The Last Record Album
Studio album by Little Feat
Released November 1975
Recorded 1975
Genre Rock
Length 34:29
Label Warner Bros.
Producer Lowell George
The Last Record Album is the fifth studio album by the American rock band Little Feat, released in 1975.
Professional reviews:
allmusic 3/5 stars
Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine of allmusic:
The title of The Last Record Album isn't literally accurate, but it cuts a lot closer than the band intended, for this really is the last album of the group's classic era. Starting with this album, leader Lowell George fades into the woodwork, and while the remainder of the group tries valiantly to keep the band afloat, the timing of friction was wrong and the amount of tension was too great. Musically, the group attempts to make Feats Don't Fail Me Now, Pt. 2, but the production from George is curiously flat, and, truth be told, the group just isn't inspired enough to make a satisfying album. For a very short album -- only eight songs -- too many of the cuts fall flat. Those that succeed, however, are quite good, particularly Paul Barrere and Bill Payne's gently propulsive "All That You Dream," Lowell George's beautiful "Long Distance Love," and the sublime "Mercenary Territory." Even these songs don't have the spark or character they would have had on the more organic Feats, due to George's exceedingly mellow SoCal production, which is pleasant but doesn't provide Little Feat with enough room to breathe. There are enough signs of Little Feat's true character on The Last Record Album -- the three previously mentioned songs are essential for any Feat fan -- to make it fairly enjoyable, but it's clear that the band is beginning to run out of steam.
Review on Epinions:
This is a very good Little Feat album, although it is not their greatest. I still recommend it with reservations.
Despite the rather ominous title this was not the last Little Feat album. It was in fact their fifth and wasnÕt even the last one before anyone in the band left or died. In the liner notes, Lowell George tries to offer an explanation for this, but IÕm afraid he lost me round about the image of Hollywood as Òa giant fruit salad with a twist of a cool whip like a mirage in your garageÓ.
All that aside, this is a very good album, as you might expect from such a top band.
A somewhat new look Little Feat emerges with opener, Romance Dance. It is written by keyboardist Bill Payne with guitarist Paul Barrere and bassist Ken Gradney and for the first time the album is not heavily weighted towards Lowell George compositions. This one is still pretty much in their normal style though. Featuring Lowell George on slide guitar, it is a good old Ôroad songÕ about a lonely guy in a strange town trying to convince a young lady to Ôdo the horizontal mamboÕ with him, as the lyric so delicately puts it.
Next up is a song that definitely breaks with Little Feat tradition. All That You Dream written by Barrere and Payne is a bit of a hybrid between a country song and a jazz tune. I think it works very well.
Long Distance Love is the first track you would immediately associate with Little Feat and this is probably because it is the first one here written by Lowell George. Backing vocals come from Valerie Carter and Fran Tate
Based around Bill PayneÕs keyboards, Day Or Night is another departure. It develops into a bit of a jazzy exposition with solos from keyboards, drum and bass.
Although written by Payne, Barrere and Gradney, One Love Stand returns to the Little Feat country blues groove that you associate with Little Feat. LowellÕs slide is there again and Carter and Tate add the background vocals.
Down Below The Borderline begins with the same sort of hesitation beat you get at the beginning of HendrixÕ If Six Was Nine. ItÕs a strange little song with some quite interesting lyrics; viz: Òonomatopoetry symmetry in motionÓ.
Bill Payne solo composition SomebodyÕs LeavinÕ is really a type of blues built around piano and synthesizer, except that it has a gospel/country feel to it. This really is an odd track with a mid-section that drifts off into some kind of peyote haze and you hear what sound like some female backing vocals that have been recorded backwards. The song is a bit of a ÔCurateÕs EggÕ (good in parts) and I really donÕt know what to make of it.
The last track, Mercenary Territory sounds like it might be referring to some of the demons that dogged Lowell George. The music was written by Lowell and drummer Richie Hayward who was a founding member of the band and who died in August 2010.
LP track listing
Side One
1. "Romance Dance" (Paul Barrere, Bill Payne) Ð 3:49
2. "All That You Dream" (Paul Barrere, Bill Payne) Ð 3:52
3. "Long Distance Love" (Lowell George) Ð 2:43
4. "Day or Night" (Bill Payne, Fran Tate) Ð 6:24
Side Two
5. "One Love Stand" (Paul Barrere, Kenny Gradney, Bill Payne) Ð 4:26
6. "Down Below the Borderline" (Lowell George) Ð 3:41
7. "Somebody's Leavin'" (Bill Payne) Ð 5:07
8. "Mercenary Territory" (Lowell George, Richie Hayward) Ð 4:27
Personnel
* Lowell George - vocals, guitar
* Paul Barrere - guitar, vocals
* Bill Payne - keyboards, synthesizer, vocals
* Sam Clayton - congas
* Kenny Gradney - bass
* Richie Hayward - drums, vocals
Additional personnel
* Valerie Carter - backing vocals (tracks 3 and 5)
* John Hall - guitar (track 2)
* Fran Tate - backing vocals (tracks 3 and 5)