67 of 69 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Essential Album From The Classic Lineup, April 20, 2002
This review is from: Waiting for Columbus (Bonus CD) (Dlx) (Audio CD)
There are only a handful of essential live albums. A few that immediately come to mind are the Who's "Live at Leeds," the Stones' "Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out" and the Allman Brothers'"At the Fillmore East." Included on that elite list is Little Feat's "Waiting for Columbus."
What you hear on this expanded version of their 1978 release is a band at their peak. Lowell George's incendiary slide guitar playing, Bill Payne's rollicking keyboards, the funk of the Tower of Power horn section and the band's backlog of material make for a stunning live performance. Not only are "Don't Bogart That Joint" and "A Apolitcal Blues" restored to this reissue (deleted from the original vinyl release to accommodate a single CD), but a whopping ten outtakes are included, adding almost a full hour of music!
Of the outtakes on disc-2, tracks 6-10 were mixed for the original album, but not used. Tracks 13-15 first appeared on the odds and ends album "Hoy-Hoy!" According to the liner notes, tracks 11 and 12 apparently were never considered for use on either the original album or "Hoy-Hoy!" All outtakes were taken from the same series of concerts (The Rainbow Theatre in London and Lisner Auditorium in Washington, DC) as the songs on the original album.
This is the last Little Feat album which had the full involvement of Lowell George. [George died before the completion of the disappointing follow-up studio album "Down on the Farm."] While a revamped Little Feat has been releasing albums for the past two decades, this is a must-have album from their classic lineup. ESSENTIAL
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46 of 51 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Waiting for Mott, April 10, 2003
This review is from: Waiting for Columbus (Bonus CD) (Dlx) (Audio CD)
Having been a long time fan of this wonderful multi-talented band, when their double live vinyl album was released in 1978, it was with great excitement that it was whisked home to my rustic record player. The volume was turned up to 'unbearable' and the Dog spent his day listening to one of America's finest, laying down a live set that would curry a favorable impression with any band on the Planet. I happily state that ' Waiting for Columbus' should be up there with all the other great live albums of the seventies. But then what constitutes a great live album? It's clearly not the mere replication of a band's studio performances. That approach may satisfy the attending audience whilst proving how clever a band can be, although not showing any imagination or creativity. But what's the point of making a record of one that already exists? It's far more rewarding to experience a live album on which the boys really get stuck in and show what they can do when released from the confines of the studio, and all the Record Company 'suits' in attendance. Other examples include the Who's scorching 1970 document 'Live at Leeds', where" The Who" were able to show off what an inspiring and exhilarating Rock 'n' Roll band they were outside the confines of hit singles and Rock Operas, or "The Allman Brothers Band" at the Filmore East, when a band can expand the length of a song searching out every aspect of its outer regions.
What makes 'Waiting for Columbus' so memorable is that it seamlessly puts all the qualities of a great Live album into one neat little package. Upon it's first release there was perhaps a feeling of some regret that not the whole of a 'Little Feat's' set could be squeezed onto four sides of vinyl and a three album set would of been welcome, but then we should be happy with what we got. But when it was originally released on the CD format, fans of the Feat really did have cause for grousing, as to fit into the requisite CD formula three further songs were cut from the running list, considered by all to be very unsatisfactory. However, finally now released in a two CD set in its full glory with original tracks replaced, plus the addition of ten wonderful new songs added on with some extra in-between banter from the band.
From the warm up cappella that the band ritually used to sing on their way to the stage, to the Country Joe Woodstock style intro, right the way through to the closing jam of final encore 'Feats Don't Fail Me Now', you get it all. As soon as the band hit the stage they lock into the opening groove of 'Fat Man in the Bathtub' and you are whisked away to the feeling of belonging that normally only happens on very special Rock 'n' Roll occasions, like being in TQ corner on a great night! There are too many highlights to mention them all, but accolades must be given to the 'Tower of Power' Horn section that joins the band from the fourth song 'Oh Atlanta', where the whole ensemble really begins to cook. An extended version of perhaps the Feats most well known number, 'Dixie Chicken', when all the members of the band had room to show their talents. Of course, spread like a thick layer of choice caviar every song has its fair share of brilliance from Lowell George, whose sumptuous slide guitar and unique vocals dominate this set. George's 'Mercenary Territory' is probably one of the best live moments of music ever recorded. After a break from the 'Tower of Power' Horn section, Lowell George comes charging in right after them, leaving nobody in doubt as to who the Boss is. That is not to say it is just the Lowell George show - far from it. Kenny Gradney lays down perfect Bass rhythms adding just the right amount of Funk to the proceedings. Sam Clayton's percussion give the Feat their unique sound. Richie Haywood is one of the busiest drummers in the business. Bill Payne lays down some of the finest all round keyboard work to be heard on any live album, whilst Paul Barrere's lead guitar work was the perfect foil for the music to hang onto, giving added depth to the band's forays into the land of Jazz/Rock fusion like on the nearly fourteen minute long impromptu jam of 'Day at the Dog Races'.
If you like your music live played by slick musicians who like to live on the edge and are not afraid to let go and give it their all, then this could be exactly what you are looking for. Brilliant!
It is quite extraordinarily sad that within a year 'Little Feat' were no more and Lowell George had left this planet, as many feared he would. But the legacy of music left behind is a fine one with this perhaps being the jewel in the crown. Several years later the remainder of the band reformed under the 'Little Feat' banner, but, although they were a popular live attraction, without George the magic had gone.
Mott the Dog.
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18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Essential Live Roots Rock Potpourri From Lowell George & Co., April 30, 2002
This review is from: Waiting for Columbus (Bonus CD) (Dlx) (Audio CD)
I picked this up on the recommendation of a friend and it has been on my heavily played list ever since. This new edition of the lp was expanded to 2 disks. The second disk includes 2 songs omitted from the original release of the lp as a one disk set. It also includes 3 outtakes from this series of concerts in 1977 which were released on the "Hoy Hoy" album. In addition it also includes 7 previously unissued outtakes. The great "Skin It Back" appears twice. The band's music is somewhat of a roots rock gumbo. The addition of Kenny Gradney and Sam Clayton to the rhythm section gave the band much more of a New Orleans funky feel. The appearance of the Tower Of Power Horn section at these concerts and cover of Allen Toussaint's "On Your Way Down" add to this feeling. The band is perhaps best known for the cuts "Dixie Chicken" and "Fat Man In The Bathtub" both of which appear here in exciting live versions. Ex-Frank Zappa guitarist Lowell George's songwriting was both wry and interesting. He was also one the best slide guitarists in rock during this time period as this set attests. Paul Barrere and Billy Payne also penned a number of great cuts like "All That You Dream", "Skin It Back", and "Oh Atlanta". The band varied the country rock of "Willin" with the jazzy instrumental "Day At The Dog Races". While cuts like "A Apolitical Blues" which feature the underrated ex-Stone Mick Taylor on guitar prove the band was equally adept at playing the blues. Other memorable cuts include "Tripe Face Boogie", "Spanish Moon" and "Feets Don't Fail Me Now". This music gives the impression that the band were having great fun during these concerts. My only regret is that a few of my favorite cuts like the should have been hit single "Easy To Slip", "Two Trains" and "The Fan" were not included in the set list at this series of concerts. This 2 cd set provides an excellent live overview of one of more diverse bands of the seventies. It also serves as a memorial to the amazing slide playing and humorous and twisted songwriting of their deceased leader Lowell George.
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