Product Details

• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Geneon [Pioneer]
• VHS Release Date: May 16, 2000
• Run Time: 74 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6305841675
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #366,319 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Veteran Little Feat fans familiar with the band's live shows in the '70s will notice some missteps in the performance captured on this 1977 German television broadcast. Its sound betrays the original monaural mix and notable concert PA system glitches, and the video coverage likewise suffers from lapses in focus, color saturation from the stage lights, and questionable camera choices. Why on earth would we recommend it? Because even a flawed Feat show captures one of that decade's most mesmerizing live groups, and the set in question offers the first comprehensive visual record of that prowess.

In an era noteworthy for live rock's vaunted arena ambitions, including the substitution of elaborate production effects and musical bombast for musicianship, Little Feat were riveting exceptions, a supple and accomplished sextet that made their often intricate and subtle music sound deceptively simple and accessible. Mating gutbucket blues, country flourishes, and New Orleans second-line syncopations to colorful (and sometimes surrealistic) songs, this true Hollywood band was often mistaken for a Southern boogie outfit. And, in original leader and principal songwriter Lowell George, Feat had a funny, feisty front man whose striking electric slide guitar playing would influence dozens of other musicians.

By the time of this live broadcast from Essen, Germany, George had stepped back to allow a more democratic arrangement, and virtuoso keyboard player Bill Payne and second guitarist Paul Barrere were taking over much of the writing. A shared group style, noteworthy for slippery time signatures, sneaky jazz harmonies, and a nifty mix of street smarts and poeticism, had coalesced in their repertoire, here echoing their brilliant live album, Waiting for Columbus.

If you're looking for a showcase for DVD's technical state of the art, this isn't it. But if you're after an archival testament to one of the coolest rock bands ever to tread the boards, Little Feat: Rockpalast Live more than earns its encores. --Sam Sutherland

Product Description

Spearheaded by the prodigious songwriting and instrumental talents of band visionary, Lowell George, Little Feat set the American Music terrain ablaze with their rootsy blend of tasty dixie fried rock. In this rare live performance, capturing one of Lowell George's last appearances with the band before his tragic death on June 29, 1979, Little Feat - The Best of Rockpalast, the first volume of the Rockpalast Series, is irrefutable proof of their undeniable status as one of music's premiere groups.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally - after all these years - A Lowell era Feat video!, April 3, 2000

By 

Don Kehoe (Woodbury, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Little Feat: Rockpalast Live (DVD)

This video has been bootlegged for years, but those bootleg copies were always grainy, especially if you were using VHS. Finally, an authorized version! Lowell's widow, Elizabeth George, and Little Feat worked with the RockPalast people to release this video.

If it's at least as good as the bootlegged versions, it's well worth the money. It was recorded in 1977, about the time that Waiting For Columbus (which is on quite a few best-live-album-ever lists) was recorded. This video is a great archive of that era.

Set list: Skin It Back - Fat Man In The Bath Tube - Oh Atlanta - Day At The Dog Races - All That You Dream - Old Folks Boogie - Dixie Chicken - Tribe-Face Boogie - Feats Don't Fail Me Now - Willin - Rocket In My Pocket.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST HAVE DVD for Lowell George Little Feat fans, January 21, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Little Feat: Rockpalast Live (DVD)

I can only reiterate what most of the other folks have already said here. It is absolutely wonderful to have this fantastic live concert video of Little Feat filmed during their classic & most memorable days. Especially after having viewed this same material on poor quality bootleg VHS tapes over the years. The digital quality is terrific. You have a choice of 3 audio setups: the 5.1 Dolby Surround, the original mono, or commentary by Paul Barrere, Bill Payne & Elizabeth George over the music. But, the absolute gem here is the bonus track Cold, Cold, Cold that appears at the end. It is not from the 1977 Rockpalast show. It is a perfect quality, professionally filmed color video of Little Feat live at a daytime, outdoor venue during what appears to be about 1974 (maybe 75). I viewed this DVD for the 1st time this evening, and when this part came up at the end I thought I was dreaming. I've been a Little Feat fan for 25 years & I've never even heard of this video. Even Barrere & Payne are mystified by the date & venue in the commentary. All I can say about this snippet is: I WISH I COULD SEE MORE. This DVD is a MUST for Lowell George Little Feat fans.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Already Reviewed, September 1, 2001

By 

G. J Wiener (Westchester, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Little Feat: Rockpalast Live (DVD)

Some people may see there's nothing like a Grateful Dead Concert. But for me there is nothing quite as captivating as seeing Little Feat. These guys add so many delectable colorings that its a true pleasure for repeated listenings. Watching Billy Payne and Paul Barrere trade piano and guitar riffs at the beginning of Dixie Chicken is pure heaven. A Day At The Dog Races and Feats Don't Fail Me Now are other highlights as the band really smokes with spirit. Some of the picture content is questionable(where was the camera when Sam Clayton had his cameo vocal on Old Folks Boogie). Its quite interesting hearing so much of Ritchie Hayward on background vocals. At times due to the sound, it sounds like he's the lead vocalist. Some people may be bothered by this but I like Ritchie's harmony vocals and of course his superb drumming.

Anyway, its been a long time comming that is the wait for this video. Lowell George was a very inspirational musician and its great that this video is finally available to the public through its proper channels.

I already reviewed this video back on September 19, 2000. But the Amazon button cued me to write one anyway so I am merely repeating what I wrote with this disclaimer. Hopefully, this bug will get fixed!