One of the great rock drummers dies

Very sad, great band, great drummer.

Sad news, RIP.

This is indeed sad news. Richie Hayward was a great drummer and the engine room of Little Feat.

That is sad - Little Feat made some super recordings.

For any Little Feat fans, both new and old, I recently discovered a DVD issue of a 1977 show titled "Skin It Back", which captures the band in their full glory, just a few weeks prior to the recording of "Waiting for Columbus". I was fortunate enough to see them in the fall of 1978, at a small college date in a gym packed with crazed, dancing fans, and they had Bonnie Raitt on that tour, just because she wanted to hang out with the band and enjoy the shows. The video brings back all of those memories and really gives you a visual sense of the band's unique chemistry and dynamics.

RIP Richie.

Bruce

I've never heard Little Feat but have heard they were a fine band. I believe the mighty John Peel used to play them back in the day.

Could anyone recommend a couple of albums for a beginner to get started please?

Thank you.

Regards,
Ghettoyout'

"Waiting For Columbus" is one of the best live albums around by anyone and a great intro to Little Feat. Try to get the expanded reissue as it contains about 5 or 6 extra tracks. The later issues of the "Best Of LF" contain about 20 tracks too.

Studio albums vary in their boogie factor in later years as the band started to fall out but the earlier "Feats Don't Fail Me Now" would be my choice for the desert island after Columbus.

Ron

quote:

Originally posted by Ghettoyout:
I've never heard Little Feat but have heard they were a fine band. I believe the mighty John Peel used to play them back in the day.

Could anyone recommend a couple of albums for a beginner to get started please?

Thank you.

Regards,
Ghettoyout'

Personally I'd start roughly where I started myself, with Sailin Shoes (wonderful LP of Lowell George songs) and Dixie Chicken, and then follow the progress through the 70s with Feats Don't, Last Record Album, and Down on the Farm (under-rated final LP).

Also worth mentioning is the recent album Join The Band, where Feat plus guest artists covered old Feat songs and other standards. Killer versions of Spanish Moon, Time Loves a Hero etc, and once again stunning drums from Richie.

Thank you for the recommendations.

I often find a groups first album is generally a winner. A brief look on wikipedia suggests it is called Little Feat. Is this worth buying too?

Little Feat, Sailin' Shoes and Dixie Chicken all get 5 stars on AMG, FWTW.

R.I.P. Richie.

Sorry to hear that. One of my favourite bands. I still remember too exactly where I was when I heard Lowell died.
Difficult to choose a favourite album - maybe 'Feats Don't Fail Me Now' - I don't know how many versions of Spanish Moon I've got, but certainly in my Top 5 favourite tracks - evva

quote:

Originally posted by Ghettoyout:
Thank you for the recommendations.

I often find a groups first album is generally a winner. A brief look on wikipedia suggests it is called Little Feat. Is this worth buying too?

It's a bit of an embryonic first effort - great playing, but they really gelled as Lowell's band on Sailin Shoes. Actually, there's a Bill Payne song on the latter called Got No Shadow which I've always loved, for some reason.

If you're feeling flush, Mobile Fidelity have recently issued SS and DC as gold CDs and they sound superb.

Also - got to youtube, type in 'little feat netherlands 1976' and watch the videos (Lowell in hat)

Check out their live stuff at wolfgangsvault.com. The earlier stuff is probably better, as Lowell George was still alive.

My favorite Little Feat is actually the Lowell George solo "Thanks I'll Eat it Here". Not sure which tracks Richie Hayward played on, but this is worth picking up for sure. I actually prefer it to everything except Waiting for Columbus, and it is a close second to WFC in my opinion.

My college roomie had Feats Don't Fail Me Now, I loved it and was a first album I bought when I moved back to CA Laguna Bch a block from a cove and the late 70s were raging. Others followed but I was poor then, I must have 7 albums now. I'll go play some.

Interesting they never really made it big, but the tawdry lyrics and subversive beat scared the timid away. I just love that stuff.

...A wonderful band and a prime example of americana before the term existed .....my favourite album is the essential "Dixie Chicken" which doesn't have a weak track...

I saw them in live in Newcastle (78?/79?) on Lowell George's last tour ...he was exceedingly over-weight but in fine voice.

America's 2 greatest rock bands = Steely Dan / Little Feat ?

I'd go with that. YMMV

But with the good 'ole Grateful Dead on a 3 way "top of the bill" alternating tour! Similar to what LF did with The Doobie Brothers and (was it) Tower of Power possibly on the tour Jet mentioned above. Except that LF blew everyone off stage every night

Ron