Customer Reviews

Hoy Hoy

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Little Feat was one of those bands I got into during high school (mid-80's) after their heyday had come and gone. I had read a review in Rolling Stone's "All Music Guide" stating that Little Feat was "one of the best-loved American bands from the seventies." And here I was, a big fan of seventies music, and I had never heard of them. For better or worse, that reader's guide was my bible, so I thought I'd give the band a try and pick up a greatest hits of some sort and give it a try.

The first thing that drew me to "Hoy Hoy" was the cover art -- almost all of the 70's, 80's and 90's Little Feat albums have great artwork done by the late Neon Park (aka Martin Muller). A german shepard with a Hawaiian lei and antlers watching a bone with pink bird wings fly away while sitting in front of a smoking volcano. I liked it. RIP Neon Park.

I found the music equally appealing. Here you're getting a mix of album cuts and live versions of the music. The live version of "Rock and Roll Doctor" is one of the best tracks on the album. You also get a little Lowell George gem by name of "China White." These two songs are worth the price of the album alone. But it doesn't stop there. In addition to several other George contributions, you also get several Bill Payne and Paul Barrere contributions that are just as worthy. After getting this album, I had to get my hands on the rest of the band's material -- I didn't want to miss the other gems that didn't make this album.

If you've never heard of Little Feat before, it's hard to peg them in any sort of musical genre. You get elements of Blues, Rock, Country, Jazz, and Funk. Every album relased was both visually and aurally appealing. Of course, Lowell George is no longer with us, his legacy lives on with this collection. Little Feat as a band continues to play as well. As far as I'm concerned, the "Rolling Stone Reader's Guide" was correct -- I love this band. Thanks for taking the time to read this!

This album and the motivation behind it really needs to be framed in the context of Feat keyboardist Bill Payne in the liner notes to the "Hotcakes & Outtakes" box set: "My first thought (after Lowell George's death) - other than anger, then sadness - was 'Did he cover his kids, insurancewise?' I called up the accountants and asked them, and they said he didn't. So, I called up Ronstadt and a couple of other people, and we put together a benefit and memorial to Lowell - a tribute." That's what also lies at the heart of Hoy! Hoy!...it was a way to help Lowell's family financially, to bring a sense of closure and healing for the band, and...by releasing it commercially...involving Little Feat's loyal fans in the process. It's not a linear, logical, chronological "Best Of Little Feat" album, and it wasn't intended as one. Rather, it's a mix of odds 'n' sods from the archives, favorite tracks selected by the band, and "All That You Dream" (with Ronstadt and the late Nicolette Larson) from the aforementioned Lowell tribute concert. The booklet faithfully reproduces all of the photos and liner notes and anecdotes from the original vinyl release, which is a good thing, because they are essential...especially Bonnie Raitt's heartbreaking and heartfelt "I miss Little Feat more than I miss being eight years old." Just like the legendary New Orleans jazz funerals, the surviving members of Little Feat...instead of succumbing to depression over the loss of their friend and bandmate...put together a loving, diverse, and incredibly entertaining 2 record (now single CD) set.

I would argue that Little Feat was the best live band of the mid-to-late 1970's -- better than the Rolling Stones, better than Bruce, better than the Dead, better than the J. Geils Band (who deserve mention with these titans). This album represents a quirky collection of "hits" (Rock & Roll Doctor), live tunes (a positively frenetic Teeanage Nervous Breakdown), under-appreciated gems (Skin it Back, Easy to Slip, Strawberry Flats), even a tribute (Linda Ronstadt on All that you Dream). China White is a particularly chilling requiem to Lowell George. Waiting for Columbus is more consistent, but Hoy Hoy is Little Feat's best album precisely because of its quirky, uneven quality. Buy it & enjoy an American treasure.

This is where you begin to understand why Bonnie Raitt said that she misses Little Feat (and Lowell) more than being 8 years old. Boogie Woogie meets the Rock'n Roll Doctor (a song Lowell apparently disliked). It's about life, the road and Love with a capital 'L'. A too soon departed friend turned me on to this band, and Hoy Hoy brings them both back. Listen carefully to 'It's so easy to slip".......

This excellently annotated overview of Little Feat while Lowell was with the group features some previously unreleased material that just goes to show that while Little Feat survived his death, they certainly miss his quirky style and distinctive vocals and writing. It's really a tribute to one of the most innovative and best-loved performers of the '70s and anyone who enjoys the few live selections here should check out WAITING FOR COLUMBUS, a great collection of live stuff.

Used to have this LP. Loved it. Now I have the CD - thanks to Amazon - and still love it. One of the best, most underrated bands of all time, Little Feat was more a "band's band" than a darling of the listening public. Hoy!-Hoy! is a career-spanning collection of rarities, live stuff and off-the-wall covers (Leiber & Stoller's "Framed" is awesome and hilarious all at once). Those who love great ensemble music already know this about the band, but Little Feat were adept at most any musical style, from country to blues to fusion-y jazz extended jams. All are represented here - even a proto-punky version of "Teenage Nervous Breakdown."

A great document (even has the liner pics & info originally included as a LP-sized booklet with the album release) of a great band and of a true rock 'n roll original (Lowell George), maybe the best part about this disc is the price. You'll be hard-pressed to match the quality on this disc for Amazon's under-10-bucks asking price. If there is anything to nit-pick about with Hoy!-Hoy!, it's that (like many of Warner Brothers' other 70's bands American CD releases) the album has not been recently remastered. So . . . just crank the volume a little louder - that always seemed to suit Little Feat's music, anyway.

If you loved Little Feat or simply have a soft spot for great 70's music, buy Hoy!-Hoy! Worth every penny - and then some.

This is a nice collection of old Feat standards in different settings. The Live Versions of Teenage Nervous Breakdown and Skin It Back just rock and groove. Also there is an interesting mix of Two Trains with some mesmerizing percussion/drum beats. China White is the show stopper with Lowell wailing the blues like the pro he was. Anyway, this is a super compilation that should not be ignored by any means.

A grab bag of tasty goodies for all Feat fans. Several live tracks which never made it onto Waiting for Columbus and a deep well of out-takes, alternate versions and curios. Plus a hilarious explanation of Lowell's slide of choice (because you can go just about anywhere and find one). If you love the Feat, you'll love this collection.

This is one great collection. Almost a story or scrapbook of sorts of that wild 70s outfit, Little Feat. Hear two versions of "Teenage Nervous Breakdown" side by side! Hear unreleased gems ("Framed" and "Gringo")! Hear a New Orleansified "Rock And Roll Doctor!" Hear a touching tribute to Lowell George by Linda Rondstadt! Marvel at the chilling "China White!" And Roll on Through the Night while it ends... A must have!

This is a nice collection of old Feat standards in different settings. The Live Versions of Teenage Nervous Breakdown and Skin It Back just rock and groove. Also there is an interesting mix of Two Trains with some mesmerizing percussion/drum beats. China White is the show stopper with Lowell wailing the blues like the pro he was. Anyway, this is a super compilation that should not be ignored by any means.