The first of many rock operas by Mr. Knott. This album is a classic. Heavy music with a heavy message (presented with plenty of irony and humor). This was pre-grunge explosion music influenced by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and other Seattle pioneers. The “story” told on this opera closely follows real life events within Michael Knott’s church at the time. Due to problems with Blonde Vonyl’s distributor going under, this album was also fairly hard to find for quite a while (now available as a CD-R re-issue online).

Liner Notes:
This is the story of Ellis, an orange picker from the groves of Southern California. Ellis worked for Colonel Peckesen, the orchard boss, and was instructed to oversee all of the hired hands for the Colonel. One day, early in the morning, as Ellis was picking oranges before the hired hands were to awake, the Colonel climbed up the ladder Ellis was picking from and handed him a letter. The letter stated: “We the pickers have heard the call of the Grape Prophet and have chosen to leave the orchards and work on the grapevines up north.” After much coaxing by Colonel Peckesen, Ellis decides to travel to the grapevines to find out more of this Grape Prophet in hopes of returning with the hired hands before the orange crop spoils.

Other information:
This album was scheduled to be re-released in the late 1990’s on the Lion Communications label, but they went out of business. Re-released independently on CD-R format in 2003.

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L.S. Underground The Grape Prophet (1992 Blonde Vinyl Records) Produced by: Michael Knott Caryn Colbert – Background vocals Chuck Cummings – Drums Brian Doidge – Lead and rhythm guitars Steve Hindalong – Percussion, voice of Grape Prophet Michael Knott – Vocals, guitars, additional bass Dan Michaels – Saxaphone on “Back to the Orchard” Mike Sauerbrey – Bass 01) Ellis in the Orchard 4:32 Knott 02) Travels 3:10 Knott 03) The Fold 3:59 Knott 04) Wino of the Red is Stained 3:53 Knott 05) The Grape Prophet Speaks 2:18 Knott 06) English Interpreter of English 3:45 Knott 07) Ellis Converses with the Prophets 3:13 Knott 08) A Group of Prophets Predict the Picker’s Future Without Them 3:36 Knott 09) She Said 3:30 Knott 10) Back to the Fold 4:39 Doidge