Early Robert Palmer/Little Feat
Posted by: Rasher on 27 June 2007
I've only just discovered that the early Robert Palmer albums, Sneakin' Sally Through The Alley, Presure Drop etc, were with Lowell George & Little Feat. In fact a few tracks are written by LG too, which makes these Robert Palmer guesting on a LF album rather than the other way around.
I've only rediscovered these recently after not hearing them since they came out, and have been amazed at how good they are - a long way from his later pop. Giving them away on Ebay & Amazon too!
I know Little Feat get mentioned here sometimes but Robert Palmer seems to be overlooked.
I've only rediscovered these recently after not hearing them since they came out, and have been amazed at how good they are - a long way from his later pop. Giving them away on Ebay & Amazon too!
I know Little Feat get mentioned here sometimes but Robert Palmer seems to be overlooked.
Posted on: 27 June 2007 by Chris Kelly
Rasher
That is news to me too! Very interesting. I just got the first 5 Feat albums on cd in cardboard sleeves from cdjapan. They sound great.
I shall investigate the Robert palmer stuff immediately. Thanks for the heads-up.
That is news to me too! Very interesting. I just got the first 5 Feat albums on cd in cardboard sleeves from cdjapan. They sound great.
I shall investigate the Robert palmer stuff immediately. Thanks for the heads-up.
Posted on: 27 June 2007 by Steve S1
quote:Sneakin' Sally Through The Alley
That's a great album. The late lamented Mr. P was involved in a wide range of great stuff from Vinegar Joe with Elkie to the slicker soul of later years. Something for most people along the way. By all accounts a very nice guy too. Much missed.
Steve
Posted on: 27 June 2007 by Diode100
Little Feat were also the backing band on John Cale's Paris 1919
Posted on: 27 June 2007 by rupert bear
quote:Originally posted by Diode100:
Little Feat were also the backing band on John Cale's Paris 1919
Diode - I don't think that's quite right. Lowell George played slide guitar on just one track I believe - 'Macbeth'. Drums were Richie Hayward but the bass was Wilton Felder of the Crusaders. All the rest of the tracks were orchestrated - the UCLA Symphony, no less. A brilliant record but definitely not a Little Feat album.
Kathy Dalton also made an album in 1973-ish with LF but as I recall it wasn't very good. She seems to be one of those people just being rediscovered. Like a lot of musicians who were ignored in the 70s, they were so for a good reason.
Posted on: 28 June 2007 by J.N.
Ah yes, 'Six Star General' - 'Vinegar Joe' is an old favourite of mine. The powerful dual vocals of RP and Elkie Brooks are a delight.
I'll get that slab of vinyl rotating later today.
John.
I'll get that slab of vinyl rotating later today.
John.
Posted on: 30 June 2007 by ewemon
Always thought that Palmer's best disc was Sneakin' Sally. He was supposed to have been invited to sing with Little Feat at the time. Also for the cover of Sneakin' they actually shut down the Heathrow Tunnel for the photo with supposedly a top supermodel. I am sure someone from Island told me at the time it was one of the most expensive front album covers ever made.
Posted on: 01 July 2007 by Guido Fawkes
Robert Palmer's OK, but I preferred his brother Emerson Lake.
Posted on: 01 July 2007 by JamieWednesday
These early albums are being re-released this month. Doon't know if they're remastered or repackaged though.
Posted on: 01 July 2007 by daryl
Hi,little feat are one of my favourite bands,after hearing my dads time loves a hero lp i went and bought all the albums on cd aswell as both robert palmer albums,i still like them without lowell george but to me he made them great.No doubt i will be checking these re-releases out.I can not think of another band like little feat.Cheers Daryl.
Posted on: 01 July 2007 by rupert bear
quote:Originally posted by ROTF:
Robert Palmer's OK, but I preferred his brother Emerson Lake.
...whose version of 'Jerusalem' on 'Brain Salad Surgery' lays strong claim to being the worst record ever released...
Posted on: 01 July 2007 by Guido Fawkes
quote:Originally posted by rupert bear:quote:Originally posted by ROTF:
Robert Palmer's OK, but I preferred his brother Emerson Lake.
...whose version of 'Jerusalem' on 'Brain Salad Surgery' lays strong claim to being the worst record ever released...
Hmmm...... so Rupert, you've not heard in In The Air then, which of course, as every body knows is the worst record ever made - I think if you buy it now, it carries a government health warning. Everybody hates In The Air and if they don't, they should. IMHO, of course.
That said, I do agree with you that Jerusalem as recorded by the mighty ELP on Brian Salad Surgery was pretty dire - it is not a bad song, but their version was plain awful. However, the rest of BSS is pretty good IMHO.
As indeed is Feats Don't Fail Me Now - always liked Lowell George since he appeared on Weasels Ripped My Flesh. Shame he went and suggested a song that appeared to promote drugs and alcohol to Frank Zappa as this meant instant dismissal from the Mothers of Invention. Still I suppose that exit did lead he and Roy Estrada to form Little Feat - every cloud as they say ....
I also think Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley was a fine effort by Robert Palmer. Although I still think his finest performance was one of his earliest on the album The Alan Bown! and their excellent single Still As Stone.
As this thread has Early Robert Palmer as it's title then I'd encourage anybody who can to listen to The Alan Bown!. They really didn't get the credit they deserved. It is a strange story IIRC. Jess Roden was the singer with The Alan Bown Set, but left before this album was released - so the group now called The Alan Bown! brought in Robert Palmer as Roden's replacement. Robert Palmer re-recorded all the vocals and it's his voice on the album. When Island signed The Alan Bown! they recorded Listen with with Robert Palmer. However Robert Palmer left to join Vinegar Joe and Gordon Neville was brought in and he re-recorded all the vocal tracks on that album.