LITTLE FEAT

Formed in 1969 in Los Angeles by two former members of Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and vocalist Lowell George and Roy Estrada on bass guitar, completing the line up were drummer Richard Hayward and Bill Payne on keyboards. Little Feat’s music is eclectic mix of blues, R&B, country and rock and roll.

They were soon signed to Warner Bros., where Little Feat, in various configurations, would remain for twelve of their sixteen albums. This initial line-up recorded the band’s first two LPs, 1971 self-titled “Little Feat”, featuring the classic cut Willin, and its follow-up, Sailin’ Shoes, which added Easy To Slip, Trouble, Tripe Face Boogie, Cold Cold Cold and the infectious title track to their repertoire. ''Little Feat'' and ''Sailin' Shoes'', received good reviews but failed commercially, and the band split up until 1972 when it reformed with Kenny Gradney replacing Estrada. This new incarnation also included guitarist Paul Barrere and percussionist Sam Clayton.

Next up was Dixie Chicken (’73), a New Orleans-influenced gumbo of greatness that offered up the signature title track and Fat Man In The Bathtub, among other delights. The two LPs that followed, Feats Don’t Fail Me Now (’74) and The Last Record Album (’75) served up Rock & Roll Doctor, Oh, Atlanta, and All That You Dream, respectively, while 1977’s Time Loves a Hero offered up, in fine Feats fashion, another unforgettable title track. That same year delivered the aforementioned Waiting For Columbus, forever memorializing their legendary stage prowess.

During Little Feat’s recording of their eighth album as a group, 1979’s Down On The Farm, founding member Lowell George—who had already been veering towards solo work—met a tragic and untimely passing. Except for Hoy, a 1981 full-length assemblage of rarities, live performances, previously overlooked tracks, and a new song apiece from Payne and Barrere, Little Feat disbanded until the mid-‘80s. At that point, their own lyrics from Hangin' On To The Good Times Here, “…although going their separate ways, they found themselves that a chance jam session in 1986 brought them together again, they were then reminded of how deeply Little Feat’s music was ingrained in them.

In 1988, the reformed band, with new members Craig Fuller (handling George’s vocal duties) and Fred Tackett rekindled Feat’s magic for fans old and new alike. That year, they released the lively reunion album Let It Roll, and the singles Hate To Lose Your Lovin' and, of course, the title track. The 1989 follow-up, Representing The Mambo, would prove to be their last for Warner Bros. Next came 1991’s Shake Me Up (on Morgan Creek), after which Fuller's vocals were replaced by those of female singer Shaun Murphy and released an acclaimed studio album, Ain’t Had Enough Fun in 1995 (this time on Zoo). Shaun’s feminine energy and powerful, seasoned, bluesy vocalizations certainly upped the fun quotient for a recharged Little Feat. Miss Murphy began her career working in Detroit, Michigan, most notably in theatre, and received a record contract with Rare Earth Records, a division of Motown Records, as a member of a duet with notable recording artist Meat Loaf. The duet team later disbanded, and Miss Murphy went on to sing and record with renowned artists such as Eric Clapton and Bob Seger, prior to joining "Little Feat" as a replacement for Craig Fuller. The replacement was not an easy task for a female in an all-male band, but Murphy adjusted, and soon became one of the band's biggest attractions in their evolution.

In 1998, Little Feat released Under The Radar, their first album on CMC International. Spotlighting a confident and well-oiled configuration of first-rate talents, Under The Radar delivered a consistently strong set of songs including new Feat favourites Home Ground, Eden’s Wall, and Calling The Children Home. With 2000’s Chinese Work Songs, also on CMC, Little Feat’s ever-evolving repertoire grew even more, featuring original compositions including Marginal Creatures, Eula, and Another Sunday, as well as vibrant covers of Bob Dylan, The Band and Phish songs.

Gallagher is the man who, without question, spearheaded and influenced the entire Irish rock movement.  

  DISCOGRAPHY

ALBUMS

Little Feat (1971) Sailin' Shoes (1972) Dixie Chicken (1973) Feats Don't Fail Me Now (1974) The Last Record Album (1975) Time Loves A Hero (1977) Down On The Farm (1979)Let It Roll (1988) Representing The Mambo (1990) Shake Me Up (1991) Ain't Had Enough Fun (1995) Under the Radar (1998) Chinese Work Songs (2000) Kickin' It at the Barn (2003) Join The Band (2008)

  RELATED T O

BACK TO MAIN INDEX