Funky roots rockers Little Feat embodied the eclectic tendencies of the '70s, and the uneasy fate of artists who don't fit neatly into one little niche. Founded in 1969 by two SoCal alumni of Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention, Little Feat laid down a sleek mix of funk, fusion, country and Southern rock. They were also possibly the hippest, most versatile rock band of the 1970s -- as loose and rhythmic as the Meters, but also as loud and rowdy as the Allman Brothers. The band flourished on freeform radio during the '70s and established itself as one of the best live acts in the country, grooving along until singer Lowell George's untimely death in 1979. The band, which had already been dealing with internal frictions, broke up after Lowell George passed away. They reformed in 1987, with a new lineup and took up touring and recording... Here's a quick look at their work...

Little Feat "Little Feat" (Warner Brothers, 1971) (LP)
(Produced by Bill Kovatch & Russ Titelman)

Little Feat "Dixie Chicken" (Warner Brothers, 1973) (LP)
(Produced by Lowell George)
Probably their best-known album, this includes the absolutely killer title track, and the equally dazzling "Two Trains," probably two of the tightest songs they ever recorded. It's worth it for those two songs alone. This was their third album, recorded after the band briefly fell apart and came together again, and the first where Lowell George claimed producer credit... Like most of their records, it's kind of uneven, but packed with interesting material and great musicianship, including several notable supporting musicians: the gal backup singers included no less than Bonnie Bramlett, future "women's music" star, Tret Fure, a young Bonnie Raitt and soul singer Gloria Jones (who was later profiled in the music documentary Twenty Feet From Stardom.)

Little Feat "Feats Don't Fail Me Now" (Warner Brothers, 1974) (LP)
(Produced by Lowell George)
Lowell George solidifies his status as the right person to produce Little Feet's albums, with a smooth, sly sound all his own. The album opens with a string of Little Feat classics, including "Rock And Roll Doctor," the raucous "Oh Atlanta" and super-funky "Skin It Back," all punctuated with George's uniquely soulful slide guitar. Guest musicians include Van Dyke Parks, Bonnie Raitt and Emmylou Harris, who was just on the cusp of solo fame

Little Feat "The Last Record Album" (Warner Brothers, 1975) (LP)
(Produced by Lowell George & George Massenburg)

Little Feat "Time Loves A Hero" (Warner Brothers, 1977) (LP)
(Produced by Ted Templeman & Donn Landee)
Another uneven goodie from their early catalog... The title track is a classic, other nice tunes include the toss-off weeper, "Missin' You," "Old Folks Boogie," and their version of Terry Allen's "New Delhi Freight Train," one of their best "hits" of the decade. I like this album, but I also recognize its faults.

Little Feat "Waiting For Columbus" (Warner Brothers, 1978) (LP)
(Produced by Lowell George, George Massenburg & Warren Dewey)
Considered one of the great concert albums of the 1970s, this sprawling two-disc set encapsulates most of the Feat's best and best-known songs, as well as a puckish cover of the stoner standard, "Don't Bogart That Joint." Personally, I'm more into the studio versions of these songs, but you can certainly hear the chops these guys had on these live performances. The Waiting For Columbus album enjoyed a magical afterlife when the band reunited in the late 'Eighties and scored a #1 pop hit: the band's back catalog found renewed interest and this disc was certified platinum in 1989, along with Dixie Chicken, which was certified gold.

Little Feat "Down On The Farm" (Warner Brothers, 1979) (LP)
(Produced by Lowell George)
Mostly recorded before Lowell George's death, but completed and released posthumously, this is one of the band's poppiest (and most cohesive) records. I'm sure some Feat fans distain this album as being too wimpy, or too fluffy, but I totally dig it. There's plenty of great material on here, fun songs and strong performances. From the super-goofy title track to the heartfelt weeper, "Be One Now," this one's a winner; other faves include the cajun-flavored "Six Feet Of Snow" and the funky, southern rockin' "Kokomo."

Little Feat "Hoy-Hoy!" (Warner Brothers, 1981) (LP)
(Produced by Paul Barrere, Bill Payne, George Massenburg, Ted Templeman & Russ Titelman)
Another double album, this live set was the second record posthumously released after Lowell George passed away, and it's another fine representation of the band's chops... The group had already broken up, before releasing their last studio album, and this would serve as Little Feat's epitaph, at least until their triumphal reunion towards the end of the decade.

Little Feat "Let It Roll" (Warner Brothers, 1988)
(Produced by George Massenburg & Bill Payne)
In 1987 Pure Prairie League co-founder Craig Fuller was recruited as the band's new lead singer, after Little Feat reformed nearly a decade after Lowell George's death in 1979. A certified gold record, this album was a surprise hit, yielding a #1 rock hit, "Hate To Lose Your Lovin'," one of eight songs co-written by Fuller.

Little Feat "Representing The Mambo" (Warner Brothers, 1990)
(Produced by George Massenburg & Bill Payne)

Little Feat "Shake Me Up" (Morgan Creek Records, 1991)
(Produced by George Massenburg & Bill Payne)

Little Feat "Ain't Had Enough Fun" (Volcano Records, 1995)

Little Feat "Under The Radar" (CMC, 1998)

Little Feat "Chinese Work Songs" (Sanctuary, 2000)

Little Feat "Kickin' It At The Barn" (Hot Tomato, 2003)

Little Feat "Join The Band" (429 Records, 2008)

Little Feat "Rooster Rag" (Rounder Records, 2012)

Little Feat "As Time Goes By: The Very Best of Little Feat" (Warner Brothers, 1994)

Little Feat "Hotcakes And Outtakes" (Rhino Records, 2000)
This 4-CD retrospective includes two discs of classic material, a third of rarities and outtakes, and a fourth featuring the 1990s work of the reformed outfit... A lavish treat for longtime fans, though it might be a little too much for newcomers. The band's original albums are also worth tracking down... in fact, they might be a little more fun!

Little Feat "Rad Gumbo: The Complete Warner Brothers Years: 1971-1990" (Rhino Records, 2014)
The ultimate collection of classic Little Feat recordings... This 13-CD box set gathers all of their albums on Warner Records, including... well, you know -- all the good ones -- as well as an expanded, two-disc version of Waiting For Columbus, and a bonus disc of alternate versions and outtakes that were previously sprinkled throughout the Hotcakes & Outtakes collection, from 2000. If you thought Hotcakes was fun, but incomplete, well, this new monolith pretty much settles the question. All that's missing is Lowell George's fab solo album, though this is still pretty much everything hardcore Feat fans could hope for.

Chico Hamilton "Chico The Master" (Stax Records, 1973) (LP)
The band's early lineup indulge their jazz chops, backing drummer Chico Hamilton on a funky early '70s set...

Lowell George "Thanks, I'll Eat It Here" (Warner Brothers, 1979) (LP)
(Produced by Lowell George)
One of the great lost albums of the 1970s! On this solo outing, George let go of Little Feat's rougher edges, in favor of a mellower, more conventionally "pop" sound. The album covers blues, country and soulful rock -- plus, it's jam-packed with fun, enjoyable songs. My favorites include the mariachi-flavored "Cheek To Cheek," his versions of Rickie Lee Jones' "Easy Money," and the old Ann Peebles soul ballad, "I Can't Stand The Rain," as well as a great remake of the Little Feat classic, "Two Trains..." Heck, the whole album is great. Also includes a couple of mournful acoustic numbers that are some of the most melancholy tunes I know: "20 Million Things To Do" and "Find A River." A sweet, soulful album that stands up as one of his best efforts.

Paul Barrere "On My Own Two Feet" (Mirage Records, 1983) (LP)

Paul Barrere "Real Lies" (Atlantic Records, 1984) (LP)

Helen Watson "Blue Slipper" (EMI/Columbia Records, 1987) (LP)
(Produced by Glyn Johns)
This album was the solo debut of English singer-songwriter Helen Watson, and contains the roots of the Little Feat reunion, with backing from a number of LA-based session players, including Paul Barrere, Richie Hayward and Bill Payne, who would soon reestablish Little Feat and cut one of the group's most successful albums the following year.

Helen Watson "The Weather Inside" (EMI/Columbia Records, 1989) (LP)
(Produced by Glyn Johns)

Paul Barrere "If The Phone Don't Ring" (BMG, 1995)

Paul Barrere & Fred Tackett "Live From North Cafe" (Relix Records, 2001)

• Wikipedia: Little Feat

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