Customer Reviews

Little Feat

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I hate being the guy that's leaving all the 5 star reviews for the Little Feat albums (I left a 5 star for Down on the Farm last week, after 25 years of listening to it), but I'm currently listening to this particular album pathologically over and over again, so I have no choice but to answer the (currently) sole 3 star review with the following.

The self titled Little Feat album was the one Little Feat album I never owned back in the day, in the early eighties after Lowell George's death when I first got into the band. None of the songs were on the live album, Waiting for Columbus, except Willin', which was also on Sailin' Shoes, so I figured I didn't need another studio version (although now I am looking for any version of the song I can get -- just picked up Heart Like a Wheel because Linda Ronstadt does it on that record...). Also, I think it was out of print, so I would have had to get it on LP, and my record player was out of commission for part of this period -- but I digress.

As I said above, I am currently obsessively listening to this album, and I have analyzed what I like about it quite a bit, and it is fresh in my mind.

The music on the album is unlike anything Little Feat would ever do again. It is more mainstream rock like ("like" because none of this ever got onto the radio) in that it is less funky (for lack of a better work) than what they would do later, but also more experimental. The band shows a lot of good musicianmanship (if that's a word); everyone plays all out all the time. Bill Payne sticks to piano, and holds down the chord changes (while playing every key on the keyboard -- really reaching for them, but with a lot of taste), while Lowell George plays some extremely far out slide guitar fills throughout (Ry Cooter plays slide on Willin' and Forty-Four Blues -- and it's interesting to compare the styles of two slide guitar collosusses). Later Little Feat had the dueling guitars, so Payne was a bit more restrained, and had a multiple keyboard set-up.

The song writing is awsome as well. Stawberry Flats... Willin'... Hamburger Midnight... I've been the One... Truck Stop Girl... These are all very honest songs with interesting lyrics and great vocal performances. Half the songs on the album have been covered by other artists at one time or another. The band was young and full of energy, the music is raw and interesting, and really cutting edge. It is definitely different from what they turned into, but that is not a criticism -- at least not in this case.

I think the previous critique gets it wrong in several instances. Little Feat were not a southern rock band, but a California band. I think they had some early success with Dixie Chicken (great album, too), and so people kind of put them into that category, and later on, after Lowell George's death, they kind of marketed themselves as a New Orleans party band, but other than some funky beats (which southern bands do not have a monopoly on) there really wasn't anything linking them to the south in their hay-day. They never played the blues (at least not in the Allman Brothers sense of the word) or tried to get the macho Lynard Skynard guitar thing going, opting for understated interplay between the instruments.

The present album has these elements in a more raw form, but it is really fun to hear Lowell George turn up his guitar and rock out over some really cool tunes. Great Album.

Many diehard Feat fans don't fully get this debut album by the band who only consisted of Lowell George, Ritchie Hayward, Bill Payne and of course former Mothers Of Invention member Roy Estrada on bass. George himself had been a member of Zappa's band for a brief time, and of course theres never been a concrete reason for his departure or firing (there are many circulating rumors however). Yes, the band doesn't have their signature funk inspired New Orleans styled rock/blues yet, but this album is still awesome. The opener from Payne, Snakes On Everything along with Strawberry Flats and Hamburger Midnight are the best tracks here. They have a raw, less refined approach than later efforts. The bands trademark albums Dixie Chicken, Feats Dont Fail Me Now, The Last Record Album and of course Time Loves A Hero all captured and pefected that fat/clean sound of a great country inspired blues rock n roll band who injected the elements of cooking funk. The debut album even parts of their second album Sailin' Shoes which also contained this line up found the band with their original sound. Which has a Stones influence for sure.

Like before stated, the songs are rawer, there's more guitar and genreally the earthy funk/rock of the DC band isn't here yet. But it doesnt matter, this is a unique album and it's more mellower moments like the orchestrated Takin' My Time and the affection blues tribute Forty Four Blues/How Many More Years really show the bands roots and what George's vision was. Coming from Zappa's group had obviously had a small impact on him as this album lyrically certianly has some more bizarre and humorous tales of life and freak-dom. This in turn, leads many fans to think the album sounds underdevloped and 'primitive'. But give it a listen, as it is one of the great lost records of it's time. [the original version of probably the bands most famous song Willin' is featured on this album with slide guitar by Ry Cooder]

I think lowell georges slide guitar sounds so beautiful and unique and he shows that on this album. The other thing I like about this album is ry cooder is also on it. If you love great music then this is the album to buy every song is great.

It's too bad this one just flew under the radar back in 69/70 because this much like the Burritos "Gilded Palace of Sin" this shoulda been HUGE. The songs & performances are top notch. The version of Willin here is beautiful in it's starkness. Just George & slide ace Ry Cooder. Cooder also appears on a Wolf cover that is nicely done as well. This line up only lasted 2 lps (this & Sailin). I like Sailin but not as much as this. We find George at the top of his game in all facets here on all tracks. I have to say for me its the pinnacle of Lowell George as it's evident that he poured his whole life & being into these sides. Very soulful. Truthfully, "Chicken" never did much for me but they still made very good music up until Lowell's passing.

This album was my introduction to Little Feat many years ago. Lowell George is one of the best slide guitar players of all time. Willin' is on this album, need I say more?

This is a great product (Little Feat Audio CD) I gave it to a relative for Christmas and they really enjoyed it. Great Price, Great product: All I can say is Thanks!

The self-titled album was the first for Little Feat. It was released in 1971 and in retrospect; the material seems raw and organic compared to later efforts. This incarnation of the group with Lowell George, Bill Payne, Richie Hayward, and Roy Estrada had played toured together for two years and were already demonstrating that tight funky style that would define their sound for years to come. Songwriting duties on this offering are split fairly evenly between Lowell George and Bill Payne, with some tunes being much stronger than others. The bottom line is that this album introduced most people to Little Feat and Lowell George. Who would not enjoy music served up by Lowell George, Bill Payne, with a little help from Ry Cooder, and Sneaky Pete Kleinow. I was introduced to Little Feat prior to the realease of this album when they opened for Captain Beefheart. This material sounds a as fresh today, as when I first heard it.

Après Weasel ripped my flesh où Lowell ne faisait que rire, là il nous faisait bondir de joie avec ses compères Roy Estrada, Ritchie Hayward et Bill Paynes. Des Serpents partout au café Texan de Rose, Weeds, white and ... c'est bien sur Willin' avec les éternels glissando de Ry, un autre antropo de la musique routière américaine. Une pèche et des sentiments.

Dis record it is berry berry gud because it is berry berry Lowell and you be berry berry stoopid not 2 buy it.

First things first, let me get this out of the way: Little Feat are one of the greatest American bands ever. The musicianship, singing, songwriting are all top notch, and Lowell George is one of the most underrated guitarists of all time. That being said, the first Little Feat album, while pretty good, isn't fully up to par with later releases.

Of course, that's gonna be said considering it's their first album. Every band's first album is gonna be a bit raw and unpolished, and this one is no exception. While the band never went back to playing this style of music (It almost sounds like they're cloning the Stones), the problem with this album is that the songs, while played well, doesn't have any substance. Songs just kinda flow into the next one, often having the feel of just one big song. I couldn't really tell Strawberry Flats apart from Snakes On Everything. They both sound exactly the same.

However, there are some tracks that show the promise of later glories. Willin' is the first real keeper on the album, a fantastic ode to the road with beautiful slide guitar work by Ry Cooder. The song would later be reworked on Sailin' Shoes, but it's also here in it's primitve glory. Hamburger Midnight brings to mind the funky soul power of the band's later releases, such as Dixie Chicken. Also, the Howlin' Wolf standard Forty Four Blues is a cookin' blues boogie, and predates the hill country blues style by at least a couple years.

All in all, it's a decent debut. For diehards and people curious in the roots of Little Feat, get this album.