The group was formed in late 1966 in San Francisco. Frontman and rhythm guitarist Alexander "Skip" Spence (the original drummer for the Jefferson Airplane), lead guitarist Jerry Miller and drummer Don Stevenson (both formerly of the Frantics), rhythm guitarist (and son of actress Loretta Young) Peter Lewis (of the Cornells), and bassist Bob Mosley all wrote songs for their debut album Moby Grape (1967). In a marketing stunt, Columbia Records immediately released five singles at once, and the band was perceived as being over-hyped. Nonetheless, the record was critically acclaimed, and fairly successful commercially, with The Move covering its sardonic ode to hippiedom, "Hey Grandma". Spence's "Omaha" reached the lower rungs of the American singles charts in 1967, and Miller-Stevenson's "8:05" became a country rock standard (covered by The Grateful Dead, Robert Plant, Guy Burlage, and others). Moby Grape has today achieved the status of a highly respected rock album.
In addition to the marketing backlash, band members found themselves in legal trouble for charges (later dropped) of consorting with underage females, and the band's relationship with their manager rapidly deteriorated. The second album, Wow, was a critical and commercial failure. During its recording, Spence came to the studio with an axe, intending to kill Stevenson; he was committed, and after being released from Bellevue Hospital traveled to Nashville to record his only solo album, Oar. The band released three more albums: Moby Grape '69, Truly Fine Citizen, and 20 Granite Creek. In 1972 bob mosley released his only solo album, after which he left the group. The remainder soldiered on for two decades, recording and performing to a small but devoted audience.
Moby Grape was an example of a talented band who, through a combination of mismanagement and inexperience, never fully realized their potential. Along with the Flamin' Groovies, they were somewhat of an anomaly in the San Francisco rock scene; their concision and their strong roots in country music and early rock and roll seemed to work against them. In addition, perhaps because they were so versatile, their image was somewhat nebulous; as writer Robert Christgau put it, "All they really lacked was a boss, and what could be more American than that?"
It's A Beautiful Day Today
Moby Grape Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dawn to dawn a lifetime
The birds sing and day's begun
The heaven will shine from dawn to dusk
With golden rays of sun
People on their way
I love (a-)hearing people say
It's a beautiful day today
People in the streets
Rushing everywhere
Moving fast and how I know
They got to get somewhere
People on their way
Beginning a brand new day
I love (a-)hearing people say
It's a beautiful day today
[Solo/whistling]
From dawn to dawn a lifetime
The birds sing and day's begun
The heavens shine from dawn to dusk
With golden rays of sun
People on their way
Beginning a brand new day
I love (a-)hearing people say
It's a beautiful day today
I love hearing people say
It's a beautiful day today
I love hearing people say
It's a beautiful day today
I love hearing people say
The song starts with an introduction that describes the beauty of a new day. The singer imagines a lifetime filled with endless dawns and the birds heralding the start of a new day. The sky will continue to shine bright throughout the day with the golden rays of the sun. The scene transitions to people on their way, starting a new day with a positive attitude. The singer confesses to enjoying hearing people say that it's a beautiful day today. The song continues with a verse about people in the streets rushing to where they need to go. The singer is aware of the constant movement of people and the urgency with which they move. Yet, despite the chaos of the streets, people seem to be starting their day with a sense of purpose and optimism. The song ends with the repetition of the first verse, emphasizing the beauty that lies in the start of a new day and the positive energy that emanates from it.
Line by Line Meaning
Dawn to dawn a lifetime
From sunrise to sunset, throughout one's entire existence
The birds sing and day's begun
The natural world is in motion and signaling the start of a new day
The heaven will shine from dawn to dusk
The sky will be radiant throughout the entire day
With golden rays of sun
The sun will cast a warm and inviting light
People on their way
Individuals are moving and progressing
Beginning a brand new day
Starting afresh with opportunities for growth and change
I love (a-)hearing people say
The singer finds joy in listening to others express their positive outlooks
It's a beautiful day today
The current moment is filled with beauty and positivity, as recognized by others
People in the streets
Individuals moving and interacting in public spaces
Rushing everywhere
Moving with purpose, urgency, or eagerness
Moving fast and how I know
The singer observes others in motion and can identify their pace
Contributed by Aaron T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Vanessa ríos
BOB MOSLEY
James Robert "Bob"
Mosley, nacido en Paradise Valley, California, un 04 de diciembre de 1942 fue el bajista del primer grupo “maldito” del
rock de la costa oeste “Moby grape”, donde los cinco integrantes eran Buenos músicos,
compositores y cantantes a la vez, esto fue contraproducente a la vez pues un
marketing suicida de publicar 5 singles al mismo tiempo por su compañía discográfica
hizo sospechar a la gente pensando que era una banda “comercial” y se vinieron
abajo en las ventas de 1967 al igual que su álbum de presentación, pero eran todo lo contrario,
oyendo el “Grape Jam” de 1968 se puede comprobar lo buenos instrumentistas que
eran pero la nula recepción hizo que eso
no pasaron mucho para que se separase el quinteto original en 1969, luego
hubieron reuniones separaciones, hasta una gente que usurpó su nombre, todo un
rollo californiano.
Mosley deja el grupo en 1969 para
unirse a los marines donde le diagnostican esquizofrenia (Skip Spence otro ex Moby
Grape también padeció esta enfermedad mental) y le dan de baja a los nueve meses, luego
trata de rehacer su carrera musical sin éxito, vivió varios años como “homeless
(mendigo) sus ex compañeros de Moby Grape lo ayudan a levantarse musicalmente y lo último que se sabe de él en lo musical es
el disco True Blue.
Para Moby Grape compuso y grabó
las joyas "Mr. Blues", "Come In The Morning", and
"Lazy Me" y esta Hermosa canción llamada "It's a Beautiful Day
Today" antes dejar el grupo en 1969.
Charles Ross
+Roel Lassche
OMG...OMG...
Fantastic references to QMS and Big Star, Monsieur Lassche!
i could never get enough QMS! Whenever they came to town, the entire surf community and I were there!
I was always front & center on Cipollina, and when I finally got my electric, I just wanted to play with the same quivery treble and vibrato intensity that he did, and use my effin' WAH'!
Their shmit was so salacious!
I never saw an amp' with a horn/tweeter combo' like his; never before, and never since.
Cipollina, Duncan, Valenti, Elmore, Frieberg, and Nicky Hopkins too; WOW! ...and their material was off-the-scale!
And Big Star comes out of left field with Alex Chilton, of Box Tops fame. ...more WOW!
Darn; I think I just wet myself...
I'm givin' BIG PROPS to the 'Grape!
johnnybsteelriff
Moby Grape were the best SF band of that period…not running the Dead or the Airplane, Quicksilver etc down at all, just the range and beauty of what they did is superb…..
Billiam
I agree. In the course of 4 months in 1967, I saw Moby Grape, The Dead, Quicksilver, Steve Miller, Big Brother (and the non-SF group, The Doors) and Moby Grape was the best of the bunch. Three guitarists (big very well-balanced sound) and five vocalists. They burned out fast, but boy, did they ever shine brightly.
Brian Shook
Eloquent.
Grad Student
Skip was with Jefferson Airplane for a bit...
TPAwavelink
I don't think you will find a more honest and naturally gifted musician than Mr Bob Mosley..No pretensions with the man. Hope he is doing well.
Sid Griffin
Mosely is singing this one, he wrote it too. He has short hair as he just did a stint in the US Marine Corps. What a great band. Even without founder member and possible pop music genius Skip Spence this was a killer band. A fine song. They should have been HUGE.
Chris Smith
Every track on their 1st vinyl aBlum was released as a Single concurrently and stopped their Radio airtime/momentum. Their Recording Company halted their progress. Moby Grape even lost the right to perform under their own name.
Chris Smith
@Lawrence Feldman Just chiming in ... I did Liquid Lights for the Grape at the Shrine Auditorium. Skipper Dove off the Stage and went crowd surfing.
Chris Smith
Hey Skipprrrr!
Sid Griffin
@Lawrence Feldman No, I never heard them live. But the original Moby Grape with all five guys did gigs in California in the 1990s and I didn't know about it so I missed the L.A. show.