Little Feat - Waiting for Columbus

"I'm Temporarily Qualmless And Sinking."

"Waiting For Columbus" is one of the best live albums ever recorded, and this two disc packaging improves dramatically on what was already a classic. The album was recorded over several nights at the Lisner Auditorium at George Washington University in Washington, DC and at the Rainbow Theatre in London during August 1977. Tragically, Little Feat's dynamic frontman, Lowell George, would play his last concert at Lisner less than two years later.

This two CD set restores some great songs to the earlier abridged release, notably "Cold, Cold, Cold," "Rock and Roll Doctor," and "Teenage Nervous Breakdown." This album is one of the few live albums that stands the test of time, competing favorably with other greats like "Alchemy" from Dire Straits for my favorite live album of all time. For me the standouts here are "Fat Man in the Bathtub," "Mercenary Territory," Spanish Moon," "Dixie Chicken," and "Rocket in my Pocket." The live version of "Feats Don't Fail Me Now," is, like several other songs on the set, a poster child for improvisation, a staple of the live Little Feat experience. During these concerts the Tower of Power horn section contributed constructively to the overall sound of the live band, making an already great listening experience utterly sublime.

I normally don't buy "remastered" albums, but here I wholly endorse spending the money: the sound quality of this release is excellent, and the added material is a gift to Little Feat loyalists like myself.

I could not recommend any recording more highly. July 1, 2008

Good memories

As a long time Lowell George & Little Feat fan who saw them live at Washington D.C.'s Warner Theater tis live album brings back some great memoriers of my younger days.A mut for all collections.Wheverever you are Lowell keep on Rockin' April 6, 2008

The Best Live Album Ever

Yea, I know some people will already be clicking this review is of no help and comment about some live at this or that by some group from some period in their lives, but the reality is is that this is one smoking set. There's no way that you can listen through to this concert and wonder why you weren't following Little Feat around when Lowell George was still with us. The jam based Dixie Chicken is one of the few live recordings that makes the studio version pale in comparison; the live Atlanta just swings; Willin' never sounded better. (So glad Zappa gave George the boot for wanting to record this cut; now we can hear it the way it was conceived.) Great set, great solos, great vocals, and arguably the best live album ever. February 18, 2008

One of the best live albums ever!

Little Feat's Waiting for Columbus is easily one of the best live albums ever recorded. A band that was well respected by fellow musicians, Little Feat received little love on the radio. Their albums were bought and appreciated by a growing cult following who learned about the band through word of mouth or seeing them live. Its 1978 release was during the height of the live album era as artists such as Cheap Trick, Peter Frampton, and Kiss would break into the mainstream thanks to their recorded live show. Waiting for Columbus would do the same for Little Feat, giving the band their first gold album. And while this was near the tail end of their first career as bandleader Lowell George would die shortly after this release, Waiting for Columbus showed the band at the height of their powers.

Waiting for Columbus is similar to Kiss' Alive I in the fact that the live versions of several songs were given new life compared to their studio versions, most evident here on the funky "All That You Dream" and the rollicking "Feats Don't Fail Me Now." Although dealing with drug dependency at the time, George was definitely on during this performance as his gravelly vocals and slide guitar highlight "Rocket in My Pocket", "Tripe Face Boogie", and "Fat Man in the Bathtub." Feat standards such as "Oh Atlanta" and "Willin'" sound great while their "newer" jazzier songs "Day or Night" and "Time Loves a Hero" are also top notch. The now classic "Dixie Chicken" is stretched out to 9 minutes complete with a Bill Payne piano solo. Also worth noting is the addition of the Tower of Power horn section whose horn lines highlight "Mercenary Territory", "Rocket in My Pocket", and "Spanish Moon." Other great tracks include the bluesy "Sailin' Shoes", "A Apolitical Blues", and Paul Barrere's "Old Folks' Boogie." The two disc version contains several unreleased tracks which were performed on the same tour and every one of them including "Rock and Roll Doctor", "Skin It Back", and a 12-minute "Day at the Dog Races", which features an awesome bass solo from Kenny Gradney, are just as good as the original album. Also included are live versions of "Skin It Back", "Red Streamliner", and "Teenage Nervous Breakdown" which were originally only available on the Hoy -Hoy! compilation. All told, live music doesn't get much better than Waiting for Columbus. Highest recommendation.
December 30, 2007

A must for Little Feat fans!!

So happy to add this to my music collection! Little Feat is one of my favorite bands and it's nice to have this great re-mastered release. October 19, 2007

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