Search - Little Feat :: Raw Tomatos

Manure Milkshake

Patrick Noonan | Atlanta, GA USA | 08/17/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"All of a cow's output is valuable to SOMEone -- ice cream for kids, cowpies for the farmers' fields -- but their value goes down when you mix 'em together.That's the problem with this collection, which bundles together unreleased live tracks from several editions of Little Feat. Each incarnation of the band is good and has loyal followers, but the 30-year span leads to some differences in tastes.Me, I'm an old guy, and I think no rock band anywhere was better than the original Feat, so the Lowell George-era tracks in this collection are treasures to me. (I don't even mind the unpolished sound quality, a far cry from their gorgeous live classic, Waiting for Columbus). It's just a treat to hear him sing and play again, and to catch the group's magical chemistry, amazing drive, and humorous abandon. It's like finding a scrapbook of long gone friends - bittersweet for sure, but heartwarming.But I can do without the most recent stuff, which though competent is unremarkable. The music is well-played but generic southern rock, sticking close to the studio versions. The current lineup has many rabid fans who will no doubt treasure hearing some new rockin' versions of "their" Feat (also with rough soundboard mixes and cassette fidelity).So overall, this collection will really please no one but the most diehard fans, or those willing to ignore the parts not directed at them. If you don't count yourself in those categories, stick with their other releases."

Uh, Dude? These are rarities

John Stodder | livin' just enough | 06/25/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"To the previous writer...Sorry if the sound quality "stinks" but I think this record is pretty clearly not meant to be a state of the art representation of computerized music enhancement.It's a "rarities" album, dude! That means one step above a bootleg. It means somebody did history the tremendous service of taping the then-obscure band's early shows and these tapes have been located, and for the fans who hunger for such material, it's here. Moreover, the band warned you, dude, by calling it "Raw." The first 11 cuts get five stars from me, because they feature the first two incarnations of the band, which featured their founding genius, Lowell George. You get a duet on "Sailin' Shoes" with Bonnie Raitt, you get to appreciate that one of the minor songs from the first album, "Crack in Your Door" is actually an excellent tune, you get a plainive reading of "Long Distance Love." This part is great, and I hope they can find more. The post Lowell George period has never struck me as particularly essential, despite the fact that some of the band's best songs, from the very beginning, were composed by Bill Payne or Paul Barrere, both also excellent musicians. But the remaining cuts on disc one and all of disc two that post-date George's death do hit some very high notes. I loved the version of "Honest Man" on disc two, for example. There's also a very compelling jam featuring a trumpet player on that disc that I enjoyed. Overall, this record made me smile. And to Little Feat, I want to say, I don't care if the sound quality stinks, bring on more rare Lowell George!"

Ketchup to little feat's legacy with relish

D. Whitney Quinn | lost angeles | 07/01/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"what a brilliant set of rarities...for those who don't have it, and for those who don't "get it", raw tomatos (and its companion, ripe tomatos) could be categorized as authorized bootlegs, compiled and sanctioned by the group itself on their own new record label. the closest comparison that comes to mind is the "dick's picks" series that the grateful dead release, prizing performance over sonic sheen. and what performances - too many to list, but suffice to say that it is a gumbo of recordings that show off the breadth and depth of their musicianship and their uniquely skewed cartoon americana perspective. with this (and hopefully much more of the same) little feat gives further evidence that their legacy equals that of the other great american bands - such as the allmans, the band, los lobos, steely dan and a very few others. not only that, but their continued musical growth is astonishing. buy this, and then go see them. if still not satisfied, i will gladly refund your ignorance."