco and the Eagles. “It’s a Beautiful Day Today” is a mellow song that is a good introduction to the band’s later sound. The band had hoped that Skip Spence would recover in time to participate …. but he was unable to (although he did contribute here-and-there in recordings made years later).
At the beginning of 1969 came another head-scratcher: bassist Bob Mosley decided to leave a Haight-Ashbury band partially based in psychedelia to …. join the Marines. Yes, really. It was during basic training with the Marines that Mosley was first diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic. He was discharged from the Marines nine months after basic training (although his condition was not as pronounced as Spence’s at the time). The band released a contractually-obligated album late that year and disbanded at the end of 1969.
Following the dissolution of the band, Skip Spence released a 1969 solo album entitled Oar— which spawned a 1999 tribute album entitled More Oar with guest performances from Robert Plant, Beck and Tom Waits. And there was a band featuring old friends Jerry Miller and Don Stevenson called the Rhythm Dukes that had some success at the dawn of the 1970’s (with an album recorded but not released until 2005).
Since the break-up, the band has re-united from time-to-time … and for many years, still under the thumb of Matthew Katz. That led to the use of alternative names such as Legendary Grape, The Melvilles and others. To add further insult-to-injury: the group members' rights to their songs were signed-away in 1973 (in a settlement made without their knowledge) between Katz and Moby Grape's then-manager (and former producer), David Rubinson — at a time when Bob Mosley and Skip Spence were legally incapacitated from the effects of schizophrenia.
A few of those reunion shows included Skip Spence — but whose mental issues were compounded by drug, alcohol and tobacco usage. Much of his life was spent in third party care, as a ward of the State of California, and either homeless or in transient accommodations (in his later years). Yet he managed to perform one final reunion show in 1996, before his death in 1999 (due to lung cancer) just two days before his 53rd birthday. His life alone is a story unto-itself.
Adding to the band saga: In 1991, the band ceased activity for five years because bassist Bob Mosley’s increased emotional state led him to become homeless (sleeping under a freeway overpass in San Diego). Reach-out efforts by the band helped him to overcome his troubles, and by staying on his medications: he has been able to stay active ever since (releasing a 2006 solo album).
It was a happy day in 2006 when the band was finally able to win a court battle with Matthew Katz to win back its name, and they successfully performed at the 2007 Summer of Love 40th Anniversary concert. Drummer Don Stevenson (largely) retired after that show, although he will perform at an occasional reunion show at times. Besides reunion shows, Peter Lewis, Jerry Miller and Bob Mosley all perform as solo acts with their own songs.
Rolling Stone has listed their debut album as #124 of its 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list, and as #92 in its 100 Greatest Debut Albums of All Time. Lastly, it listed “Omaha” as #95 in its 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time list. So, for all its hard luck they do leave a legacy …. and there may yet be more shows from the surviving members. (Oddly, I can not locate a modern photo of the band).
1960’s (Skip Spence center)While my favorite song of theirs was “Can’t Be So Bad” — a blues number from their second album (and perhaps, somewhat atypical of their sound) — it seems only right to feature a song recorded at that time, but not released until their third album. Seeing is often referred to as “Skip’s Song” — as he wrote/sang on it, and it is the final song on Moby Grape 69. Robert Plant did a cover version of it on his 2002 Dreamland album … and below you can hear Skip Spence deliver it.
Take me far away, my wiles and mind Can't beat a dream of death today Hard to get by when what greets my eye Takes my breath away In my dream you are around the stars I watched your walls all fall away You were bare of thoughts, we were to part and we stayed that way Some try to hide because they lied They were not true and they were afraid x xYouTube Video