1974 - August: Little Feat “Feats Don't Fail Me Now”

What the Riff?!?

This week we are delving into one of the greats of Southern Rock. Well, they are southern rock if you count southern California. Little Feat took its name from a comment Frank Zappa made to his band member Lowell George regarding his having little feet. George would become a founder and driving force behind Little Feat, providing guitar and vocals. Other members were Paul Barrere on guitar and vocals, Sam Clayton on percussion and vocals, Kenny Gradney on bass, Richie Hayward on drums and vocals, and Bill Payne on keyboards and vocals.

Feats Don't Fail Me Now is the band's fourth studio album, and it went to number 36 on the US Top LP's chart. It is hard to go wrong when, in addition to the regular band members you have the Tower of Power on horns, and backing vocals from Emmylou Harris and Bonnie Raitt. The album was recorded at Blue Seas Recording Studio in Maryland, and it provided two advantages. First, it had just opened and needed a band for their "shakedown cruise," letting Little Feat record on the cheap. Second, it was far away from their home base in Los Angeles, which kept Lowell George away from many familiar temptions of drugs and women.

While Lowell George would soon begin to deteriorate in health (he died of a heart attack in 1979), this album shows him and his band at the height of their artistic prowess. The surviving members of Little Feat would regroup in 1987, and the band continues to perform today.

Wayne takes us through this little feat of southen rock for this week's podcast.

Feats Don't Fail Me Now
The title track received significant airplay on FM radio and it leads off side two of the album. That driving bass line and funky drumbeat is sometimes called Country Funk Boogie. The message of the song is one of perseverance and determination to get back the girl the singer loves.

Oh Atlanta
If you were living in the metro-Atlanta area in the 70's or 80's, you definitely are familiar with this song. Billy Payne takes lead vocal duties on this track, and it features Bonnie Raitt and Emmylou Harris on backing vocals. "Well, you can drop me off on Peachtree, I got to feel that Georgia sun. And the women there in Atlanta, they make you awfully glad you come."

Spanish Moon
This track was written by Lowell George and features the Tower of Power horn section. This is a deeper cut, but it has a latin groove while maintaining both a bluesy and funky sound. The origin of the song is a dream George had of a dangerous nightclub in New Orleans called the Spanish Moon.

Rock and Roll Doctor
The song considered the hit off the album is an anthem to the healing power of music. "Two degress in bebop, a PhD in swing, he's a master of rhythm, he's a rock and roll king."

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

Main theme from the motion picture “Together Brothers”
The Love Unlimited Orchestra provided this title track to

STAFF PICKS:

Radar Love by Golden Earring
Lynch's starts our staff picks this week with a Dutch rock band originally formed in 1961. Lead vocalist Barry Hay and guitarist George Kooymans wrote this single that reached number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The lyrics describe a man driving a long way to be with his love, and communicating with her through a mystical bond he calls "radar love."

Keep on Smilin' by Wet Willie
Bruce features the title track from Wet Willie's third studio album. It is their biggest hit, reaching number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song itself is rather stoic, encouraging the listener to keep smiling through the difficulties and pain of life.

The Night Chicago Died by Paper Lace
Rob's staff pick is a story telling song that topped the US chart for one week in 1974. The lyrics describe a shoot-out between the Chicago Police and Al Capone's gangsters, and worries from the wife of a police officer that her husband wouldn't make it home. The song ends on a positive note when her husband walks through the door.

Beach Baby by The First Class
Wayne brings us a British band made up of all session players. They call themselves "the first class" because they considered themselves to be a kind of supergroup of the UK music session set. This song would be a one-hit wonder, reaching number 4 in the US, but other singles would not see the same level of success.

NOVELTY TRACK:

Rub It In by Billy "Crash" Craddock
This novelty song hit the top of the country charts. It may be more familiar as the jingle from Glade air fresheners, where they sing, "plug it in."

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