Hard to believe that it was 50 years ago that Little Feat (a band in which survivors are still touring to this day) recorded their sophomore album called "Sailin' Shoes."
This week also marked the anniversary of the untimely passing of then band-leader Lowell George after a concert in DC. It was a moment in time immortalized by Jackson Browne on his "Hold Out" album with the poignant "Of Missing Persons."
But, "Sailin Shoes" was such a tour de force for a band that mixed pop, rock, blue, country and cajun influences. This was not a band that had a lot of "hits," but their aural visibility on FM album rock radio was undeniable.
And then, there were the covers. Little Feat may not have had the hits...but Linda Ronstadt, Robert Palmer and others refined Lowell's best compositions into something that mainstream radio programmers could embrace.
From "Sailin' Shoes," we say happy 50th on this Music Friday with a few of my favorites. "Easy to Slip" kicked off the LP and hooked you hard. The Dead's Bob Weir covered it on his sadly under appreciated album, "Heaven Help the Fool."
They reworked "Willin" from the first album...and Linda Ronstadt ultimately had the hit.
And then, there's the title track, "Sailin' Shoes," which Robert Palmer funked up to lead off his first album. paring it with Alan Toussaints' "Sneaking Sally Through the Alley," on which Lowell George played.
50 Years. Who knew what this band would do? But they did and still are.
Wow, there are a lot of influences (whether they picked up on something or they made an impression on others) in their music. I can hear all kinds of things. It sounds like a generational thing...like I was taken right back to my early teenage years. Even if I can't recall the songs I am reminded of, I am reminded of that era big time. Well played, Bill.
Posted by: Lee T | July 01, 2022 at 10:45
Thanks, my friend. I was lucky enough to see them before Lowell died. So many genres stirred together in a musical gumbo.
Posted by: Bill Geist | July 01, 2022 at 10:48