Little Feat (album)

Infobox Album |
Name = Little Feat
Type = Album
Artist = Little Feat


Released = January, 1971
Recorded = August-September 1970
Genre = Rock
Length = 32:49
Label = Warner Bros. Records
Producer = Russ Titelman
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:0i8zefrkhgf3~T1 link]
* "Rolling Stone" (not rated) [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/littlefeat/albums/album/117482/review/5941219/little_feat link]
Last album =
This album = "Little Feat"
(1971)
Next album = "Sailin' Shoes"
(1972)

"Little Feat" was the eponymous debut by the American rock band Little Feat, released in January 1971. Cobbled together from a variety of recording sessions mostly between August and September 1970, its sound can be best described as the antithesis to any of the group's classic recordings (such as 1973's "Dixie Chicken" and 1978's "Waiting For Columbus".) Featuring the Mk. 1 line-up of the group, with Roy Estrada on bass, it was the first of eight albums by the group before their 1979 break-up.

The blues which accented the group's later recordings were in full force on "Little Feat". Utilizing slide guitar legend Ry Cooder, the group knocked off a medley of two Howlin' Wolf songs, "Forty Four Blues" and "How Many More Years". The coming together of bizarre lyrics and superb instrumentation that dominated all Little Feat albums through Lowell George's tenure as leader were debuted with the dark "Hamburger Midnight". The brilliant slices of American life that were present on each album were debuted with "Strawberry Flats" and "Willin'" (the latter destined for a reworking on "Sailin' Shoes"). The tender side of the group was exemplified with tracks like "Truck Stop Girl" and "I've Been The One".

The cover shows a mural in Venice, painted by the L. A. Fine Arts Squad in 1970 - "Venice in the Snow".

Due to its relative failure commercially (only selling about eleven thousand copies), the group never again attempted to record anything like it.

In 2007 the album was released as Gold CD (Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab).

Track listing

#"Snakes on Everything" (Payne) – 3:04
#"Strawberry Flats" (Payne, George) – 2:20
#"Truck Stop Girl" (Payne, George) – 2:32
#"Brides of Jesus" (Payne, George) – 3:20
#"Willin'" (George) – 2:24
#"Hamburger Midnight" (George, Estrada) – 2:30
#"Forty-Four Blues / How Many More Years" (Chester Burnett) – 6:25
#"Crack in Your Door" (George) – 2:16
#"I've Been the One" (George) – 2:20
#"Takin' My Time" (Payne) – 3:45
#"Crazy Captain Gunboat Willie" (Payne, George) – 1:55

Band members

*Lowell George - vocals, lead, rhythm and slide guitars, harmonica
*Richard Hayward - drums, backing vocals
*Bill Payne - piano, keyboards, vocals
*Roy Estrada - bass, backing vocals

Additional personnel

*Russ Titelman - percussion, backing vocals, piano on "I've Been The One"
*Ry Cooder - slide guitar on "Willin'" and "Forty Four Blues / How Many More Years"
*Sneaky Pete Kleinow - pedal steel on "I've Been The One"
*Kirby Johnson - string and horn arrangements

External links

* [http://www.mofi.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=7&idproduct=121 Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab] Ultradisc II™ 24 KT Gold CD