Little Feat - The Lowell George Era Discography (1969-1979) Apple Lossless
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All were either ripped direct from CD to Apple Lossless or converted from FLAC to Apple Lossless using the program XLD.

Damn, I miss Lowell! :( 

Enjoy. Feats don't fail me now.

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Lowell George met Bill Payne when George was a member of Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention. Payne had auditioned for the Mothers, but had not joined. They formed Little Feat along with former Mothers' bassist Roy Estrada and drummer Richie Hayward from George's previous band, the Factory. The name of the band came from a comment made by Mothers' drummer Jimmy Carl Black about Lowell's "little feet." The spelling of "feat" was an homage to The Beatles.

Zappa was instrumental in getting George and his new band a record contract. When "Willin'" was recorded for the Little Feat album, George had hurt his hand in an accident with a model airplane, so Ry Cooder sat in and played the song's slide part. "Willin'" was re-recorded (this time with Lowell playing) on Little Feat's second album Sailin' Shoes, which was also the first Little Feat album to include cover art by Neon Park, who had painted the cover for Zappa's Weasels Ripped My Flesh.

The first two albums received nearly universal critical acclaim, and "Willin'" became a standard, subsequently popularized by its inclusion on Linda Ronstadt's album Heart Like a Wheel.

Lack of commercial success led, however, to the band splitting up, with Estrada leaving to join Captain Beefheart's Magic Band. In 1972 Little Feat reformed, with bassist Kenny Gradney replacing Estrada. The band also added a second guitarist, Paul Barrere, who had known George since they attended Hollywood High School in California, and percussionist Sam Clayton. Both Barrere and Clayton added vocals on many songs, although all the band members provided backing vocals in various tunes.

This new lineup radically altered the band's sound, leaning toward New Orleans funk. The group went on to record Dixie Chicken one of the band's most popular albums, which incorporated New Orleans musical influences and styles—as well as Feats Don't Fail Me Now, which was a studio-recorded attempt to capture some of the energy of their live shows. (The name of the latter album pays homage to the Fats Waller song.) An interesting recording in this period is the collaboration of Payne, Gradney, Barrere, Clayton and George (credited as George Lowell) with jazz drummer Chico Hamilton on the Stax album "Chico the Master", which is a strong showcase for the band's leanings toward funk and R&B.

The release of The Last Record Album in 1975 signaled another change in the Little Feat sound, with Barrere and Payne developing an interest in jazz-rock. Prior to the recording of The Last Record Album, drummer Richie Hayward had a motorcycle accident and the liner to the LP release of The Last Record Album was decorated with copies of his many hospital bills. Also present was evidence of a late change to the running order of tracks. The lyrics for Paul Barrere's song "Hi Roller" were printed on the sleeve, but scored out, and the words "maybe next time" scrawled over them. Sure enough, "Hi Roller" was the first track on the subsequent album Time Loves a Hero.

Lowell George continued to produce the albums, but his songwriting contribution diminished as the group moved into jazz fusion, a style in which he had little interest. In August 1977, Little Feat recorded a live album from gigs at the Rainbow Theatre in London and Lisner Auditorium in Washington, DC. Waiting for Columbus is considered by many rock music critics to be one of the best live albums of all time, despite the fact that significant portions of George's vocals and slide work were in fact over-dubbed later in the studio. It was released in 1978, by which time it had become apparent that Lowell George's interest in the band was waning, as was his health.

After Time Loves A Hero and before the Down on the Farm sessions, Little Feat were used as the backing band for Robert Palmer's album Pressure Drop, which featured his cover version of Lowell's song "Trouble."

George did some work on what would eventually become Down on the Farm but then declared that Little Feat had disbanded. In an interview with Bill Flanagan (for the book Written In My Soul) conducted eleven days before his death, George made it clear that he felt the demise of Little Feat was due to his having allowed the band to be run democratically, with the result that Payne and, to a lesser extent, Barrère, had a presence as songwriters and in production which was disproportionate to their abilities. George was particularly scathing about Payne's attempts at jazz/fusion, citing an instance when Payne jammed with Weather Report on a TV show and dropped "into one of his 'Day at the Dog Races'. I just got out of there as fast as I could. It was embarrassing". In the same interview, George stated that he planned to reunite Little Feat without Payne and Barrère.

At this time Warner Brothers released George's only solo album Thanks, I'll Eat It Here for which he had signed a contract in 1975. While touring in support of his solo album in June 1979, at the age of 34, George collapsed in his hotel room in Arlington, Virginia. An autopsy determined the cause of death was a heart attack, although it is considered likely that George's excess weight, (formerly chronic) drug usage, and the strain of touring contributed to his condition.

Lowell George was respected for his idiosyncratic genius, for crafting sophisticated melodies and lyrics; writing memorable songs, and for his high production standards. He is also remembered for his exuberant, unique slide style, which featured sustained, ringing legato lines.

The surviving members finished and released Down on the Farm before disbanding in 1979.

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-THE MUSIC-
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1971 - Little Feat
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" (Roosevelt Sykes, 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


1972 - Sailin' Shoes
Track listing

All tracks by Lowell George, except where noted.
"Easy to Slip" (Lowell George, Fred Martin) – 3:22
"Cold Cold Cold" – 4:01
"Trouble" – 2:19
"Tripe Face Boogie" (Richie Hayward, Bill Payne) – 3:16
"Willin'" – 2:57
"A Apolitical Blues" – 3:28
"Sailin' Shoes" – 2:53
"Teenage Nervous Breakdown" – 2:13
"Got No Shadow" (Payne) – 5:08
"Cat Fever" (Payne) – 4:37
"Texas Rose Café" – 3:42


1973 - Dixie Chicken
Track listing

"Dixie Chicken" (Lowell George, Fred Martin) – 3:55
"Two Trains" (George) – 3:06
"Roll Um Easy" (George) – 2:30
"On Your Way Down" (Allen Toussaint) – 5:31
"Kiss It Off" (George) – 2:56
"Fool Yourself" (Fred Tackett) – 3:10
"Walkin' All Night" (Paul Barrère, Bill Payne) – 3:35
"Fat Man in the Bathtub" (George) – 4:29
"Juliette" (George) – 3:20
"Lafayette Railroad" (George, Payne) – 3:40


1974 - Feats Don't Fail Me Now
Track listing

"Rock & Roll Doctor" (Lowell George, Fred Martin) – 2:57
"Oh, Atlanta" (Bill Payne) – 3:26
"Skin It Back" (Paul Barrère) – 4:11
"Down the Road" (George) – 3:46
"Spanish Moon" (George) – 3:01
"Feats Don't Fail Me Now" (Barrère, George, Martin Kibbee) – 2:27
"The Fan" (George, Payne) – 4:30
"Medley: Cold Cold Cold/Tripe Face Boogie" (George/Richie Hayward, Payne) – 10:00


1975 - The Last Record Album
Track listing

"Romance Dance" (Paul Barrère, Bill Payne) – 3:49
"All That You Dream" (Barrère, Payne) – 3:52
"Long Distance Love" (Lowell George) – 2:43
"Day or Night" (Payne, Fran Tate) – 6:24
"One Love Stand" (Barrère, Gradney, Payne) – 4:26
"Down Below the Borderline" (George) – 3:41
"Somebody's Leavin'" (Payne) – 5:07
"Mercenary Territory" (George, Hayward) – 4:27


1977 - Time Loves A Hero
Track listing

"Hi Roller" (Paul Barrère) – 3:35
"Time Loves a Hero" (Barrère, Kenny Gradney, Bill Payne) – 3:47
"Rocket in My Pocket" (Lowell George) – 3:25
"Day at the Dog Races" (Barrère, Sam Clayton, Gradney, Richie Hayward, Payne) – 6:27
"Old Folks Boogie" (Barrère) – 3:31
"Red Streamliner" (Payne, Fran Tate) – 4:44
"New Delhi Freight Train" (Terry Allen) – 3:42
"Keepin' up With the Joneses" (Barrère, George) – 3:51
"Missin' You" (Barrère) – 2:21


1978 - Waiting For Columbus (Deluxe Edition 2002 CD)

This edition not only restores all the original tracks, but includes several additional tracks recorded at the 
same appearances where the original tracks were recorded. Disc 1 has all the tracks from sides 1, 3, and 2 (in that order)
of the original LP release. Disc 2 opens with side 4, continues with several previously unreleased tracks (6 through 12), 
and concludes with the three tracks that appeared on Hoy-Hoy!.

Disc one
"Join The Band" (Traditional) – 1:54 - Lisner Auditorium Washington D.C. August 10, 1977
"Fat Man in the Bathtub" (George) – 4:53 - Lisner Auditorium Washington D.C. August 8, 1977
"All That You Dream" (Barrère, Payne) – 4:29 - Lisner Auditorium Washington D.C. August 8, 1977
"Oh Atlanta" (Payne) – 4:20 - Lisner Auditorium Washington D.C. August 8, 1977
"Old Folks' Boogie" (Barrère, G. Barrère) – 4:26 - The Rainbow Theatre London England August 4, 1977
"Dixie Chicken" (George, Kibbee) – 8:53 - The Rainbow Theatre London England August 3 & 4, 1977
"Tripe Face Boogie" (Hayward, Payne) – 7:09 - The Rainbow Theatre London England August 2 & 3, 1977
"Rocket in My Pocket" (George) – 3:57 - The Rainbow Theatre London England August 2, 1977
"Time Loves a Hero" (Barrère, Gradney, Payne) – 4:19 - The Rainbow Theatre London England August 4, 1977
"Day or Night" (Payne, F. Tate) – 5:30 - The Rainbow Theatre London England August 4, 1977
"Mercenary Territory" (George, E. George, Hayward) – 4:36 - The Rainbow Theatre London England August 2, 1977
"Spanish Moon" (George) – 5:36 - Lisner Auditorium Washington D.C. August 8, 1977
Running time: 60:02

Disc two
"Willin'" (George) – 4:42 - Lisner Auditorium Washington D.C. August 8, 1977
"Don't Bogart That Joint" (E. Ingber, L. Wagner) – 1:01 - Lisner Auditorium Washington D.C. August 8, 1977
"A Apolitical Blues" (George) – 3:51 - The Rainbow Theatre London England August 3, 1977
"Sailin' Shoes" (George) – 6:23 - Lisner Auditorium Washington D.C. August 10, 1977
"Feats Don't Fail Me Now" (Barrère, George, Kibbee) – 5:35 - Lisner Auditorium Washington D.C. August 9, 1977
"One Love Stand" (Barrère, Gradney, Payne) – 4:27 - Lisner Auditorium Washington D.C. August 9, 1977
"Rock and Roll Doctor" (George, Kibbee) – 4:17 - Lisner Auditorium Washington D.C. August 9, 1977
"Skin It Back" (Barrère) – 5:40 - The Rainbow Theatre London England August 2, 1977
"On Your Way Down" (Allen Toussaint) – 6:25 - Lisner Auditorium Washington D.C. August 10, 1977
"Walkin' All Night" (Barrère, Payne) – 4:12 - Lisner Auditorium Washington D.C. August 8, 1977
"Cold, Cold, Cold" (George) – 5:18 - The Rainbow Theatre London England August 4, 1977
"Day at the Dog Races" (Barrère, Clayton, Gradney, Hayward, Payne) – 12:12 - Lisner Auditorium Washington D.C. August 9, 1977
"Skin It Back" (Barrère) – 4:40 - Lisner Auditorium Washington D.C. August 8, 1977
"Red Streamliner" (Payne, F. Tate) – 4:59 - Lisner Auditorium Washington D.C. August 8, 1977
"Teenage Nervous Breakdown" (George) – 4:12 - Lisner Auditorium Washington D.C. August 9, 1977


1979 - Down On The Farm
Track listing

"Down on the Farm" (Barrère) – 4:16
"Six Feet of Snow" (George, Godcheaux) – 2:30
"Perfect Imperfection" (Barrère, Snow) – 3:46
"Kokomo" (George) – 2:58
"Be One Now" (George, Tackett) – 4:05
"Straight from the Heart" (George, Payne) – 4:59
"Front Page News" (George, Payne) – 5:57
"Wake up Dreaming" (Payne, Payne) – 4:09
"Feel the Groove" (Clayton, DeWitty) – 4:48