Thanks! I ll eat it here! - I am so heartened to see so many five-star reviews here! Oh, yeah, Sailin Shoes is a wonderful record--pure pleasure, really. Think Rubber Soul, the Replacements Hootenanny, Beck s Odelay--Sailin Shoes is electric (and acoustic), eclectic, eccentric and oh so alive. Not totally ready for primetime (that s Dixie Chicken), but all the better for it. I hate people telling me the plot details of a movie, so I ll just say--how many records are funny, surrealistic, totally rockin , AND lovable? Check it out!
I got Cat Fever - Overlooked and underappreciated, Little Feat gained popularity during their day but never had got the airplay or found the audience of other bands producing similar music at the same time. Sailing Shoes is a potent mix of the band s bluesy sound highlighted by Lowell George s distinctive slide playing (George was aided on their debut by Ry Cooder when Lowell badly injured his hand which altered his playing style giving us the familair sound that highlight so many later albums). The songwriting is top notch here improving on their already strong debut. Lowell George came into his own as a vocalist here and although that strong Dixieland blues/jazz influence isn t as prominent here, you can hear it lurking in the background more so than the band s strong debut. Still playing as a four piece with George handling the bulk of the guitar work(Paul Barrere would join full time on the next album after being asked to audition as a bass player even though he was a guitar player and really wasn t all that interested in playing bass)assisted by the late, great Sneaky Pete Kleinow and Ron Elliot on three tracks of the album. Keyboardist and co-founder Bill Payne contributes three strong songs--Cat Fever, Got No Shadow and Tripe Face Boogie written with drummer Richie Hayward. Willin (which reportedly had something to do with Zappa dismissing George from his band. Zappa told him he needed to go off and found his own band. The other reason reportedly was Zappa s no drugs policy which George would have rebelled against)makes another appearence in its definitive version while a couple of tracks originally written for George s previous band The Factory also show up. A Political Blues one of George s most popular songs shows up here as well. Easy to Slip and Texas Rose Cafe (both of which George and the band did demos for The Doobie Brothers when Ted Templeman was looking for additional material for the band)also appear and both are terrific songs that bookend the album. The reissued Mobile Fidelity Labs Gold Disc sounds extremely good. It comes in a gatefold sleeve replica of the original album packaging along with a booklet. As to which sounds better the MFSL version or Lee Herschberg s original CD mastering, it s a matter of taste. Both sound quite good and if you can t get one, the other will do just fine.
Feat were a Force Majeur - For those who aren t exposed to this band - They were the most complete rock and roll band I know. The subtleties (sp) of phrasing and layers of harmony that seldom ran in a congruent, typical form is what impresses me. 6 musicians loosely playing in six different directions around a common theme is what you will hear in their best efforts. They were tight as a nun s privates. Live was as impressive as the studio - only more freeform. They shared a common musical brain. Torque your parametric equalizer in any direction and you will hear the individual work. Layered = beauty. They were the Bomb Diggity. Elton John called them the Greatest Rock Band - I agree. RBS
I GOT CAT FEEEE-VER! - One of the best albums ever by one of the most underrated, underappreciated and unheard of bands of all time. Great songwriting, musicianship, vocals etc. A great guitar album as well. Lowell George was one of the greatest slide guitarists around. People often like to classify Little Feat as southern rock but don t be fooled- their styles are wide ranged- from New Orleans blues, R&B, & Stones style R&R.
Sweet memories.... - I couldn t even hope to improve on the excellent comments that precede - but wanted to add a quick note of a recent discovery. For those who loved & miss Br r George & crew, take a listen at a group called NRBQ ....I think they re about the closest thing to the original Dixie Chickenz that s come down the pike since Lowell s departure. A li l different seasonings, but the stylings are there. Hope y all like em too! *ribit*Shut...UP! ~8)~J-Hi Down East