Sailin' Shoes
Encyclopedia
Sailin' Shoes was the second studio album by the American rock band Little Feat
, released in 1972. It is notable for several reasons.
First, it introduced the work of Neon Park
to the group, with his design of a sailing shoe of a cake swinging on a tree swing that adorned the front cover, which seems to be an allusion to The Swing
by painter Jean-Honoré Fragonard
. Second, it was a more refined album than predecessor
, signaling a shift from that album into the next
. Third, it marked the last album original bassist Roy Estrada
appeared on.
Highlighted by a reworked group version of "Willin'," the track that had led Frank Zappa
to sack guitarist and vocalist Lowell George
from The Mothers of Invention
, it 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 (a.k.a. Fred Martin), a former bandmate (The Factory), and the first appearance of the "George/Martin" credit on a Little Feat record.
It was the last full Little Feat record to be produced by an outsider until 1977's Time Loves a Hero
, the three albums in the interim produced nearly in their entireties by Lowell George.
In 1988, Van Halen
did a cover of "A Apolitical Blues" on their album, OU812
. However, at least some cassette copies of the album don't include this song.
In 2008 the album was released as Gold CD (Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab
).
Little Feat
Little Feat is an American rock band formed by singer-songwriter, lead vocalist and guitarist Lowell George and keyboardist Bill Payne in 1969 in Los Angeles....
, released in 1972. It is notable for several reasons.
First, it introduced the work of Neon Park
Neon Park
Neon Park was an American artist and illustrator, best known for the images that have strongly defined covers for nearly every Little Feat album except for the band's self-titled first album. He also created the cover of Weasels Ripped My Flesh for Frank Zappa, as well as covers and graphics for...
to the group, with his design of a sailing shoe of a cake swinging on a tree swing that adorned the front cover, which seems to be an allusion to The Swing
The Swing (painting)
The Swing , also known as The Happy Accidents of the Swing , is an 18th century oil painting by Jean-Honoré Fragonard. It is considered as one of the masterpieces of the rococo era.-The painting:...
by painter Jean-Honoré Fragonard
Jean-Honoré Fragonard
Jean-Honoré Fragonard was a French painter and printmaker whose late Rococo manner was distinguished by remarkable facility, exuberance, and hedonism. One of the most prolific artists active in the last decades of the Ancien Régime, Fragonard produced more than 550 paintings , of which only five...
. Second, it was a more refined album than predecessor
Little Feat (album)
Little Feat was the eponymous debut by the American rock band Little Feat, released in January 1971. Cobbled together from a variety of recording sessions mostly between August and September 1970, its sound can be best described as the antithesis to any of the group's classic recordings . Featuring...
, signaling a shift from that album into the next
Dixie Chicken (album)
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....
. Third, it marked the last album original bassist Roy Estrada
Roy Estrada
Roy Estrada is an American musician and backing vocalist, best known for his bass guitar work with Frank Zappa and for co-founding Little Feat.-Biography:With drummer Jimmy Carl Black and Ray Collins, Estrada was an original member of Frank Zappa's...
appeared on.
Highlighted by a reworked group version of "Willin'," the track that had led Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
to sack guitarist and vocalist Lowell George
Lowell George
Lowell Thomas George was an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer, who was the main guitarist and songwriter for the rock band Little Feat.- Early years :...
from The Mothers of Invention
The Mothers of Invention
The Mothers of Invention were an American band active from 1964 to 1969, and again from 1970 to 1975.They mainly performed works by, and were the original recording group of, US composer and guitarist Frank Zappa , although other members have had the occasional writing credit...
, it 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 (a.k.a. Fred Martin), a former bandmate (The Factory), and the first appearance of the "George/Martin" credit on a Little Feat record.
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
Time Loves a Hero is the sixth studio album by the American rock band Little Feat, released in 1977. .-Track listing:#"Hi Roller" – 3:35#"Time Loves a Hero" – 3:47...
, the three albums in the interim produced nearly in their entireties by Lowell George.
In 1988, Van Halen
Van Halen
Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
did a cover of "A Apolitical Blues" on their album, OU812
OU812
OU812 is the 8th studio album by American hard rock band Van Halen, released in 1988. The album title is allegedly a joke on Van Halen's previous lead singer David Lee Roth's 1986 album Eat 'Em and Smile . However, "OU812" was also seen in the 70s sitcom Taxi written on a wall...
. However, at least some cassette copies of the album don't include this song.
In 2008 the album was released as Gold CD (Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab
Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab
Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab is a company known as an innovator in the production of audiophile-quality sound recordings. All releases are advertised as being produced from the first-generation analog master recordings, and using proprietary technology, which MFSL claims allows for improved sound...
).
Track listing
- All tracks by Lowell George, except where noted.
- "Easy to Slip" (Lowell George, Fred MartinFred MartinFrederick "Fred" Martin is a retired Scottish professional international footballer who played as a goalkeeper. His only senior club was Aberdeen, with whom he played for 14 years...
) – 3:22 - "Cold Cold Cold" – 4:01
- "Trouble" – 2:19
- "Tripe Face Boogie" (Richie HaywardRichie HaywardRichie Hayward was a 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...
, Bill PayneBill PayneBill Payne is a founding member of American rock band Little Feat. He is considered by many other piano rock musicians, including Elton John, to be one of the finest American piano rock and blues music artists...
) – 3:16 - "Willin'" – 2:57
- "A Apolitical Blues" – 3:28
- "Sailin' Shoes" – 2:53
- "Teenage Nervous Breakdown" – 2:13
- "Got No Shadow" (Payne) – 5:08
- "Cat Fever" (Payne) – 4:37
- "Texas Rose Café" – 3:42
Band members
- Lowell George - vocals, guitar, harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
, baritone saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
, drum machineDrum machineA drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music... - Richie Hayward - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, backing vocals - Bill Payne - pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
, accordionAccordionThe accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Cat Fever" - Roy EstradaRoy EstradaRoy Estrada is an American musician and backing vocalist, best known for his bass guitar work with Frank Zappa and for co-founding Little Feat.-Biography:With drummer Jimmy Carl Black and Ray Collins, Estrada was an original member of Frank Zappa's...
- bass, backing vocals (last album with group)
Additional personnel
- Milt HollandMilt HollandMilt Holland was an American drummer, percussionist, ethnic musicologist, and writer in the Los Angeles music scene who pioneered the use of African, South American, and Indian percussion styles in jazz, pop and film music, traveling extensively on those continents to collect instruments and to...
- percussion on "Easy to Slip" and "Trouble" - Sneaky Pete KleinowSneaky Pete KleinowPeter E. "Sneaky Pete" Kleinow was an American country-rock musician, songwriter, and a motion picture special effects artist...
- pedal steel guitar on "Willin'" and "Texas Rose Café" - Debbie Lindsey - vocals on "Cold Cold Cold" and "Sailin' Shoes"
- Ron ElliottRon Elliott (musician)Ron Elliott on October 21, 1943) is an American musician, composer and producer, best known as songwriter and lead guitarist of rock band The Beau Brummels. Elliott wrote or co-wrote the band's 1965 U.S...
- rhythm guitar on "A Apolitical Blues"