Raw Tomatos

by

Little Feat

Edit

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.