Announcing the Vinyl Reissue of The Grape Prophet by L.S. Underground

We are thrilled to announce the launch of a campaign to reissue L.S. Underground’s legendary rock opera The Grape Prophet—available for the first time on vinyl, along with new acoustic recordings, a deluxe CD edition, and digital formats.

Originally released in 1992 on Michael Knott’s Blonde Vinyl Records, The Grape Prophet has been out of print for nearly 30 years. A true classic, the album marked the first in Knott’s trilogy of rock operas, telling the story of Ellis, an orange grove worker sent by his boss, Col. Peckesen, to rescue his fellow pickers from the sway of a mysterious figure known as the Grape Prophet. Both lyrically and sonically, the album was a revelation—an emotional and narrative tour de force that has remained a favorite among fans and critics ever since.

This reissue has been a labor of love. We’ve worked with Adam Boose (Guided By Voices, Joy Electric, Brandston) to remaster the entire album, bringing out the depth and dynamics while preserving the raw energy of the original recordings. In addition, Michael Knott and Rick McDonough returned to the studio to record four new acoustic renditions of fan-favorite tracks, including “Ellis in the Orchard” and “She Said.”

These acoustic sessions feature stunning new arrangements, with contributions from:

• Luke Moller (Carrie Underwood, Kacey Musgraves) on strings
• Steve Hindalong (The Choir)
• Jesse Sprinkle (Poor Old Lu)
• Rick McDonough (Struck Last May)

We’re offering several formats for this long-awaited reissue:

• Vinyl LP in two beautiful color variants: Grape and Orange
• A bonus LP featuring the new acoustic tracks
• A deluxe edition CD
• Digital download

This is more than a reissue—it’s a celebration of a seminal album that still resonates decades later. Whether you’re discovering The Grape Prophet for the first time or have cherished it since the ’90s, we invite you to be part of this release and bring this powerful album to a new generation of listeners.