Customer Reviews

Rock and Roll Doctor-Lowell George: Guitarist, Songwriter, and Founder of Little Feat

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

 

 

I was a friend of Lowell's.

I found this book extremely disappointing. It seems as if the author did some online research and talked to a couple of people that knew the band.

The claim of providing insight into the origination of the songs was almost completely bogus.

Even worse was the lack of factual and personal information about Lowell himself. Shoot, if I described the time we spent together and recalled the stories he told me you would have a much better idea as to who he was.

I agree with the person that wrote that it is better than nothing, but not by much. Lowell deserves a documentary on film and it is my intent to make one, if it's the last thing I do

Lastly, I was with Lowell when he wrote "Kokomo". The song happens to be about me. I never had much of a poker face and Lowell would often laugh at my expressions. He also liked my perfume and knew that I was a friend with many other musicians at the time. Regardless, he knew that he was my best friend and that my loyalty was to him and him alone.

He was the best man I've ever known. He had an incredible sense of humor. He was a man of honor and integrity. The wheels were always turning inside his brilliant mind. He read Scientific American Magazine in his spare time and listened to "World Music" before it was even coined as that.

He had an amazing amount of charisma and it was interesting to watch both men and women compete for his attentions. Most anyone that came in contact with him was drawn to him.

He was that kind of guy. He was generous and kind, talented and humble. Exuding an absolutely magnetic and magical energy to those around him.

It's a real shame that no one realized how sick he was before he went on the road in 1979'. When I saw pictures of him taken a month before he died, I cried. Shaking my head in wonder that those close to him could not see in his face that he was not well. It seemed so obvious, especially when I compared those pictures to ones taken of him 6 months earlier.

But sometimes we don't see that which is right in front of us.
I promise my documentary will provide considerable more insight, into this amazing and talented individual.

I know the band as well and when I contacted them about being involved in his documentary they did not respond. So, sadly they may choose to remain silent. But many of his other friends will be glad to contribute to this project.

I love Lowell Georges music. I love the work that Little Feat did with him at the helm of that great band. I bought this book, like others, because it was about Lowell & his music. It is clear that the author wanted a chance to review every song and every little contribution that Lowell made to them. But I'm not sure that he particularly liked many of the songs. There are a lot of quotes from the Lovin Spoonful alums, and very little from Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, and other names most Feat fans associate with the original Little Feat, and Lowell George. If you are the type of fan that likes to sing along and tap your feat to the great licks, if you have been listening to Little Feat for as long as you can remember, don't buy this book. You'll probably find you favorite song shredded by this complete review of the music you love, by someone who isn't as interested in the sum as he is in the parts. This isn't a biography, it's more like a revisionist history. Lowell should be listened to not picked apart. Long Live Lowell George!

This book read somewhat like a textbook, however, it is the only biography of Lowell George that I am aware of. Because of that, I think it is worth the purchase. Although not the most exciting book, I wanted to learn more about Lowell George and it helped me do just that. Also, in the back of the book there is a list of all the known collaborations and session work that Lowell George did throughout his career, which is useful in exploring more work by the Doctor.

An interesting read...I have liked LF since about 1976 and saw them once in 79...best concert I ever went to...I was shocked to hear that Lowell had died as young as he was and I miss his vocal talent and slide guitar...I read this book a couple years ago not long after it was released , not the best bio but not pretending to be either...it covers a lot of ground but I was hoping for more...I think it is a good read for any Lowell Gearge fan , a nice casual interesting easy to take book...

Mark Brend's biography of Lowell George gives a mishmash about his life and an analysis of his music. Although it's written in what amounts to an academic style, the book is a fairly quick read that touches on important points in George's life. The book should have concentrated as much on George's life as his music giving equal weight to both. His childhood is given the most short shift in the book but this along with the booklet from the Little Feat anthology give fans enough facts to understand something of the conflict going on in the band and to a lesser extent within George himself.

What's missing, however, is an examination of what led George to the self destructive behavior that ultimate caused him to meet an untimely death from a heart attack at age 33. Brend uses older interviews with George as well as new ones conducted with those that knew George from his fellow band members in Little Feat to his early collaborators, to try and give us a good portrait of the lead vocalist/slide player/songwriter and his contribution to music. We don't, however, truly get much insight into what motivated George as a person. Also missing is an indepth examination of the often conflicted recording sessions for the major Little Feat albums.

We do get a healthy selection of albums that George produced and/or played on by other artists. This often includes albums where George is rumored to have played on them but without any solid proof. Brend's insight as a musician is valuable in understanding what made George's songs so unique and why his vision of Little Feat was so important.

Although Little Feat isn't as well remembered as other 70's icons, their music which embraced a variety of styles makes them one of the outstanding bands of the 70's. They might not have hade the audience of The Eagles, Led Zep or The Stones (the latter two bands were huge admirers of George and Little Feat), but their terrific music is well worth tracking down and listening to.

I am a big time Little Feat fan. And I am very happy that Mark Brend took the time to communicate the genius of Lowell George and the talented and badly underatted band known as Little Feat. The details surrounding the music and stylings of each song is incredibly detailed. The bio of Lowell George is fairly interesting as well.

However, I would have preferred some more ellaborate quotes from the living band members of Little Feat if not Lowell George himself. I have met the bandmembers and they seem like ery regular guys. I am sure a few ellaborate quotes from Paul Barrere or Billy Payne on what it was like working with Lowell would go a long way to giving this wonderful band some needed publicity as well as showing the world the true legend Lowell George was.

In addition, I would have liked to know more about the subject matter and the influences of Lowell's lyrics. What did inspire him to write such gems as Strawberry Flats or Long Distance Love? I will admit Mark Brand gives a good account of the tensions within a rock n roll band that is trying to find its place in the music world. Also, its good that Brand mentions that Little Feat's fan base included such musical heavyweights as the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin.

I do thank you very much Mark Brand for putting out a book on Lowell George. However, there are some ommissions which make the rating somewhere between three and a half and four stars.

In depth about the music of George and Little Feat, but not very much personal information about Lowell George.

I have been a Lowell George fan since just after he passed away, and have been waiting for a good biography -- this isn't it. The writer gets far too bogged down in details that just don't matter (for instance, pinpointing EXACTLY when George joined Frank Zappa's band) and just skims over stuff about collaborations that I would have enjoyed reading about, not to mention more information about George himself. This book is more like a timeline with commentary that centers on music criticism than a more traditional biography. I would pass on it unless you are interested in tedious details. I wish I had.

This book just didn't keep my attention. I set it down after two or three chapters and didn't pick it up again. It's more about how they came up with the songs and the music and less about the band. If you are an avid musician and/or song writer you may love it. But I just listen to the music and like the stories of the band. I've read other books about Nirvana, the Doors, and the Grateful Dead and loved them. But I couldn't really get in to this one. I actually just boxed it up over the weekend and put it in the attic. Maybe I'll give it a try later. Maybe not.

Enjoyable book, well-written. I learned somethings about Lowell that I didn't know before. And I thought I knew a lot already!

If you're a fan of Lowell George, I highly recommend it.