''Sailin' Shoes'' is the second studio album by the American rock band
Little Feat, released in 1972. Produced by
Ted Templeman
Edward John "Ted" Templeman (born October 24, 1942) is an American record producer. Among the acts he has a long relationship with are the rock bands Van Halen and the Doobie Brothers and the singer Van Morrison; he produced multiple criticall ...
, it marked a shift away from the sound of the band's
eponymous debut, to that of their subsequent album, ''
Dixie Chicken
''Dixie Chicken'' is the third studio album by the American rock band Little Feat, released in 1973. The artwork for the front cover was by illustrator Neon Park and is a reference to a line from the album's third song, "Roll Um Easy".
The albu ...
''. It also introduced the cover artwork of
Neon Park
Neon Park (born Martin Muller, December 28, 1940 – September 1, 1993) was an American artist, comics artist and illustrator, best known for the images that have strongly defined covers for nearly every Little Feat album except for the band's ...
to the group, and was the last album appearance of original bassist
Roy Estrada
Roy Estrada (also known as "Roy Ralph Moleman Guacamole Guadalupe Hidalgo Estrada" and "Orejón"; born April 17, 1943) is an American former musician and convicted sex offender. He is best known for his bass guitar work with Frank Zappa and the ...
.
Music and recording
The music of ''Sailin' Shoes'' is a mixture of
pop,
rock
Rock most often refers to:
* Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids
* Rock music, a genre of popular music
Rock or Rocks may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...
,
blues and
country
A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, while ...
.
[ Highlighted by a reworked group version of " Willin'", the album also featured such enduring tracks as "A Apolitical Blues," "Easy to Slip" and the title track, all by guitarist and lead vocalist Lowell George, the second co-written with Martin Kibbee, credited as "Fred Martin", a former band-mate from ]The Factory
The Factory was Andy Warhol's studio in New York City, which had four locations between 1963 and 1987. The Factory became famed for its parties in the 1960s. It was the hip hangout spot for artists, musicians, celebrities and Warhol's superstar ...
, and the first appearance of the "George/Martin" credit on a Little Feat record. The track "Texas Rose Cafe" is a tribute to a post-Houston concert visit by Lowell George and others to the hippie restaurant/club/beer garden. During refreshments upstairs George had said that he liked the place so much that he was going to write a song about it and it would be on their next album. It turned out to be true and not just so much "beer talk".
It was the last full Little Feat record to be produced by an outsider, until 1977's ''Time Loves a Hero
''Time Loves a Hero'' is the sixth studio album by the American rock band Little Feat, released in 1977.
The album's cover art is by Neon Park.
''Record World'' called the title track "a philosophical, mid -tempo funk
tune with some interesting ...
'', with each of the three interim albums being produced almost entirely by Lowell George. Noted Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...
-based session percussionist Milt Holland
Milton Holland (born Milton Olshansky; February 7, 1917 – November 4, 2005) was an American drummer, percussionist, ethnomusicologist, and writer in the Los Angeles music scene. He pioneered the use of African, South American, and Indian percus ...
played percussion on "Easy to Slip" and "Trouble" and he also played tabla on the follow-up album ''Dixie Chicken
''Dixie Chicken'' is the third studio album by the American rock band Little Feat, released in 1973. The artwork for the front cover was by illustrator Neon Park and is a reference to a line from the album's third song, "Roll Um Easy".
The albu ...
''. Ron Elliott of the Beau Brummels played rhythm guitar on "A Apolitical Blues" and Debbie Lindsey provided the female vocals on "Cold, Cold, Cold" and the title track.
Artwork
With his design for a "sailing shoe" of a cake swinging on a tree swing, the album's front cover by Neon Park
Neon Park (born Martin Muller, December 28, 1940 – September 1, 1993) was an American artist, comics artist and illustrator, best known for the images that have strongly defined covers for nearly every Little Feat album except for the band's ...
seems to be an allusion to '' The Swing'' by painter Jean-Honoré Fragonard
Jean-Honoré Fragonard (; 5 April 1732
(birth/baptism certificate)
– 22 August 1806) was a French painter and printmaker whose late Rococo manner was distinguished by remarkable facility, exuberance, and hedonism. One of the most prolific art ...
. Park himself said of the cover: "The ''Sailin' Shoes'' cover was inspired by Louis XIV. I'd just seen Rossellini's film about Louis XIV. And it seemed to relate a lot to Hollywood. A situation ruled by someone who kept everybody under his thumb by keeping them in hock from buying fancy clothes seemed to relate to Hollywood somehow. Actually, the only thing that was missing was the Hollywood sign, which I was going to put in the background. I thought that would be gauche. But I had a chance to pick up on that later with '' The Last Record Album''.” The cover design also includes a giant snail and Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip Jagger (born 26 July 1943) is an English singer and songwriter who has achieved international fame as the lead vocalist and one of the founder members of the rock band the Rolling Stones. His ongoing songwriting partnershi ...
dressed as Gainsborough Gainsborough or Gainsboro may refer to:
Places
* Gainsborough, Ipswich, Suffolk, England
** Gainsborough Ward, Ipswich
* Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, a town in England
** Gainsborough (UK Parliament constituency)
* Gainsborough, New South Wales, ...
's ''The Blue Boy
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...
'' as Park had been inspired by the film '' Performance''.[
]
Reception
It was voted number 469 in the third edition of Colin Larkin
Colin Larkin (born 1949) is a British writer and entrepreneur. He founded, and was the editor-in-chief of, the ''Encyclopedia of Popular Music'', described by ''The Times'' as "the standard against which all others must be judged".
Along wit ...
's ''All Time Top 1000 Albums
''All Time Top 1000 Albums'' is a book by Colin Larkin, creator and editor of the ''Encyclopedia of Popular Music''. The book was first published by Guinness Publishing in 1994. The list presented is the result of over 200,000 votes cast by th ...
'' (2000). In 2008 the album was released as Gold CD by Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab
Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab (MFSL or MoFi) is a record label specializing in the production of audiophile issues. The company produces reissued vinyl LP records, compact discs, and Super Audio CDs and other formats.
History
Recording engineer ...
.
Cover versions
*" Willin'" has been covered numerous times by various artists.
*In 1972 Van Dyke Parks
Van Dyke Parks (born January 3, 1943) is an American musician, songwriter, arranger, and record producer who has composed various film and television soundtracks. He is best known for his 1967 album ''Song Cycle'' and for his collaborations with ...
covered "Sailin' Shoes" on his album '' Discover America''.
*In 1973, the Scottish hard rock band Nazareth covered "Teenage Nervous Breakdown" on their album ''Loud 'n' Proud
''Loud 'n' Proud'' is the fourth studio album by the Scottish hard rock band Nazareth, and their second to be released in 1973. It is the first of two albums the band released to reach #1 in the Austrian charts.
Track listing
1996 Castl ...
''.
*In 1974, backed by The Meters and Lowell George, Robert Palmer covered "Sailin' Shoes" on his debut solo album ''Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley
''Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley'' is the debut solo album by Robert Palmer, released in 1974. It was his first effort after three album releases co-fronting the band Vinegar Joe.
Palmer is backed by The Meters and Lowell George of Littl ...
''.
*In 1975, Robert Palmer covered "Trouble" on his album ''Pressure Drop
Pressure drop is defined as the difference in total pressure between two points of a fluid carrying network. A pressure drop occurs when frictional forces, caused by the resistance to flow, act on a fluid as it flows through the tube. The main de ...
''.
*In 1977, Bob Weir covered "Easy to Slip" on his solo release ''Heaven Help the Fool
''Heaven Help The Fool'' is the second solo album by Grateful Dead rhythm guitarist Bob Weir, released in 1978. It was recorded during time off from touring, in the summer of 1977, while Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart recovered from injur ...
''.
*In 1988, Van Halen
Van Halen ( ) was an American rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. Credited with "restoring hard rock to the forefront of the music scene", Van Halen was known for its energetic live shows and for the virtuosity of its lead gu ...
recorded a cover of "A Apolitical Blues" on their album, ''OU812
''OU812'' (pronounced "Oh You Ate One Too") is the eighth studio album by American rock band Van Halen. It was released in 1988 and is the band’s second album to feature vocalist Sammy Hagar. Van Halen began work on the album in September 1987 ...
'', although the song is not included on cassette and vinyl copies of the album.
*In 2022, The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes are an American rock band formed in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1984. Their discography includes eight studio albums, four live albums and several charting singles. The band was signed to Def American Recordings in 1989 by producer Ge ...
recorded a cover of "Easy To Slip" on their covers EP, ''1972
Within the context of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) it was the longest year ever, as two leap seconds were added during this 366-day year, an event which has not since been repeated. (If its start and end are defined using mean solar tim ...
''.
Track listing
*All tracks written and sung by Lowell George, except where noted.
Side One
#"Easy to Slip" (Lowell George, Fred Martin) – 3:22
#"Cold, Cold, Cold" – 4:01
#"Trouble" – 2:19
#"Tripe Face Boogie" (Richie Hayward
Richard "Richie" Hayward (February 6, 1946 – August 12, 2010) was an American drummer best known as a founding member and drummer in the band Little Feat. He performed with several bands and worked as a session player. Hayward also joined ...
, Bill Payne) – 3:16
#" Willin'" – 2:57
#"A Apolitical Blues" – 3:28
Side Two
#"Sailin' Shoes" – 2:53
#"Teenage Nervous Breakdown" – 2:13
#"Got No Shadow" (Payne) – 5:08
#"Cat Fever" (Payne) – 4:37 (lead singer: Bill Payne)
#"Texas Rose Café" – 3:42
Personnel
;Little Feat
*Lowell George
Lowell Thomas George (April 13, 1945 – June 29, 1979) was an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer, who was the primary guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and founder/leader for the rock band Little Feat.
Ear ...
- guitar, lead (all but "Cat Fever") and backing vocals, harmonica, baritone saxophone, drum machine
* Bill Payne - Hammond organ, backing and lead vocals ("Cat Fever"), Wurlitzer electric piano
The Wurlitzer electronic piano is an electric piano manufactured and marketed by Wurlitzer from the mid-1950s to mid-1980s. Sound is generated by striking a metal reed with a hammer, which induces an electric current in a pickup. It is concept ...
, piano
The piano is a stringed keyboard instrument in which the strings are struck by wooden hammers that are coated with a softer material (modern hammers are covered with dense wool felt; some early pianos used leather). It is played using a keybo ...
, accordion
*Roy Estrada
Roy Estrada (also known as "Roy Ralph Moleman Guacamole Guadalupe Hidalgo Estrada" and "Orejón"; born April 17, 1943) is an American former musician and convicted sex offender. He is best known for his bass guitar work with Frank Zappa and the ...
- bass, backing vocals
*Richie Hayward
Richard "Richie" Hayward (February 6, 1946 – August 12, 2010) was an American drummer best known as a founding member and drummer in the band Little Feat. He performed with several bands and worked as a session player. Hayward also joined ...
- drums, backing vocals, percussion
A percussion instrument is a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a beater including attached or enclosed beaters or rattles struck, scraped or rubbed by hand or struck against another similar instrument. Ex ...
Additional
*Milt Holland
Milton Holland (born Milton Olshansky; February 7, 1917 – November 4, 2005) was an American drummer, percussionist, ethnomusicologist, and writer in the Los Angeles music scene. He pioneered the use of African, South American, and Indian percus ...
- percussion on "Easy to Slip" and "Trouble"
*Sneaky Pete Kleinow
Peter E. "Sneaky Pete" Kleinow (August 20, 1934 – January 6, 2007) was an American country-rock musician. He is best known as a member of the band The Flying Burrito Brothers and as a session musician playing pedal steel guitar for such ar ...
- pedal steel guitar on "Willin'" and "Texas Rose Café"
*Debbie Lindsey - backing vocals on "Cold Cold Cold" and "Sailin' Shoes"
* Ron Elliott - rhythm guitar on "A Apolitical Blues"
References
{{Authority control
1972 albums
Little Feat albums
Albums produced by Ted Templeman
Warner Records albums
Albums with cover art by Neon Park
Albums recorded at Sunset Sound Recorders