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Product Details
Sailin' Shoes demonstrates just how briskly Little Feat was developing in their early 1970s formative years. A pronounced step up from the Southern California quartet's critically praised 1971 debut, it's not as fully realized as the Feat's 1973 zenith, Dixie Chicken. But it's not far behind, and that's saying something. The final recording made by the original quartet (the band swelled to six members after founding bassist and Mothers of Invention alumni Roy Estrada split), Little Feat circa 1972 is a lean, energetic outfit. "Cold, Cold, Cold," "Tripe Face Boogie," "Apolitical Blues," and "Teenage Nervous Breakdown" are blunter rockers than what would follow. Lowell George's title track and Bill Payne's "Got No Shadow" and "Cat Fever," meanwhile, presage the more limber direction the group was headed. --Steven Stolder
Product Reviews
 (3 stars) - Original Master Recording
Sailin' Shoes is a classic recording I've owned on LP, CD, and now the Original Master Recording CD. I enjoy the music (obviously) bit after comparing the Original Master CD to the standard issue CD on a $40,000 stereo system I would have to say I could barely detect a difference. Now Yes Fragile is another story entirely and I would definitely recommend that Original Master Recording based on its outstanding sound quality but Sailin' Shoes was not worth the money in my book (although the packaging is better).
 (5 stars) - Thanks! I'll eat it here!
I am so heartened to see so many five-star reviews here! Oh, yeah, Sailin' Shoes is a wonderful record--pure pleasure, really. Think Rubber Soul, the Replacements' Hootenanny, Beck's Odelay--Sailin' Shoes is electric (and acoustic), eclectic, eccentric and oh so alive. Not totally ready for primetime (that's Dixie Chicken), but all the better for it. I hate people telling me the plot details of a movie, so I'll just say--how many records are funny, surrealistic, totally rockin', AND lovable? Check it out!
(5 stars) - I got Cat Fever
Overlooked and underappreciated, Little Feat gained popularity during their day but never had got the airplay or found the audience of other bands producing similar music at the same time. "Sailing Shoes" is a potent mix of the band's bluesy sound highlighted by Lowell George's distinctive slide playing (George was aided on their debut by Ry Cooder when Lowell badly injured his hand which altered his playing style giving us the familair sound that highlight so many later albums). The songwriting is top notch here improving on their already strong debut. Lowell George came into his own as a vocalist here and although that strong Dixieland blues/jazz influence isn't as prominent here, you can hear it lurking in the background more so than the band's strong debut.
Still playing as a four piece with George handling the bulk of the guitar work(Paul Barrere would join full time on the next album after being asked to audition as a bass player even though he was a guitar player and really wasn't all that interested in playing bass)assisted by the late, great Sneaky Pete Kleinow and Ron Elliot on three tracks of the album.
Keyboardist and co-founder Bill Payne contributes three strong songs--"Cat Fever", "Got No Shadow" and "Tripe Face Boogie" written with drummer Richie Hayward. "Willin'" (which reportedly had something to do with Zappa dismissing George from his band. Zappa told him he needed to go off and found his own band. The other reason reportedly was Zappa's "no drugs" policy which George would have rebelled against)makes another appearence in its definitive version while a couple of tracks originally written for George's previous band The Factory also show up.
"A Political Blues" one of George's most popular songs shows up here as well. "Easy to Slip" and "Texas Rose Cafe" (both of which George and the band did demos for The Doobie Brothers when Ted Templeman was looking for additional material for the band)also appear and both are terrific songs that bookend the album.
The reissued Mobile Fidelity Labs Gold Disc sounds extremely good. It comes in a gatefold sleeve replica of the original album packaging along with a booklet. As to which sounds better the MFSL version or Lee Herschberg's original CD mastering, it's a matter of taste. Both sound quite good and if you can't get one, the other will do just fine.
(5 stars) - Feat were a Force Majeur
For those who aren't exposed to this band -
They were the most complete rock and roll band I know. The subtleties (sp) of phrasing and layers of harmony that seldom ran in a congruent, typical form is what impresses me. 6 musicians loosely playing in six different directions around a common theme is what you will hear in their best efforts. They were tight as a nun's privates. Live was as impressive as the studio - only more freeform. They shared a common musical brain.
Torque your parametric equalizer in any direction and you will hear the individual work. Layered = beauty.
They were the Bomb Diggity.
Elton John called them the Greatest Rock Band - I agree.
RBS
(5 stars) - I GOT CAT FEEEE-VER!
One of the best albums ever by one of the most underrated, underappreciated and unheard of bands of all time. Great songwriting, musicianship, vocals etc. A great guitar album as well. Lowell George was one of the greatest slide guitarists around. People often like to classify Little Feat as southern rock but don't be fooled- their styles are wide ranged- from New Orleans blues, R&B, & Stones style R&R.
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