Little Feat | ||
| Allmusic Biography : Though they had all the trappings of a Southern-fried blues band, Little Feat were hardly conventional. Led by songwriter/guitarist Lowell George, Little Feat were a wildly eclectic band, bringing together strains of blues, R&B;, country, and rock & roll. The bandmembers were exceptionally gifted technically and their polished professionalism sat well with the slick sounds coming out of Southern California during the 70s. However, Little Feat were hardly slick -- they had a surreal sensibility, as evidenced by Georges idiosyncratic songwriting, which helped the band earn a cult following among critics and musicians. Though the band earned some success on album-oriented radio, the group was derailed after Georges death in 1979. Little Feat re-formed in the late 80s, and while they were playing as well as ever, they lacked the skewed sensibility that made them cult favorites. Nevertheless, their albums and tours were successful, especially among American blues-rock fans. However, Little Feat werent conceived as a straight-ahead blues-rock group. Their founding members, Lowell George (vocals, guitar, slide guitar) and Roy Estrada (bass), were veterans of Frank Zappas Mothers of Invention. George had a long musical career before joining the Mothers. As a child, he and his brother Hampton performed a harmonica duet on televisions Ted Macks Original Amateur Hour. During high school, he learned how to play flute, which led to him appearing as an oboist and baritone saxophonist on several Frank Sinatra recording sessions. He formed the folk-rock group the Factory with drummer Richie Hayward in 1965. Before disbanding, the Factory made some recordings for Uni Records, but the tapes sat unreleased until the 1990s. Following the groups demise, George joined the Mothers of Invention, where he met Estrada. Zappa convinced George to form his own band after hearing "Willin," but the guitarist was reluctant to begin a band until he participated in a brief Standells reunion. George and Estrada formed Little Feat in 1969 with Hayward and keyboardist Billy Payne. Neither their eponymous first album in 1971 nor 1972s Sailin Shoes were commercial successes, despite strong reviews. As a result, the group temporarily disbanded, with Estrada leaving music to become a computer programmer. When the group reconvened later in 1972, he was replaced by New Orleans musician Kenny Gradney. In its second incarnation, Little Feat also featured guitarist Paul Barrére and percussionist Sam Clayton, who gave the music a funkier feeling, as demonstrated by 1973s Dixie Chicken. The band toured heavily behind the record, building a strong following in the South and on the East Coast. Nevertheless, the group remained centered in Los Angeles, since the members did a lot of session work on the side. Though the band was earning a cult following, several members of the group were growing frustrated by Georges erratic behavior and increasing drug use. Following 1974s Feats Dont Fail Me Now, Barrére and Payne became the bands main songwriters and they were primarily responsible for the jazzy fusions of 1975s The Last Record Album. Little Feat continued in that direction on Time Loves a Hero (1977), the double-live album Waiting for Columbus (1978), and Down on the Farm (1979). Frustrated with the bands increasingly improvisational and jazzy nature, George recorded a solo album, Thanks Ill Eat It Here, which was released in 1979. Following its release, George announced that Little Feat had broken up, and he embarked on a solo tour. Partway through the tour, he died of an apparent heart attack. Down on the Farm was released after his death, as was the rarities collection Hoy-Hoy! (1981). After spending seven years as sidemen, Payne, Barrére, Hayward, Gradney, and Clayton re-formed Little Feat in 1988, adding vocalist/guitarist Craig Fuller and guitarist Fred Tackett. The heavily anticipated Let It Roll was released in 1988 to mixed reviews, but it went gold. Each of the groups subsequent reunion albums -- Representing the Mambo (1989), Shake Me Up (1991), and Aint Had Enough Fun (1995) -- sold progressively less, but the band remained a popular concert attraction. On the latter album, the band traded the strongly Lowell George-esque voice of Fuller for female singer Shaun Murphy; this lineup went on to release Under the Radar in 1998 and Chinese Work Songs in 2000. Numerous compilations and live recordings peppered the next few years, followed by 2003s Kickin It at the Barn, the groups first album for its own indie label, Hot Tomato Records. Rocky Mountain Jam arrived in early 2007. Join the Band, a collection of duets with Feat friends and fans, followed in 2008 on Proper Records. After a struggle with liver disease, founding Feat member Richie Hayward passed away from pneumonia and lung disease on August 12, 2010. Little Feat continued to tour after his death, enlisting Gabe Ford as their new drummer. The first album of new material from Little Feat in nine years, Rooster Rag, appeared in 2012. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 35 Title: Little Feat Released: 1971-01 Tracks: 11 Duration: 33:28 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Snakes on Everything (03:07) 2 Strawberry Flats (02:25) 3 Truck Stop Girl (02:32) 4 Brides of Jesus (03:23) 5 Willin’ (02:25) 6 Hamburger Midnight (02:32) 7 Forty Four Blues / How Many More Years (06:32) 8 Crack in Your Door (02:19) 9 I’ve Been the One (02:24) 10 Takin’ My Time (03:50) 11 Crazy Captain Gunboat Willie (01:57) |
| Little Feat : Allmusic album Review : It sold poorly (around 11,000 copies) and the band never cut anything like it again, but Little Feats eponymous debut isnt just one of their finest records, its one of the great lost rock & roll albums. Even dedicated fans tend to overlook the album, largely because its the polar opposite of the subtly intricate, funky rhythm & roll that made their reputation during the mid-70s. Little Feat is a raw, hard-driving, funny and affectionate celebration of American weirdness, equal parts garage rock, roadhouse blues, post-Zappa bizarreness, post-Parsons country rock and slightly bent folk storytelling. Since its grounded in roots rock, it feels familiar enough, but the vision of chief songwriter/guitarist/vocalist Lowell George is wholly unique and slightly off-center. He sees everything with a gently surreal sense of humor that remains affectionate, whether its on an ode to a "Truck Stop Girl," the weary truckers anthem "Willin," or the goofy character sketch of the crusty old salt "Crazy Captain Gunboat Willie." That affection is balanced by gutsy slices of Americana like the careening travelogue "Strawberry Flats," the darkly humorous "Hamburger Midnight" and a jaw-dropping Howlin Wolf medley guest-starring Ry Cooder, plus keyboardist Bill Paynes terrific opener "Snakes on Everything." The songwriting itself is remarkable enough, but the band is its equal -- theyre as loose, vibrant and alive as the Stones at their best. In most respects, this album has more in common with Georges earlier band the Factory than the rest of the Little Feat catalog, but theres a deftness in the writing and performance that distinguishes it from either bands work, which makes it all the more remarkable. Its a pity that more people havent heard the record, but that just means that anyone who owns it feels like theyre in on a secret only they and a handful of others know. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 35 Title: Sailin’ Shoes Released: 1972-05 Tracks: 11 Duration: 38:00 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Easy to Slip (03:22) 2 Cold, Cold, Cold (04:01) 3 Trouble (02:19) 4 Tripe Face Boogie (03:16) 5 Willin’ (02:57) 6 A Apolitical Blues (03:28) 7 Sailin’ Shoes (02:53) 8 Teenage Nervous Breakdown (02:13) 9 Got No Shadow (05:08) 10 Cat Fever (04:37) 11 Texas Rose Cafe (03:42) |
| Sailin’ Shoes : Allmusic album Review : Little Feats debut may have been a great album but it sold so poorly, they had to either broaden their audience or, in all likelihood, theyd be dropped from Warner. So, Sailin Shoes is a consciously different record from its predecessor - less raw and bluesy, blessed with a varied production and catchier songs. That still doesnt make it a pop record, since Little Feat, particularly in its first incarnation, was simply too idiosyncratic, earthy and strange for that. It is, however, an utterly thrilling, individual blend of pop, rock, blues and country, due in no small part to a stellar set of songs from Lowell George. If anything, his quirks are all the more apparent here than they were on the debut, since Ted Templemans production lends each song its own character, plus his pen was getting sharper. George truly finds his voice on this record, with each of his contributions sparkling with off-kilter humor, friendly surreal imagery and humanity, and he demonstrates he can authoritatively write anything from full-throttle rock & roll ("Teenage Nervous Breakdown"), sweet ballads ("Trouble," a sublimely reworked "Willin"), skewered folk ("Sailin Shoes"), paranoid rock ("Cold, Cold, Cold") and blues ("A Apolitical Blues") and, yes, even hooky mainstream rock ("Easy to Slip," which should have been the hit the band intended it to be). Thats not to discount the contributions of the other members, particularly Bill Payne and Richie Haywards "Tripe Face Boogie," which is justifiably one of the bands standards, but the thing that truly stuns on Sailin Shoes is Georges songwriting and how the band brings it to a full, colorful life. Nobody could master the twists and turns within Georges songs better than Little Feat, and both the songwriter and his band are in prime form here. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 35 Title: Dixie Chicken Released: 1973-02 Tracks: 10 Duration: 36:45 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Dixie Chicken (03:56) 2 Two Trains (03:07) 3 Roll Um Easy (02:34) 4 On Your Way Down (05:34) 5 Kiss It Off (02:58) 6 Fool Yourself (03:18) 7 Walkin’ All Night (03:36) 8 Fat Man in the Bathtub (04:33) 9 Juliette (03:30) 10 Lafayette Railroad (03:36) |
| Dixie Chicken : Allmusic album Review : Following Roy Estradas departure during the supporting tour for Sailin Shoes, Lowell George became infatuated with New Orleans R&B; and mellow jamming, all of which came to a head on their third album, 1973s Dixie Chicken. Although George is firmly in charge - he dominates the record, writing or co-writing seven of the 10 songs - this is the point where Little Feat found its signature sound as a band, and no album they would cut from this point on was too different from this seductive, laid-back, funky record. But no album would be quite as good, either, since Dixie Chicken still had much of the charming lyrical eccentricities of the first two albums, plus what is arguably Georges best-ever set of songs. Partially due to the New Orleans infatuation, the album holds together better than Sailin Shoes and George takes full advantage of the bands increased musical palette, writing songs that sound easy but are quite sophisticated, such as the rolling "Two Trains," the gorgeous, shimmering "Juliette," the deeply soulful and funny "Fat Man in the Bathtub" and the country-funk of the title track, which was covered nearly as frequently as "Willin." In addition to "Walkin All Night," a loose bluesy jam by Barrere and Bill Payne, the band also hauls out two covers which fit Georges vibe perfectly: Allan Toussaints slow burner "On Your Way Down" and "Fool Yourself," which was written by Fred Tackett, who later joined a reunited Feat in the 80s. It all adds up to a nearly irresistible record, filled with great songwriting, sultry grooves, and virtuosic performances that never are flashy. Little Feat, along with many jam bands that followed, tried to top this album, but they never managed to make a record this understated, appealing and fine. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 35 Title: Feats Don’t Fail Me Now Released: 1974-09 Tracks: 8 Duration: 34:28 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Rock & Roll Doctor (02:58) 2 Oh, Atlanta (03:29) 3 Skin It Back (04:12) 4 Down the Road (03:45) 5 Spanish Moon (03:06) 6 Feets Don’t Fail Me Now (02:27) 7 The Fan (04:29) 8 Medley: Cold Cold Cold / Tripe Face Boogie (09:59) |
| Feats Don’t Fail Me Now : Allmusic album Review : If Dixie Chicken represented a pinnacle of Lowell George as a songwriter and band leader, its sequel Feats Dont Fail Me Now is the pinnacle of Little Feat as a group, showcasing each member at their finest. Not coincidentally, its the moment where George begins to recede from the spotlight, leaving the band as a true democracy. These observations are only clear in hindsight, since if Feats Dont Fail Me Now is just taken as a record, its nothing more than a damn good rock & roll record. Thats not meant as a dismissal, either, since its hard to make a rock & roll record as seemingly effortless and infectious as this. Though it effectively builds on the Southern-fried funkiness of Dixie Chicken, its hardly as mellow as that record - theres a lot of grit, tougher rhythms, lots of guitar and organ. Its as supple as Chicken, though, which means that its the sound of a touring band at their peak. As it happens, the band is on the top of their writing game as well, with Bill Payne contributing the rollicking "Oh Atlanta" and Paul Barrere turning in one of his best songs, the jazzy funk of "Skin it Back." Each has a co-writing credit with George -- Payne on the unreleased Little Feat-era nugget "The Fan" and Barrere (plus Fred Martin) on the infectious title track -- who also has a couple of classics with "Rock and Roll Doctor" and the great "Spanish Moon." Feats peters out toward the end, as the group delves into a 10-minute medley of two Sailin Shoes songs, but that doesnt hurt one of the best albums Little Feat ever cut. Its so good, the group used it as the template for the rest of their career. | ||
 | Album: 5 of 35 Title: 2 Originals of Little Feat Released: 1975 Tracks: 21 Duration: 1:10:14 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Snakes on Everything (03:07) 2 Strawberry Flats (02:25) 3 Truck Stop Girl (02:32) 4 Brides of Jesus (03:23) 5 Willin’ (02:25) 6 Hamburger Midnight (02:32) 7 Forty Four Blues / How Many More Years (06:32) 8 Crack in Your Door (02:19) 9 I’ve Been the One (02:24) 10 Takin’ My Time (03:50) 11 Crazy Captain Gunboat Willie (01:57) 1 Dixie Chicken (03:56) 2 Two Trains (03:07) 3 Roll Um Easy (02:34) 4 On Your Way Down (05:34) 5 Kiss It Off (02:58) 6 Fool Yourself (03:18) 7 Walkin’ All Night (03:36) 8 Fat Man in the Bathtub (04:33) 9 Juliette (03:30) 10 Lafayette Railroad (03:36) |
 | Album: 6 of 35 Title: The Last Record Album Released: 1975-11 Tracks: 8 Duration: 34:29 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Romance Dance (03:52) 2 All That You Dream (03:55) 3 Long Distance Love (02:42) 4 Day or Night (06:25) 5 One Love Stand (04:21) 6 Down Below the Borderline (03:44) 7 Somebodys Leavin (05:08) 8 Mercenary Territory (04:22) |
| The Last Record Album : Allmusic album Review : The title of The Last Record Album isnt exactly accurate, but it cuts a lot closer than the band intended, for this really is the last album of the groups classic era. Starting here, leader Lowell George fades into the woodwork, and while the remainder of the group tries valiantly to keep the band afloat, the timing and the tension were too great. Musically, the group attempts to make Feats Dont Fail Me Now, Pt. 2, but the production from George is curiously flat, and, truth be told, the group just isnt inspired enough to make a satisfying album. For a very short album -- only eight songs -- too many of the cuts fall flat. Those that succeed, however, are quite good, particularly Paul Barrere and Bill Paynes gently propulsive "All That You Dream," Lowell Georges beautiful "Long Distance Love," and the sublime "Mercenary Territory." Even these songs dont have the spark or character they would have had on the more organic Feats, due to Georges exceedingly mellow SoCal production, which is pleasant but doesnt provide Little Feat with enough room to breathe. There are enough signs of Little Feats true character on The Last Record Album -- the three previously mentioned songs are essential for any Feat fan -- to make it fairly enjoyable, but its clear that the band is beginning to run out of steam. | ||
 | Album: 7 of 35 Title: Time Loves a Hero Released: 1977-05 Tracks: 9 Duration: 35:32 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Hi Roller (03:36) 2 Time Loves a Hero (03:48) 3 Rocket in My Pocket (03:24) 4 Day at the Dog Races (06:30) 5 Old Folks Boogie (03:32) 6 Red Streamliner (04:47) 7 New Delhi Freight Train (03:44) 8 Keepin’ Up With the Joneses (03:47) 9 Missin’ You (02:20) |
| Time Loves a Hero : Allmusic album Review : When Little Feat headed into the studio to record Time Loves a Hero, tensions between the bandmembers -- more specifically, Lowell George and the rest of the band -- were at a peak. George had not only succumbed to various addictions, but he was growing restless with the groups fondness for extending their jams into territory strikingly reminiscent of jazz fusion. The rest of the group brought in Ted Templeman, who previously worked on their debut and produced Sailin Shoes, to mediate the sessions. George wasnt thrilled with that, but thats probably not the only reason why his presence isnt large on this release -- all signs point to his frustration with the band, and he wasnt in great health, so he just didnt contribute to the record. He wrote one song, the pleasant but comparatively faceless "Rocket in My Pocket," and collaborated with Paul Barrere on "Keepin Up with the Joneses." Barrere was responsible for the only bright moments on the album, the ingratiatingly silly "Old Folks Boogie" and, along with Bill Payne and Ken Gradney, the funky singalong title track. Elsewhere, Barrere and Payne come up dry, turning out generic pieces that are well played but not as memorable as comparable Doobie Brothers cuts from the same time. Then theres "Day at the Dog Races," a lengthy fusion jam that Templeman and everyone in the band loved -- except for George, who, according to Bud Scoppas liner notes in Hotcakes & Outtakes, disparagingly compared it to Weather Report. He was right -- no matter how well Feat play on this track, it comes across as self-serving indulgence, and the clearest sign on this muddled album that they had indeed lost the plot. | ||
 | Album: 8 of 35 Title: Waiting for Columbus Released: 1978 Tracks: 15 Duration: 1:14:02 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Join the Band (01:24) 2 Fat Man in the Bathtub (04:52) 3 All That You Dream (04:29) 4 Oh, Atlanta (04:20) 5 Old Folks Boogie (04:26) 6 Time Loves a Hero (04:19) 7 Day or Night (05:30) 8 Mercenary Territory (04:36) 9 Spanish Moon (04:42) 10 Dixie Chicken (08:56) 11 Tripe Face Boogie (07:09) 12 Rocket in My Pocket (03:48) 13 Willin’ (03:42) 14 Sailin’ Shoes (06:20) 15 Feats Don’t Fail Me Now (05:21) |
| Waiting for Columbus : Allmusic album Review : Little Feat was one of the legendary live bands of the 70s, showered with praise by not only their small, fiercely dedicated cult of fans, but such fellow musicians as Bonnie Raitt, Robert Palmer, and Jimmy Page. Given all that acclaim, it only made sense for the group to cut a live album. Unfortunately, they waited until 1977, when the group had entered its decline, but as the double-album Waiting for Columbus proves, Little Feat in its decline was still pretty great. Certainly, the group is far more inspired on stage than they were in the studio after 1975 - just compare "All That You Dream," "Oh Atlanta," "Old Folks Boogie," "Time Loves a Hero," and "Mercenary Territory" here to the cuts on The Last Record Album and Time Loves a Hero. The versions on Waiting are full-bodied and fully-realized, putting the studio cuts to shame. Early classics like "Fat Man in the Bathtub" and "Tripe Face Boogie" arent as revelatory, but its still a pleasure to hear a great band run through their best songs, stretching them out and finding new quirks within them. If there are any flaws with Waiting for Columbus, its that the Feat do a little bit too much stretching, veering toward excessive jamming on occasion - and that mildly fuzzy focus is really the only way youd be able to tell that this is a great live band recorded slightly after their prime. Even so, theres much to savor on Waiting for Columbus, one of the great live albums of its era, thanks to rich performances that prove Little Feat were one of the great live bands of their time. | ||
 | Album: 9 of 35 Title: Down on the Farm Released: 1979-10 Tracks: 9 Duration: 37:28 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Down on the Farm (04:16) 2 Six Feet of Snow (02:30) 3 Perfect Imperfection (03:46) 4 Kokomo (02:58) 5 Be One Now (04:05) 6 Straight From the Heart (04:59) 7 Front Page News (05:57) 8 Wake Up Dreaming (04:09) 9 Feel the Groove (04:48) |
| Down on the Farm : Allmusic album Review : As Little Feat were working on their seventh studio album, Lowell George was just marginally part of the group, spending much of his time completing his solo album, Thanks Ill Eat It Here. While he was touring in support of the record, he suffered a massive heart attack and died, leaving behind an uncompleted record with Little Feat. After mourning, the band regrouped and patched together Down on the Farm, the last album of the Lowell-led era. Since George was preoccupied during the recording, its not surprising that he only makes himself heard on occasion on the album. Its also not surprising that the group was suffering, not just from the loss of a colleague, but from a lack of direction. They were drifting on Time Loves a Hero, after all, and while this is musically a little more straightforward than that fusion-flavored affair, it still is fairly uninspired. The surfaces are very slick, as should be expected with late-70s Californian rock, which again doesnt let the group breathe, but the real problem is that the material is just not terribly memorable. Given the circumstances surrounding the completion of Down on the Farm, its fairly easy to forgive the band this misstep, but it doesnt make the album any less disheartening. | ||
 | Album: 10 of 35 Title: As Time Goes By: The Best of Little Feat Released: 1986 Tracks: 12 Duration: 37:54 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Dixie Chicken (03:56) 2 Willin’ (02:56) 3 Rock & Roll Doctor (02:58) 4 Trouble (02:17) 5 Sailin’ Shoes (02:52) 6 Spanish Moon (03:06) 7 Feets Don’t Fail Me Now (02:27) 8 All That You Dream (03:51) 9 Long Distance Love (02:42) 10 Mercenary Territory (04:26) 11 Old Folks Boogie (03:31) 12 20 Million Things (02:48) |
 | Album: 11 of 35 Title: Let It Roll Released: 1988-07-28 Tracks: 10 Duration: 50:16 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Hate to Lose Your Lovin’ (04:22) 2 One Clear Moment (04:50) 3 Cajun Girl (03:55) 4 Hangin’ On to the Good Times (04:48) 5 Listen to Your Heart (05:52) 6 Let It Roll (04:30) 7 Long Time Till I Get Over You (04:52) 8 Business as Usual (04:28) 9 Changin’ Luck (06:18) 10 Voices on the Wind (06:18) |
| Let It Roll : Allmusic album Review : When Little Feat reunited in 1988, they were embraced by some dedicated fans, but were spurned by nearly an equal number of cultists. Thats because to certain diehards, Little Feat belonged to Lowell George and, without him, the group doesnt exist. While it is true that George was the main songwriter and visionary during the early years of the group, he had pulled away from the group in the last half of the 70s and only had a marginal impact on their final three albums of the 70s. Also, throughout their career, the band contributed significantly, co-writing songs with George, writing their own tunes and, of course, shaping the bands sound with their musicianship. Although George was gone, they still had the desire to perform, so it was understandable that they wanted to reunite, with Craig Fuller taking Georges place. Whats surprising about Let It Roll is not just that it works, but that it works smashingly. It sounds as if the group picked up after The Last Record Album, deciding to return to the sound of Feats Dont Fail Me Now. True, the songwriting might not have the idiosyncratic genius of George, but its strong, catchy and memorable, from the fine singles "Hate to Lose Your Lovin" and "Let it Roll" to album tracks. More importantly, the band sounds lively and playful - Little Feat hasnt sounded this good in the studio since Feats, so its easy to see why the members wanted to regroup. Yes, George is missed - its hard not to miss such a gifted songwriter and musician - but Let It Roll isnt disrespectful of his memory, it keeps his music alive, which is the greatest compliment it can be paid. | ||
 | Album: 12 of 35 Title: Representing the Mambo Released: 1989 Tracks: 11 Duration: 50:59 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Texas Twister (04:46) 2 Daily Grind (05:09) 3 Representing the Mambo (05:56) 4 Woman in Love (03:50) 5 Rad Gumbo (03:28) 6 Teenage Warrior (04:53) 7 That’s Her, Shes Mine (04:10) 8 Feelin’s All Gone (05:00) 9 Those Feat’ll Steer Ya Wrong Sometimes (05:01) 10 The Ingenue (04:22) 11 Silver Screen (04:22) |
| Representing the Mambo : Allmusic album Review : The reunited Little Feat surprised listeners with the smooth assurance of 1988’s Let It Roll, a slick update of their loose-limbed boogie that managed to be faithful to their past while belonging to the present, but their 1989 follow-up, Representing the Mambo, tipped the scales in the direction of the modern, encasing every one of their signatures under layers of glossy varnish. It’s easily their clearest stab at a commercial crossover, a distinction that’s glaringly obvious when the synthesized grind of “Teenage Warrior” is contrasted with the abandon of their early classic “Teenage Nervous Breakdown,” but most of Representing the Mambo is delivered with this stiff, synthesized sheen, which only becomes more apparent when they delve into jazzy sub-Steely Dan territory, as they do with a pair of Hollywood tales at the end of the record. Neither are especially sharp, either lyrically or musically, and the dull songwriting suggests that this record was cobbled together quickly after the success of Let It Roll; apart from the New Orleans stomp of “Rad Gumbo,” the songs are limp grooves that never catch hold because they’re dampened by that immaculate production, the one thing that was meant to be modern and now only makes Representing the Mambo feel like a forgotten artifact preserved in amber. | ||
 | Album: 13 of 35 Title: Shake Me Up Released: 1991-09-24 Tracks: 11 Duration: 53:29 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Spiders Blues (Might Need It Sometime) (04:19) 2 Shake Me Up (04:52) 3 Things Happen (04:25) 4 Mojo Haiku (05:12) 5 Loved and Lied To (05:00) 6 Dont Try So Hard (04:19) 7 Boom Box Car (04:37) 8 Fast and Furious (04:13) 9 Livin on Dreams (05:26) 10 Clownin (04:44) 11 Down in Flames (06:22) |
| Shake Me Up : Allmusic album Review : With this pedestrian third reunion album, Little Feat should have lost the right to use its noble name. Little of the bands original spark remained. | ||
 | Album: 14 of 35 Title: Aint Had Enough Fun Released: 1995-04-25 Tracks: 13 Duration: 1:09:44 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Drivin Blind (05:49) 2 Blue Jean Blues (05:31) 3 Cadillac Hotel (05:31) 4 Romance Without Finance (04:05) 5 Big Bang Theory (05:28) 6 Cajun Rage (05:28) 7 Heavens Where You Find It (05:39) 8 Borderline Blues (06:59) 9 All That You Can Stand (06:36) 10 Rock & Roll Everynight (05:02) 11 Shakeytown (05:15) 12 Ain’t Had Enough Fun (03:27) 13 Thats a Pretty Good Love (04:48) |
| Ain't Had Enough Fun : Allmusic album Review : The members of the group that has the legal right to call itself "Little Feat" perhaps are to be complemented for their realization, after three albums, that having Craig Fuller imitate the voice of the bands deceased founder, Lowell George, was ethically suspect. Or maybe they didnt realize; this albums liner notes say only that "mister fuller decided that the road life was not for him." In any case, the surviving "featsters" have cast against type, recruiting one Shaun Murphy, who cant imitate George but certainly can imitate longtime Feat booster Bonnie Raitt. The addition of a female voice allows for greater variety in lyric-writing and some entertaining call-and-response singing, however, and more important, it begins to free the group from the ghost of Lowell George. The featsters locate themselves more than ever in the mythology of New Orleans, alternating second-line rhythms with John Lee Hooker boogie. One may still wish they had found another name to distinguish themselves from Georges group, but Aint Had Enough Fun is a worthy addition to their catalog on its own terms. | ||
 | Album: 15 of 35 Title: Live From Neon Park Released: 1996-06-18 Tracks: 22 Duration: 2:21:31 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Introduction (01:47) 2 Two Trains (05:43) 3 Spanish Moon / Skin It Back (10:23) 4 Rock & Roll Everynight (05:07) 5 Down on the Farm (06:23) 6 Willin’ (05:41) 7 Hate to Lose Your Lovin’ (04:21) 8 Can’t Be Satisfied / They’re Red Hot (Hot Tamales) (04:49) 9 Cadillac Hotel (06:50) 10 Changin’ Luck (07:22) 11 You’re Taking Up Another Man’s Place (06:54) 12 Oh, Atlanta (05:35) 1 Texas Twister (05:17) 2 Fatman in the Bathtub (07:11) 3 Representing the Mambo (07:51) 4 Long Distance Love (03:35) 5 Rad Gumbo (03:54) 6 Dixie Chicken (17:28) 7 Feats Don’t Fail Me Now (07:49) 8 Sailin’ Shoes (05:13) 9 Let It Roll / High Roller (acoustic) (12:07) 10 [silence] (00:00) |
| Live From Neon Park : Allmusic album Review : Live from Neon Park is an exhaustive double-disc live set recorded on the tour supporting Aint Had Enough Fun, the first Little Feat album that featured vocalist Shaun Murphy. The double disc features all of the bands best-known material, from "Dixie Chicken" to "Let It Roll." The Feat have always been one of the best live rootsy rock bands, so they naturally give inspired performances, even if they occasionally sound like theyve performed these songs one too many times. Still, dedicated Little Feat fans will find this to be an entertaining memento of the latter-day edition of the band. | ||
 | Album: 16 of 35 Title: Under the Radar Released: 1998-06-16 Tracks: 13 Duration: 1:10:37 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Home Ground (04:07) 2 Eden’s Wall (06:33) 3 A Distant Thunder (05:36) 4 Hoy Hoy (04:08) 5 Under the Radar (07:14) 6 Vale of Tears (06:11) 7 Loco Motives (05:16) 8 Ferocious Morning (06:06) 9 Voiceless Territory (Intro to Falling Through the Worlds) (00:49) 10 Falling Through the Worlds (05:55) 11 The Blues Don’t Tell It All (06:14) 12 I Got Happiness (04:32) 13 Calling the Children Home (07:51) |
| Under the Radar : Allmusic album Review : Little Feats first album for CMC International, Under the Radar, found the groups new lineup fully assimilated, with Shaun Murphy sharing many of the lead vocals with mainstays Paul Barrére and Bill Payne. While the record is not as instantly accessible and spontaneous as the previous record with Murphy, Aint Had Enough Fun, there is a confidence that permeates every cut. Feats slightly trippy Southern-fried music made an amazing leap into the 1990s, and Under the Radar continued their rebirth. Tracks such as Barréres "Home Ground" and "Loco Motives" are good-time funky rockers, driven by Barréres excellent slide guitar. Paynes title cut and "Edens Wall" have a slightly dark hopefulness that had become a big part of the bands style. The final cut, "Calling the Children Home," is one of the groups greatest records, closing the album out in joyous New Orleans style. | ||
 | Album: 17 of 35 Title: Extended Versions Released: 2000-02-01 Tracks: 10 Duration: 1:00:33 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Let It Roll (08:58) 2 Feets Don’t Fail Me Now (07:05) 3 Fat Man in the Bathtub (06:37) 4 Sailin’ Shoes (05:13) 5 Hate to Lose Your Lovin’ (04:34) 6 All That You Dream (06:14) 7 Oh, Atlanta (05:15) 8 Hoy Hoy (or Blues Don’t It Tell All) (04:26) 9 Home Ground (05:38) 10 Eden’s Wall (06:33) |
| Extended Versions : Allmusic album Review : A budget-line collection, marketed primarily to truck stops across this great land of ours (and, to quote Lester Burnham, "how perfect is that?"), the 10-track Extended Versions: The Encore Collection contains a selection of live tracks cut by the reunited Little Feat in the early 90s, when they were affiliated with Zoo Records (a subsidiary of RCA, thereby explaining this BMG release). This really isnt all that bad, actually, though its hardly among prime Feat and it does suffer from a production thats just a bit too crystalline. Nevertheless, the reunited Feat still could lay down an effective groove and they have a great selection of songs here, highlighted by "Feets Dont Fail Me Now," "Fat Man in the Bathtub," "Oh Atlanta," and "Hate to Lose Your Lovin." Although the songs of relatively recent vintage that conclude the record damper enthusiasm somewhat, this is stuff that will appeal to a dedicated fan looking for decent (albeit unexceptional) compilation of reunited live recordings. Not a great disc, but not a bad one, either. | ||
 | Album: 18 of 35 Title: Chinese Work Songs Released: 2000-06-20 Tracks: 12 Duration: 1:08:01 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Rag Mama Rag (04:38) 2 Evla (04:26) 3 Bed of Roses (04:48) 4 Sample in a Jar (04:54) 5 Just Another Sunday (07:52) 6 Gimme a Stone (05:06) 7 Rio Esperanza (04:54) 8 Tattoo Heart (06:55) 9 Marginal Creatures (05:16) 10 Chinese Work Songs (06:27) 11 It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry (06:07) 12 Ferocious Morning (live) (06:33) |
| Chinese Work Songs : Allmusic album Review : Some fans of Little Feats classic 1970s recordings argue that the band should have lost the right to use that name when Lowell George died in 1979; as they see it, the band heard on 2000s Chinese Work Songs isnt really Little Feat. If this band can get away with calling itself Little Feat, the argument goes, why shouldnt Bob Weir assemble a band without the late Jerry Garcia and call it the Grateful Dead? You have no doubt heard those arguments, and while its true that Little Feat recorded its best work in the 1970s, the lineup heard on Chinese Work Songs isnt half bad. In its 2000 incarnation, Little Feats lineup ranges from 1970s members Bill Payne (keyboards), Richie Hayward (drums), Paul Barrere (guitar), Kenny Gradney (bass), and Sam Clayton (percussion) to more recent additions like guitarist Fred Tackett and female singer Shaun Murphy. The addition of Murphy in the 1990s proved to be a plus for the band, and her whiskey-voiced, Bonnie Raitt-influenced belting is a definite asset on this CD. Chinese Work Songs isnt in a class with 1973s Dixie Chicken or 1974s Feats Dont Fail Me Now, but its a decent, if uneven, outing, and the 2000 lineup is faithful to the bands roots rock-Southern rock history on original material as well as covers of Bob Dylans "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry," the Bands "Rag Mama Rag," the Hooters "Gimme a Stone," and Phishs "Sample in a Jar." Although not essential and not recommended to casual listeners -- who would be better off with a collection of Little Feats 1970s recordings for Warner Brothers -- diehard Feat fans will find that Chinese Work Songs, despite its imperfections, is enjoyable more often than not. | ||
 | Album: 19 of 35 Title: Hotcakes & Outtakes Released: 2000-09-19 Tracks: 82 Duration: 5:13:34 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Strawberry Flats (02:23) 2 Hamburger Midnight (02:32) 3 Easy to Slip (03:21) 4 Cold, Cold, Cold (04:01) 5 Trouble (02:19) 6 Tripe Face Boogie (03:15) 7 Willin’ (02:56) 8 Cat Fever (04:35) 9 Sailin’ Shoes (02:53) 10 Dixie Chicken (03:56) 11 Two Trains (03:07) 12 Roll Um Easy (02:31) 13 Fat Man in the Bathtub (04:31) 14 Fool Yourself (03:16) 15 Spanish Moon (single version) (02:43) 16 Rock & Roll Doctor (02:58) 17 Oh, Atlanta (03:29) 18 Skin It Back (04:12) 19 Feets Don’t Fail Me Now (02:27) 20 Mercenary Territory (04:26) 21 All That You Dream (single version) (03:33) 22 Long Distance Love (02:42) 23 Day or Night (06:23) 1 Hi Roller (03:37) 2 Time Loves a Hero (03:47) 3 Rocket in My Pocket (03:24) 4 Old Folks Boogie (03:32) 5 Day at the Dog Races (06:28) 6 Fat Man in the Bathtub (04:52) 7 All That You Dream (04:29) 8 Mercenary Territory (04:36) 9 Spanish Moon (live) (05:01) 10 20 Million Things (02:49) 11 Down on the Farm (03:49) 12 Six Feet of Snow (02:32) 13 Gringo (06:32) 14 Lonesome Whistle (03:14) 15 Front Page News (04:50) 16 The Fan (live) (06:16) 17 Red Streamliner (live) (04:57) 18 Teenage Nervous Breakdown (live) (04:15) 1 Hate to Lose Your Lovin’ (04:22) 2 Let It Roll (04:30) 3 Hangin’ On to the Good Times (04:46) 4 Rad Gumbo (03:30) 5 Texas Twister (04:47) 6 Representing the Mambo (05:55) 7 The Ingenue (04:23) 8 Shake Me Up (04:53) 9 Things Happen (04:26) 10 Borderline Blues (single version) (04:22) 11 Cadillac Hotel (05:31) 12 Ain’t Had Enough Fun (03:27) 13 Can’t Be Satisfied / They’re Red Hot (Hot Tamales) (live) (04:55) 14 Home Ground (04:08) 15 The Blues Don’t Tell It All (06:14) 16 Eden’s Wall (06:33) 1 Lightning‐Rod Man (02:13) 2 Crack in Your Door (02:31) 3 Teenage Nervous Breakdown (03:19) 4 Juliet (02:56) 5 Jazz Thing in 10 (03:31) 6 Rat Faced Dog (04:53) 7 Doglines (02:47) 8 Wait Till the Shit Hits the Fan (02:48) 9 Easy to Fall (Easy to Slip) (02:41) 10 Texas Rose Cafe (03:23) 11 Doriville (02:43) 12 Boogie (Tripe Face Boogie) (03:45) 13 Two Trains (03:18) 14 Roto/tone (04:06) 15 Ace in the Hole (Hi Roller) (03:28) 16 Eldorado Slim (04:41) 17 Feats Don’t Fail Me Now (02:30) 18 Play Something Sweet (Brickyard Blues) (03:01) 19 All That You Dream (03:33) 20 Down Below the Borderline (01:54) 21 Rockin’ Shoes I & II (02:34) 22 Front Page News (04:44) 23 High Roller (03:37) 24 Roll ’Em Easy (02:40) 25 Boogie Wigwam (short jazz Piece) (01:10) |
 | Album: 20 of 35 Title: Late Night Truck Stop Released: 2001-07-30 Tracks: 16 Duration: 1:42:21 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 A Apolitical Blues (05:19) 2 Two Trains (03:32) 3 Got No Shadow, Part 1 (06:12) 4 The Fan (06:05) 5 Texas Rose Café (04:38) 6 Snakes on Everything (06:56) 7 Cat Fever (06:21) 8 Fat Man in Bathtub (05:54) 9 Walkin All Night (04:04) 10 Sailin Shoes (04:35) 1 Dixie Chicken (09:58) 2 Hamburger Midnight (06:11) 3 Got No Shadow, Part 2 (07:02) 4 On Your Way Down (08:19) 5 Willin (04:06) 6 Cold, Cold, Cold (13:09) |
 | Album: 21 of 35 Title: Raw Tomatos, Volume One Released: 2002 Tracks: 31 Duration: 2:24:06 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Crack in Your Door (02:52) 2 The Fan (04:01) 3 Trouble (demo) (01:48) 4 Apolitical Blues (03:20) 5 Fat Man in the Bathtub (demo) (03:57) 6 Sailing Shoes (05:17) 7 Teenage Nervous Breakdown (03:30) 8 Ass for Days (01:12) 9 Gringo (04:11) 10 Rocket in My Pocket (04:02) 11 Long Distance Love (02:46) 12 Long Time Til I Get Over You (04:26) 13 Changing Luck (06:17) 14 Mojo Haiku (05:11) 15 Those Featll Steer Ya Wrong Sometimes (04:33) 16 Strawberry Flats (02:36) 17 Six Feet of Snow (02:41) 18 Shake Me Up (05:09) 19 Business as Usual (04:40) 1 Rock and Roll Doctor (04:06) 2 Time Loves a Hero (05:03) 3 The Blues Dont Tell It All (redo) (07:20) 4 Voodoo Jam (05:28) 5 Honest Man (06:48) 6 Blue Jean Blues (05:32) 7 Rocket in My Pocket (07:19) 8 Old Folks Boogie (acoustic) (05:34) 9 Rio Esperanza (05:07) 10 Borderline Blues (07:24) 11 Let It Roll (08:23) 12 Missin You (redo) (03:25) |
 | Album: 22 of 35 Title: Live at the Rams Head: An Acoustic Evening With Little Feat Released: 2002-11-05 Tracks: 21 Duration: 2:24:34 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Hate to Lose Your Lovin’ (04:35) 2 Rocket in My Pocket (07:13) 3 Honest Man (06:49) 4 Oh, Atlanta (07:30) 5 Calling the Children Home (08:46) 6 Rag Mama Rag (06:50) 7 Shake Me Up (04:44) 8 Easy to Slip / I Know You Rider (08:01) 9 Bed of Roses (04:52) 10 One Clear Moment (04:48) 11 Willin’ (06:15) 1 Gringo (08:35) 2 Cajun Rage (06:20) 3 Cadillac Hotel (06:33) 4 Spanish Moon (08:36) 5 Skin It Back (07:34) 6 Hoy Hoy (05:32) 7 Let It Roll (10:00) 8 On Your Way Down (08:18) 9 Cajun Girl (07:29) 10 Feats Don’t Fail Me Now (05:04) |
 | Album: 23 of 35 Title: Highwire Act Live in St. Louis 2003 Released: 2003 Tracks: 17 Duration: 2:14:18 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Time Loves a Hero (05:59) 2 Day or Night (09:48) 3 Cadillac Hotel (06:47) 4 Spanish Moon (08:26) 5 Skin It Back (06:41) 6 Cajun Girl (06:42) 7 Night on the Town (05:59) 8 I’d Be Lyin’ (05:35) 9 The Blues Don’t Tell It All (06:20) 1 Old Folks Boogie (07:19) 2 Oh Atlanta (04:53) 3 Dixie Chicken (17:45) 4 Tripe Face Boogie (07:18) 5 Fat Man in the Bathtub (11:44) 6 Let It Roll (09:30) 7 Willin’ (08:07) 8 Feats Don’t Fail Me Now (05:25) |
| Highwire Act Live in St. Louis 2003 : Allmusic album Review : Essentially, this double-disc set is the soundtrack to the DVD of the same name. Sonically, it is sublime; the subtleties of a live performance are all left in. The interplay between guitarists Fred Tackett and Paul Barrére is exceptional, as are the drop-dead-on-a-dime fills of keyboardist Bill Payne. The track selection leans a little more to the classic side of Little Feats vast catalog, with many tracks from the 1970s in the set, including "Time Loves a Hero," "Skin It Back," "Old Folks Boogie," "Oh Atlanta," "Spanish Moon," "Dixie Chicken," "Tripe Face Boogie," "Fat Man in the Bathtub," "Willin," and "Feats Dont Fail Me Now." The latter material is served well, too, particularly "Id Be Lyin," by new lead vocalist (though she has been with the band for a decade) Shaun Murphy, and Bill Paynes "Cadillac Hotel." And while its fair to say that this is the bands best live outing since Waiting for Columbus, it in no way gets to the emotional and performance heights that classic slab did, even if the band does play "better" now. This set will not likely win the band any new fans, but if youre one of those who stuck it out after the passing of Lowell George, this collection might just be the thing youre looking for. | ||
 | Album: 24 of 35 Title: Kickin It at the Barn Released: 2003-10-21 Tracks: 11 Duration: 1:11:32 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Night on the Town (06:08) 2 Heaven Forsaken (04:32) 3 Id Be Lyin (05:56) 4 Corazones y Sombras (08:04) 5 Walking as Two (06:23) 6 In a Town Like This (04:15) 7 Fighting the Mosquito Wars (06:43) 8 Stomp (08:56) 9 Why Dont It Look Like the Way That It Talk (07:44) 10 I Do What the Telephone Tells Me to Do (07:42) 11 Bills River Blues (05:04) |
| Kickin' It at the Barn : Allmusic album Review : Kickin It at the Barn is Little Feats first album for their own indie label, Hot Tomato Records, which makes more of a difference than you might think. In his liner notes for the album, guitarist/vocalist Paul Barrére said they called the album Kickin It at the Barn because it captures the band laying back and relaxing while recording at bandmember Fred Tacketts home studio, the Barn, and thats exactly what the album sounds like -- its relaxed and warm, sounding more comfortable and lived-in than such otherwise likeable latter-day efforts as Chinese Work Songs. That vibe is welcome and pleasurable, notably different than some of their platters for CMC, and that alone would separate this from other Feat albums of a recent vintage, but there are also some ventures into different sounds and styles, such as "Corazones y Sombras," which is a dead ringer for Los Lobos. Yet what really makes this work is that the songwriting is often sharper than it has been of late. There are still a few stumbles -- instrumental vamps like Bill Paynes "Stomp" are better-suited for live performances -- but Barrére and Tacketts opening pair of "Night on the Town" and "Heaven Forsaken" are first-rate, and the moody "Why Dont It Look Like the Way That It Talk" isnt far behind either. Like much reunited Little Feat, Kickin It at the Barn is a little too laid-back and groove-centric for its own good, but theres a better variety of grooves, sounds, and songs on this, enough to make it one of their stronger latter-day affairs. | ||
 | Album: 25 of 35 Title: Barnstormin’ Live • Volume One Released: 2005 Tracks: 10 Duration: 1:08:51 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Rocket in My Pocket (06:54) 2 Keepin’ Up With the Joneses (06:05) 3 Change in Luck (06:35) 4 Spiders Blues (04:33) 5 One Clear Moment>Just Another Sunday (15:52) 6 Walkin’ as Two (06:00) 7 Last Night (05:26) 8 Roll Um Easy (02:57) 9 The Blues Don’t Tell It All (05:43) 10 Why Don’t It Look Like the Way That It Talk (08:46) |
 | Album: 26 of 35 Title: The Best of Little Feat Released: 2006-09-26 Tracks: 17 Duration: 1:04:39 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Hamburger Midnight (02:30) 2 Cold Cold Cold (04:00) 3 Tripe Face Boogie (03:14) 4 Willin (02:54) 5 Dixie Chicken (03:56) 6 Roll Um Easy (02:33) 7 Fat Man in the Bathtub (04:32) 8 Fool Yourself (03:16) 9 All That You Dream (04:29) 10 Oh, Atlanta (04:20) 11 Hi Roller (03:37) 12 Time Loves a Hero (03:48) 13 Down on the Farm (03:49) 14 Let It Roll (04:31) 15 Rad Gumbo (03:31) 16 Cadillac Hotel (05:32) 17 Home Ground (04:07) |
| The Best of Little Feat : Allmusic album Review : There have been many Little Feat compilations released over the years, but Rhinos 2006 The Best of Little Feat is the first single-disc hits collection to appear in the U.S., so it shouldnt be surprising that its tilted ever so slightly toward the American market, where Little Feat was still touring steadily and successfully at the time of this discs release. That means that it has a healthy dose of recordings from the reunited Little Feat -- four tracks, actually, which is a pretty high percentage for a 17-track collection. Since the reunited Little Feat has actually been together longer than the classic Lowell George-fronted lineup, this does make some sense, and the selections are good, even if it is strange that "Hate to Lose Your Lovin," the first single from their 1988 comeback, Let It Roll, and a radio hit, is missing. Of course, there are some odd oversights from the George years -- most notably Sailin Shoes is somewhat underplayed, with that song, "Easy to Slip," and "Teenage Nervous Breakdown" all MIA, but other standards like "Feats Dont Fail Me Now" and "Two Trains" are nowhere to be found either. These omissions mean that this Best of Little Feat is not the definitive single-disc overview of the group, but as a sampler its not bad: theres plenty of great music here and as such it does serve as a rather effective introduction to the band, even if it doesnt tell a neophyte everything they should know about the group. | ||
 | Album: 27 of 35 Title: Rocky Mountain Jam Released: 2007-01-23 Tracks: 6 Duration: 1:08:18 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Marginal Creatures (06:20) 2 One Clear Moment / Sunday Jam (11:53) 3 Rocket in My Pocket (06:51) 4 Spanish Moon / Skin It Back (15:32) 5 Dixie Chicken (21:04) 6 Feats Don’t Fail Me Now (06:38) |
| Rocky Mountain Jam : Allmusic album Review : Take the word "jam" to heart here: Rocky Mountain Jam is a mere six tracks long and none of them weigh in at under six minutes, with three of them stretching past ten -- and of those, the "Spanish Moon/Skin It Back" medley rolls on to 15 minutes and "Dixie Chicken" stretches out to a whopping 21 minutes. At this length, the songs are almost afterthoughts, since the real meat is in the endless, elastic playing -- and while this set, captured live in Boulder, CO, offers no overt surprises in either song selection or approach, it offers plenty of music for hardcore Feat fanatics to get lost in. Its all about the interplay, to hear how these guys feed off of each other, and theyre in particularly fine form on Rocky Mountain Jam, digging deep polyrhythmic grooves and stretching out into dense yet supple jazzy improvs. There isnt much in the way of grit here -- its funky but clean -- but that shouldnt come as a surprise to anybody whos paid attention to the latter-day band. One of the nice things about Little Feat in their nearly fourth decade (!) of performing is that theyre reliable professionals: they almost never give a bad performance and they still find ways to make their standards sound fresh to themselves and their dedicated fans. And thats exactly why Rocky Mountain Jam will please the faithful who have stuck with them through years of touring and years of live albums that have the same sound and feel -- and often the same songs -- yet still avoid sounding tired and dull. | ||
 | Album: 28 of 35 Title: Join the Band Released: 2008 Tracks: 15 Duration: 1:06:21 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Fat Man in the Bathtub (06:11) 2 Something in the Water (03:20) 3 Dixie Chicken (04:50) 4 See You Later Alligator (02:57) 5 Champion of the World (03:41) 6 The Weight (05:18) 7 Dont Ya Just Know It (03:43) 8 Time Loves a Hero (04:22) 9 Willin (03:48) 10 This Land Is Your Land (04:17) 11 Oh Atlanta (03:58) 12 Spanish Moon (07:40) 13 Trouble (02:39) 14 Sailin Shoes (06:04) 15 I Will Play for Gumbo (03:33) |
| Join the Band : Allmusic album Review : Not too long after their successful 1988 comeback, Let It Roll, Little Feat quietly morphed into a working band, one that made its name via its gigs, not its records. New albums popped up -- some better than others, none all that bad -- but their strength was the stage, where they relied on that incomparable catalog of chestnuts, occasionally dropping a newer tune into rotation. Theyve been jamming on these songs so long that its no big deal that theyve invited a group of friends -- some old, some new, some inexplicable -- to play those songs, along with some other great jammable tunes, like Bobby Charles immortal "See You Later Alligator" and the Bands deathless "The Weight," which does lend itself self to communal singalongs from the Staple Singers to Weezer. If the title itself isnt a tip-off, communal singalongs are the name of the game here, as everybody kicks back and cheerfully warbles through a good selection of songs, never quite reworking them -- well, apart from a sorely misguided attempt to skew "Fat Man in the Bathtub" toward Dave Matthews loping worldbeat style -- but rather playing them one more time, sometimes with feeling. More often, they play with a sleepy comfort, slipping these songs on like flip-flops that may be kicking around two summers too long. Depending on whos along for the ride, this vacillates between overly familiar and happily friendly, with some longtime friends inspiring a lazy stroll (Jimmy Buffett, who lent his studio for this project, dozes through his pair) while others nudge the band into second gear (Vince Gill kicks up some dust on "Dixie Chicken" and "Spanish Moon"). Join the Band is bottom-loaded something fierce, as it concludes with Emmylou Harris leading Feat, Béla Fleck, and Sam Bush through a down n dirty "Sailin Shoes" that harks back to Lowell George at his most cheerfully vulgar, while his daughter Inara turns in a delicate, lovely "Trouble" thats gently moving. And then theres Chris Robinson, who joins the group for Bill Paynes "Oh Atlanta," pushing the band toward the only cut that could be called "lively" here. Its a great reminder of how good a rock & roll band Little Feat were and can still be, but listening to the rangy good times on this one cut, its hard not to wish that Robinson had just coaxed his brother into delivering a full-fledged Feat tribute with the Black Crowes instead. | ||
 | Album: 29 of 35 Title: Original Album Series Released: 2009 Tracks: 48 Duration: 2:57:12 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Snakes on Everything (03:07) 2 Strawberry Flats (02:25) 3 Truck Stop Girl (02:32) 4 Brides of Jesus (03:23) 5 Willin’ (02:25) 6 Hamburger Midnight (02:32) 7 Forty Four Blues / How Many More Years (06:32) 8 Crack in Your Door (02:19) 9 I’ve Been the One (02:24) 10 Takin’ My Time (03:50) 11 Crazy Captain Gunboat Willie (01:57) 1 Easy to Slip (03:22) 2 Cold, Cold, Cold (04:01) 3 Trouble (02:19) 4 Tripe Face Boogie (03:16) 5 Willin’ (02:57) 6 A Apolitical Blues (03:28) 7 Sailin’ Shoes (02:53) 8 Teenage Nervous Breakdown (02:13) 9 Got No Shadow (05:08) 10 Cat Fever (04:37) 11 Texas Rose Cafe (03:42) 1 Dixie Chicken (03:56) 2 Two Trains (03:07) 3 Roll Um Easy (02:34) 4 On Your Way Down (05:34) 5 Kiss It Off (02:58) 6 Fool Yourself (03:18) 7 Walkin’ All Night (03:36) 8 Fat Man in the Bathtub (04:33) 9 Juliette (03:30) 10 Lafayette Railroad (03:36) 1 Rock & Roll Doctor (02:58) 2 Oh, Atlanta (03:29) 3 Skin It Back (04:12) 4 Down the Road (03:45) 5 Spanish Moon (03:06) 6 Feets Don’t Fail Me Now (02:27) 7 The Fan (04:29) 8 Medley: Cold Cold Cold / Tripe Face Boogie (09:59) 1 Romance Dance (03:52) 2 All That You Dream (03:55) 3 Long Distance Love (02:42) 4 Day or Night (06:25) 5 One Love Stand (04:21) 6 Down Below the Borderline (03:44) 7 Somebodys Leavin (05:08) 8 Mercenary Territory (04:22) |
| Original Album Series : Allmusic album Review : This 2010 box rounds up the best Little Feat studio albums -- Little Feat, Sailin Shoes, Dixie Chicken, Feats Dont Fail Me Now, and The Last Record Album -- in a slipcase. Each of these five albums is presented as a mini-LP in a cardboard sleeve, making this a handsome and easy way to get the Feats best all at once. | ||
 | Album: 30 of 35 Title: 40 Feat: The Hot Tomato Anthology 1971–2011 Released: 2011-09-26 Tracks: 40 Duration: 1:03:56 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Crack in Your Door (02:53) 2 The Fan (04:03) 3 Trouble (01:50) 4 Cat Fever (05:19) 5 Texas Rose Cafe (03:37) 6 Lafayette Railroad (03:39) 7 Hamburger Midnight Blues (02:21) 8 Apolitical Blues (03:22) 9 Fat Man in the Bathtub (03:59) 10 Cold Cold Cold / Dixie Chicken (08:50) 11 Sailin’ Shoes (05:19) 12 Teenage Nervous Breakdown (03:32) 13 Long Distance Love (02:48) 14 Down Below the Borderline (04:03) 15 Rocket in My Pocket (04:04) 16 Tripe Face Boogie (04:11) 1 Rock and Roll Doctor (?) 2 Long Time ’Til I Get Over You (?) 3 Daily Grind (?) 4 Feelin’s All Gone (?) 5 Shake Me Up (?) 6 Strawberry Flats (?) 7 Borderline Blues (?) 8 Ain’t Had Enough Fun (?) 9 This Land Is Your Land (?) 10 Hate to Lose Your Lovin’ (?) 11 One Clear Moment (?) 12 Willin’ (?) 13 Hoy Hoy (?) 1 Skin It Back (?) 2 Cajun Girl (?) 3 Oh Atlanta (?) 4 Time Loves a Hero (?) 5 Spanish Moon (?) 6 Old Folks Boogie (?) 7 Let It Roll (?) 8 Feats Don’t Fail Me Now (?) 9 Bills River Blues (?) 10 Roll Um Easy (?) 11 Down on the Farm / Candy Man Blues (?) |
 | Album: 31 of 35 Title: Rooster Rag Released: 2012-06-26 Tracks: 12 Duration: 58:04 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Candy Man Blues (03:04) 2 Rooster Rag (04:35) 3 Church Falling Down (05:21) 4 Salome (06:31) 5 One Breath At A Time (05:17) 6 Just A Fever (04:23) 7 Rag Top Down (05:25) 8 Way Down Under (04:05) 9 Jamaica Will Break Your Heart (04:24) 10 Tattooed Girl (04:53) 11 The Blues Keep Coming (05:50) 12 Mellow Down Easy (04:08) |
| Rooster Rag : Allmusic album Review : For the better part of two decades, Little Feat have been a touring band that occasionally records, surviving the rough and tumble of the road and of life itself. Founding member Richie Hayward passed in 2010, by which time Gabe Ford had taken over his drumming duties, and 2012s Rooster Rag marks the first time Ford has anchored a Feat studio recording, but its also the groups first collection of new material in almost a decade. The last was the 2003 Kickin It at the Barn -- Join the Band, a star-studded stroll through their back pages, appeared in 2008 -- and Rooster Rag feels a bit more focused than that ambling affair, lacking some of the casual virtuosity of Kickin but gaining the presence of Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter, who co-wrote three tunes with Bill Payne here. Hunters presence elevates "Rooster Rag," "Salome," "Rag Top Down," and "Way Down Under," giving the album an anchor of songs that feel fleshed out, not just amiable jams with words laid on top. To these songs, the strongest Feat have cut in many years, add a pair of strong blues covers (Mississippi John Hurts "Candy Man Blues" taken as a shuffle," a cleanly funky version of Willie Dixons "Mellow Down Easy"); a good, almost gritty rocker from Paul Barrére and Stephen Bruton in "Just a Fever"; and a pair of plain songs from Fred Tackett ("Tattooed Girl," "Church Falling Down") that he redeems with a pair of low-key charmers ("One Breath at a Time," "Jamaica Will Break Your Heart"). Theres just enough mess to keep this aligned with Feats ramshackle latter-day charms, but Rooster Rag doesnt stray too far from the path; it stays right on track, is relatively lean, and amply illustrates all of Little Feats enduring charms. | ||
 | Album: 32 of 35 Title: Rad Gumbo: The Complete Warner Bros. Years 1971–1990 Released: 2014-03-04 Tracks: 157 Duration: 10:37:38 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Snakes on Everything (03:07) 2 Strawberry Flats (02:25) 3 Truck Stop Girl (02:32) 4 Brides of Jesus (03:23) 5 Willin’ (02:25) 6 Hamburger Midnight (02:32) 7 Forty Four Blues / How Many More Years (06:32) 8 Crack in Your Door (02:19) 9 I’ve Been the One (02:24) 10 Takin’ My Time (03:50) 11 Crazy Captain Gunboat Willie (01:57) 1 Easy to Slip (03:22) 2 Cold, Cold, Cold (04:01) 3 Trouble (02:19) 4 Tripe Face Boogie (03:16) 5 Willin’ (02:57) 6 A Apolitical Blues (03:28) 7 Sailin’ Shoes (02:53) 8 Teenage Nervous Breakdown (02:13) 9 Got No Shadow (05:08) 10 Cat Fever (04:37) 11 Texas Rose Cafe (03:42) 1 Dixie Chicken (03:56) 2 Two Trains (03:07) 3 Roll Um Easy (02:34) 4 On Your Way Down (05:34) 5 Kiss It Off (02:58) 6 Fool Yourself (03:18) 7 Walkin’ All Night (03:36) 8 Fat Man in the Bathtub (04:33) 9 Juliette (03:30) 10 Lafayette Railroad (03:36) 1 Rock & Roll Doctor (02:58) 2 Oh, Atlanta (03:29) 3 Skin It Back (04:12) 4 Down the Road (03:45) 5 Spanish Moon (03:06) 6 Feets Don’t Fail Me Now (02:27) 7 The Fan (04:29) 8 Medley: Cold Cold Cold / Tripe Face Boogie (09:59) 1 Romance Dance (03:52) 2 All That You Dream (03:55) 3 Long Distance Love (02:42) 4 Day or Night (06:25) 5 One Love Stand (04:21) 6 Down Below the Borderline (03:44) 7 Somebodys Leavin (05:08) 8 Mercenary Territory (04:22) 1 Hi Roller (03:36) 2 Time Loves a Hero (03:48) 3 Rocket in My Pocket (03:24) 4 Day at the Dog Races (06:30) 5 Old Folks Boogie (03:32) 6 Red Streamliner (04:47) 7 New Delhi Freight Train (03:44) 8 Keepin’ Up With the Joneses (03:47) 9 Missin’ You (02:20) 1 Join the Band (01:50) 2 Fat Man in the Bathtub (04:52) 3 All That You Dream (04:29) 4 Oh, Atlanta (04:20) 5 Old Folks Boogie (04:26) 6 Dixie Chicken (08:56) 7 Tripe Face Boogie (07:09) 8 Rocket in My Pocket (03:48) 9 Time Loves a Hero (04:19) 10 Day or Night (05:30) 11 Mercenary Territory (04:36) 12 Spanish Moon (05:36) 1 Willin’ (04:42) 2 Don’t Bogart That Joint (01:01) 3 A Apolitical Blues (03:49) 4 Sailin’ Shoes (06:20) 5 Feats Don’t Fail Me Now (05:35) 6 One Love Stand (04:27) 7 Rock & Roll Doctor (04:17) 8 Skin It Back (05:40) 9 On Your Way Down (06:25) 10 Walkin’ All Night (04:12) 11 Cold, Cold, Cold (05:18) 12 Day at the Dog Races (12:12) 13 Skin It Back (04:40) 14 Red Streamliner (04:59) 15 Teenage Nervous Breakdown (04:12) 1 Down on the Farm (04:16) 2 Six Feet of Snow (02:30) 3 Perfect Imperfection (03:46) 4 Kokomo (02:58) 5 Be One Now (04:05) 6 Straight From the Heart (04:59) 7 Front Page News (05:57) 8 Wake Up Dreaming (04:09) 9 Feel the Groove (04:48) 1 Rocket in My Pocket (acoustic demo) (00:51) 2 Rock & Roll Doctor (alternate version) (03:12) 3 Skin It Back (live) (04:42) 4 Easy to Slip (03:20) 5 Red Streamliner (live) (04:59) 6 Lonesome Whistle (demo) (03:29) 7 Front Page News (04:50) 8 The Fan (live) (06:15) 9 Forty‐Four Blues / How Many More Years (03:17) 10 Teenage Nervous Breakdown (demo) (01:26) 11 Teenage Nervous Breakdown (live) (04:04) 12 Framed (02:44) 13 Strawberry Flats (02:21) 14 Gringo (06:32) 15 Over the Edge (04:19) 16 Two Trains (live) (03:20) 17 China White (03:14) 18 All That You Dream (live) (04:48) 19 Feets Don’t Fail Me Now (live) (01:51) 1 Hate to Lose Your Lovin’ (04:22) 2 One Clear Moment (04:50) 3 Cajun Girl (03:55) 4 Hangin’ On to the Good Times (04:48) 5 Listen to Your Heart (05:52) 6 Let It Roll (04:30) 7 Long Time Till I Get Over You (04:52) 8 Business as Usual (04:28) 9 Changin’ Luck (06:18) 10 Voices on the Wind (06:18) 1 Texas Twister (04:46) 2 Daily Grind (05:09) 3 Representing the Mambo (05:56) 4 Woman in Love (03:50) 5 Rad Gumbo (03:28) 6 Teenage Warrior (04:53) 7 That’s Her, Shes Mine (04:10) 8 Feelin’s All Gone (05:00) 9 Those Feat’ll Steer Ya Wrong Sometimes (05:01) 10 The Ingenue (04:22) 11 Silver Screen (04:22) 1 Jazz Thing in 10 (03:31) 2 Rat Faced Dog (outtake) (04:53) 3 Doglines (outtake) (02:47) 4 Wait Till the Shit Hits the Fan (outtake) (02:48) 5 Easy to Fall (Easy to Slip) (demo) (02:41) 6 Texas Rose Café (demo) (03:23) 7 Doriville (outtake) (02:43) 8 Boogie (Tripe Face Boogie) (outtake) (03:45) 9 Two Trains (Lowell demo) (03:18) 10 Roto/Tone (demo) (04:06) 11 Ace in the Hole (Hi Roller) (outtake) (03:28) 12 Eldorado Slim (outtake) (04:41) 13 Feats Don’t Fail Me Now (outtake) (02:30) 14 Brickyard Blues (outtake) (03:01) 15 All That You Dream (outtake) (03:33) 16 Spanish Moon (single version) (02:43) 17 Down Below the Borderline (Lowell demo) (01:54) 18 Rockin’ Shoes I & II (Lowell demo) (02:34) 19 Front Page News (outtake) (04:44) 20 High Roller (outtake) (03:37) 21 All That You Dream (single version) (03:33) 22 Roll ’Em Easy (outtake) (02:40) 23 Boogie Wigwam (short jazz piece) (01:10) 24 Teenage Nervous Breakdown (live) (04:15) |
| Rad Gumbo: The Complete Warner Bros. Years 1971–1990 : Allmusic album Review : Little Feat were on Warner Bros Records from 1971s Little Feat through 1990s Representing the Mambo, but for a full decade of those 20 years, the band was inactive. Nevertheless, the records rounded up here -- which include the eight albums Lowell George recorded with the band (the seminal 1978 live album Waiting for Columbus is present in its 2002 expansion), plus the 1981 compilation Hoy Hoy! and the two comeback albums, 1988s Let It Roll and Representing the Mambo; an edited version of the rarities disc from 2000s Hotcakes & Outtakes box is nicely included (the earliest songs have been excised) -- represent the groups core catalog. Theyd continue to record into the new millennium -- 2012s Rooster Rag is quite good -- but these albums have the songs and sensibility that built their legacy, which does include their remarkably successful return in 1988. All the albums are presented as mini-LPs and the set is affordable, making this a very appealing bargain for all kinds of Feat fanatics. | ||
 | Album: 33 of 35 Title: Live in Holland 1976 Released: 2014-04-22 Tracks: 11 Duration: 1:03:13 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Skin It Back (05:38) 2 Fat Man in the Bathtub (05:40) 3 One Love Stand (05:02) 4 Rock and Roll Doctor (04:10) 5 Oh Atlanta (04:28) 6 All That You Dream (04:50) 7 Cold Cold Cold (05:04) 8 Dixie Chicken (10:02) 9 Tripe Face Boogie (07:40) 10 Feats Don’t Fail Me Now (06:32) 11 Teenage Nervous Breakdown (04:01) |
| Live in Holland 1976 : Allmusic album Review : There has been a wealth of live Little Feat treasures over the past couple of years. In May of 2013, Hellzapoppin, an import issue of a 1975 WBCN broadcast, was issued. Then in November, American Cutie, recorded in 1973 at Ebbets Field by Colorados KCUV FM, hit the streets. In both cases the audio had been significantly improved over the many bootleg sources of these tapes and warranted purchase. Now Eagle Vision ups the ante by getting this twin audio and video set from the Pinkpop Festival in Holland on June 7, 1976. While the performance is Little Feat in all its funky glory -- Lowell George was at a personal peak here -- it is a bit shorter than the Hellzapoppin show, which it resembles. The reason is simple: the former was a Little Feat gig; this features the band as part of a festival lineup. Clocking in at under 70 minutes, this gig is all GO, commencing with "Skin It Back" giving way to "Fat Man in a Bathtub." There are a few rough spots in the audio, but nothing serious enough to remotely consider not picking this up if youre a fan. Some of the other highlights here are the soulful, relaxed groove of "One Love Stand," which leads into an earthshaking "Rock and Roll Doctor," with a scathing slide solo from George. All the seeming contradictions in this bands live presence are on display here when watching the video, such as how laid-back and loose their approach can seem -- until one listens to the music. Its all popping grooves, interlocked vamps, focused arrangements, and a generous sense of solo space as well as a nearly unrivaled sense of timing -- and worth every superlative that has ever been tossed their way. Paul Barréres taut solo that introduces "All That You Dream" is indicative of the forthcoming depth of emotion in Georges vocal. And speaking of Barrére, his extended break on "Dixie Chicken" -- a ten-minute jam that emerges from a nasty, dirty "Cold, Cold, Cold" -- is a hallmark in Little Feats live record history. "Tripe Face Boogie" is so ferocious it could have been the closer or an encore, and based on the enthusiasm of the crowd, thats no exaggeration. But the intensity only increases on closer "Feats Dont Fail Me Now" and into "Teenage Nervous Breakdown," the encore. The video on this set is a beautifully done show with four cameras on a sunny afternoon with gorgeous close-up footage throughout. Live in Holland 1976 is an absolute must for Little Feat fans, and serves as a fine introduction for the newcomer to their particular brand of musical magic-making. | ||
 | Album: 34 of 35 Title: St. Valentine’s Day Massacre Released: 2015 Tracks: 12 Duration: 1:07:52 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 A Apolitical Blues (03:29) 2 Skin It Back (05:25) 3 Fat Man in the Bathtub (05:33) 4 One Love Stand (04:15) 5 Rock & Roll Doctor (05:14) 6 On Your Way Down (07:22) 7 All That You Dream (05:05) 8 Cold Cold Cold (06:02) 9 Dixie Chicken (08:22) 10 Tripe Face Boogie (07:39) 11 Willin’ (05:07) 12 Teenage Nervous Breakdown (04:19) |
 | Album: 35 of 35 Title: Orpheum Theater Boston, MA October 31, 1975 Released: 2015 Tracks: 24 Duration: 1:50:40 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Introduction (01:06) 2 Two Trains (04:17) 3 Skin It Back (05:40) 4 Fat Man in the Bathtub (05:27) 5 Walkin’ All Night (04:59) 6 A Apolitical Blues (03:31) 7 One Love Stand (04:41) 8 Rock and Roll Doctor (05:02) 9 Oh Atlanta (04:25) 10 On Your Way Down (06:53) 11 Day or Night (07:15) 12 All That You Dream (04:46) 1 Romance Dance (05:39) 2 Down Below the Borderline (04:18) 3 Long Distance Love (03:07) 4 Cold Cold Cold (05:02) 5 Dixie Chicken (07:14) 6 Triple Face Boogie (03:37) 7 Bag of Reds (03:39) 8 Willin’ (05:24) 9 Teenage Nervous Breakdown (04:07) 10 Sailin’ Shoes (04:41) 11 Spanish Moon (04:54) 12 Bag of Reds (00:56) |