Top 10 Little Feat Albums

Little Feat’s career can be divided into two periods – The Lowell George Era and the Post George Lowell era. The band was first formed in 1969 By Mother’s of Invention veterans Lowell George (Guitar & Vocals) and Roy Estrada (Bass), along with Richie Hayward (Drums) and Bill Payne (keyboards). Little Feat’s sound is a combination of blues, country, jazz, rock, and funk blended together and distilled down to its purest essence. Both studio albums and live albums totaling nearly three dozen were analyzed to determine the top ten. Lowell George disbanded Little Feat shortly before his death in 1979. Surviving members of Little Feat resurrected the band in 1988 and over the decades band personnel have changed until 2025 when keyboardist Bill Payne is the only original surviving member.

10. Down on the Farm  

Down on the Farm is the final album that Little Feat’s founder Lowell George was on before he disbanded the group and had an untimely death due to his bad health, and alcohol and drug abuse at the age of 34. The band’s internal tensions had augmented because of creative differences and George’s diminishing interest in the band’s musical direction. George wanted a stripped down rootsy sound, while the other band members were embracing a jazzier, more improvisational style like Steely Dan or Weather Report. Down on the Farm is Little Feat’s 7^th studio album and it was co-produced by Lowell George but it was released posthumously in November 1979. The title song reaches back to Little Feat’s 1^st album with its laid-back, funky groove with a Southern feel. Their signature blend of styles is evident on cuts like “Kokomo,” “Perfect Imperfection” and “Six Feet of Snow” a song that was co-written by George and Keith Godchaux the Grateful Dead’s keyboardist.

9. The Last Record Album

The Last Record Album title was inspired by the 1971 film, The Last Picture Show.  The album was their 5th and was released in 1975 with a more polished sound but still full of heart. The music itself moves towards jazz-fusion sound and complex arrangements while still rooted in funky blues rock. Standout tracks like the opener, “Romance Dance” sets the mood with a playfully laid back swagger. “All That You Dream” is one of the album’s standouts and features Bill Payne on lead vocals instead of Lowell George. The album cover art is the 4^th by surrealist artist Neon Park (Martin Muller) who did Frank Zappa’s “Mother’s of Invention” Weasels Ripped My Flesh album cover. Bill Payne and Paul Barrere evolved into stronger songwriters which began creative tensions in the group.

8. Sam’s Place

Sam’s Place was released in 2024 and is the 18^th studio album by Little Feat and their first new release after a 12-year hiatus. The band was led by original founding member and vocalist Bill Payne on keyboards. Percussionist Sam Clayton sang lead vocals along with Scott Sharrard and Fred Tackett on guitars, bassist Kenny Gradney and Tony Leone on drums. The album has 9 tracks that are heavily influenced by the blues with tunes like “Long Distance Call” and “Can’t Be Satisfied” by Muddy Waters. Sam’s Place was nominated in 2025 for a Grammy Award for “Best Traditional Blues Album.”

7. Little Feat   

Little Feat is the self-titled debut album that Lowell George and the band released in 1971. The band was comprised of  Lowell George (guitar, harmonica ,vocals), Roy Estrada (bass, backing vocals), Richard Hayward (drums, vocals), and Bill Payne (keyboards, vocals). Little Feat’s debut album was heavily influenced by Lowell George’s tenure with Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention. Compared to their later funkier releases the album is more stripped-down and rootsy, capturing the band in their earliest, grittiest form. They combine blues, rock, country and Southern boogie on standout tracks like “Truck Stop Girl,” “Brides of Jesus,” and a bare-boned version of “Willin’ the most famous song from the album.

6. Time Loves a Hero

Time Loves a Hero was Little Feat’s 6^th studio album and was released in 1977. Lowell George’s slide guitar once a dominant part of their sound became more subdued as Bill Payne’s keyboards took center stage and Paul Barrere’s rhythmic guitar work was also featured more. Once again the album features the Tower of Power horn section adding a Latin flavor and shows a band pushing the same boundaries that at the same time were pulling it apart. Cuts like the title song, “High Roller,” “Day at the Dog Races” and “Old Folks Boogie” a playfully sarcastic tune with a groove that refuses to quit were produced with a cleaner, crisper and more polished result than their earlier albums.

5. Let it Roll

Let it Roll was the first post Lowell George album by Little Feat, released in 1988, 9 years after the band was disbanded in 1979. Paul Barrere, Sam Clayton, Kenny Gradney, Richie Hayward and Bill Payne reunited with the addition of Pure Prarie League vocalist Craig Fuller and guitarist Fred Tackett. The album contained 10 new original songs including the hit single “Hate to Lose Your Lovin’” which reached number one on the Mainstream Rock Charts. Let it Roll became RIAA certified gold and achieved commercial success proving that they could continue without Lowell George, while staying true to their identity as a funky, genre blending band.

4. Feat’s Don’t Fail Me Now

Feat’s Don’t Fail Me Now is Little Feat’s 4^th album and was released in 1974 featuring the band’s signature funky, swampy, and adventurous sound. The band was made up of the same lineup as on Dixie Chicken the previous album with Paul Barrere (guitar, vocals), Sam Clayton (percussion, vocals), Lowell George (vocals, guitar), Kenny Gradney (bass), Richie Hayward (drums, vocals) and Bill Payne (keyboards, vocals). By this time Little Feat had cemented their sound into a genre bending combination of New Orleans funk, blues, rock, and jazz. From “Rock and Roll Doctor” the funky upbeat opening tune to the funky groove driven hard hitting Latin influences of “Skin it Back.” Backing vocals are provided by Bonnie Raitt and Emmylou Harris along with the Tower of Power horns.

3. Sailin’ Shoes 

Sailin’ Shoes was released in 1972 and is Little Feat’s 2^nd album and is considered a cornerstone of the band’s early songwriting and performance. The album documents a critical step in their evolution as they refined their sound with legendary tracks like “Easy to Slip,” “Cold, Cold, Cold” and a 2^nd recording of “Willin’,” one of George’s most famous compositions. Sailin’ Shoes combines quirky, heartfelt, and hard hitting melodies with often humorous poetic lyrics. Lowell George shines as the band’s driving creative force by blending blues, country, funk & gospel propelled by rock. It was the last album that former Mothers of  Invention bass guitarist Roy Estrada played on.

2. Dixie Chicken     

Dixie Chicken was released in 1973 and is a shift from the bluesy, roots-rock direction of their first two releases towards a funkier New Orleans-inspired sound. It’s considered by many to be a defining album for the band’s sound and legacy. The album’s lyrics are where George’s storytelling manifests itself through tales of heartbreak, life on the road, and Southern characters. The band’s eclectic fusion of genres is exemplified by tracks like the title song “Dixie Chicken,” “Fat Man in the Bathtub” and a cover of Allen Toussaint’s slow burning NOLA influenced cautionary tale “On Your Way Down” accompanied by Payne’s keyboards.

1. Waiting for Columbus

Waiting for Columbus is considered by many to be one of the greatest live albums ever recorded. It’s compared to classic releases like The Allman Brothers Band –  At Filmore East, The Who – Live at Leeds, and Bob Seeger & the Silver Bullet Band’s –  Live Bullet. Waiting for Columbus was released in 1978 as a double 33rpm vinyl album that captures the band’s tight musicianship and energetic performance. The album captures Little Feat at the peak of its Lowell George incarnation where he is singing and playing slide guitar on classics like “Dixie Chicken” and “Willin’.” The Tower of Power horn section embellishes some cuts that blend rock, blues, funk, country and New Orleans inspired rhythms. Unfortunately, this was the last Little Feat recording with Lowell George since he disbanded the group just before his untimely death in 1979.