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Mercenary Territory: Rhino Turn Little Feat's 'Waiting for Columbus' Into Multi-Show Box Set

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Little Feat Waiting for Columbus

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Last year for Black Friday's Record Store Day event, Rhino premiered Little Feat's Electrif Lycanthrope: Live at Ultra-Sonic Studios 1974, a concert album recorded in front of an intimate studio audience in Hempstead, New York.  The band originally fronted by Lowell George always blossomed in a live setting, with that particular brand of electricity best captured on 1978's Waiting for Columbus.  The double album recorded in 1977 at London's Rainbow Theatre and Washington, DC's Lisner Auditorium at George Washington University showcased Little Feat's improvisatory nature in concert in which the band would extend and reinvent even their most familiar material.  Backed by the Tower of Power horn section, Little Feat never sounded so powerful.  On July 29, Rhino will celebrate 45 years of the original concerts with an 8-CD Super Deluxe Edition of Waiting for Columbus.

In preparation for the original album, Little Feat - then consisting of Lowell George (lead vocals/guitar), Bill Payne (keyboard/vocals), Paul Barrere (guitar/vocals), Kenny Gradney (bass), Richard Hayward (drums/vocals), and Sam Clayton (congas/vocals) - recorded several shows during their summer 1977 tour.  The upcoming Super Deluxe Edition kicks off with a remastered version of the original album on two CDs, following that presentation with three never-before-released live performances (each concert is on 2 CDs).  These previously unreleased shows were recorded in Manchester at Manchester City Hall (7/29/77), London at The Rainbow (8/2/77), and Washington D.C. at Lisner Auditorium (8/10/77).

The setlists in summer '77 drew upon all six studio albums released by Little Feat between 1971 and 1977 including fan favorites such as "Dixie Chicken," "Sailin' Shoes," "Rock and Roll Doctor," "Willin'," and "Don't Bogart That Joint."  While Little Feat's original versions didn't make much noise on the U.S. singles charts, the songs attracted a number of noteworthy covers.  Robert Palmer and Van Dyke Parks recorded "Sailin' Shoes," and Linda Ronstadt made "Willin'" her own.  (It was more recently sung by Mandy Moore on an episode of the just-concluded series This Is Us.)  A tribute album to the late George featured performances by the likes of Randy Newman, J.D. Souther, Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal, Allen Toussaint, and Merry Clayton.

Waiting for Columbus was released by Warner Bros. Records on February 10, 1978; it's since been certified platinum and remains the best-selling album in the band's discography.  Lowell George disbanded Little Feat shortly before his death in 1979 at the age of 34; his bandmates regrouped to finish the Down on the Farm album before calling it a day.  In 1987, Bill Payne, Paul Barrere, Richard Hayward, Kenny Gradney, and Sam Clayton brought the band back together with multi-instrumentalist Fred Tackett and lead singer Craig Fuller of Pure Prairie League.  Fuller departed in 1993 and was replaced by Shaun Murphy, a.k.a. Stoney of Stoney and Meatloaf.  Murphy's powerhouse blues vocals led Little Feat for 16 years.  Paul Barrere died in 2019; today, Payne, Gradney, Clayton, and Tackett carry on with recent members Scott Sharrard and Tony Leone.  Little Feat begins their Waiting for Columbus tour on June 2, 2022 in Caledonia, MI, and continue playing the United States through September.

Rhino's 2002 CD reissue of Waiting for Columbus added ten bonus tracks (a couple of which are reprised on the new set) including three first issued on Hoy-Hoy!, a 1981 compilation.  The 8-CD set will be available at general retail along with a 2-LP vinyl remaster of the original album.  Rhino.com is additionally offering a number of bundles including the 8-CD set with a replica of the Japanese 7" single of "Oh Atlanta" b/w "Willin'"; a 2-LP/7" single combo; and a "complete" bundle with the 8-CD set, 2-LP vinyl, and 7" single.

The first streaming entry from the upcoming box, "Fat Man In The Bathtub," recorded at The Rainbow in London, is available now at YouTube and all other streaming sites.  The complete audio will be available digitally on the release date, July 29.    You'll find the track listing and pre-order links for the Super Deluxe Edition of Waiting for Columbus below!

Little Feat, Waiting for Columbus (Super Deluxe Edition) (Warner/Rhino, 2022) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

8CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2LP (Original Album Only): Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 

CD 1-2: Original album (released as Warner Bros. Records 2BS 3140, 1978)

  1. Join the Band
  2. Fat Man in the Bathtub
  3. All That You Dream
  4. Oh Atlanta
  5. Old Folks' Boogie
  6. Time Loves a Hero
  7. Day or Night
  8. Mercenary Territory
  9. Spanish Moon
  1. Dixie Chicken
  2. Tripe Face Boogie
  3. Rocket in My Pocket
  4. Willin'
  5. Don't Bogart That Joint
  6. A Apolitical Blues
  7. Sailin' Shoes
  8. Feats Don't Fail Me Now

Disc 1, Track 1 and Disc 2, Track 7 recorded live at Lisner Auditorium, Washington, D.C. - 8/10/1977
Disc 1, Tracks 2-4 and 9 and Disc 2, Tracks 4-5 recorded live at Lisner Auditorium, Washington, D.C. - 8/8/1977
Disc 1, Tracks 5-7 recorded live at The Rainbow Theatre, London, England - 8/4/1977
Disc 1, Track 8 and Disc 2, Track 3 recorded live at The Rainbow Theatre, London, England - 8/2/1977
Disc 2, Track 1 recorded live at The Rainbow Theatre, London, England - 8/3 and 8/4/1977
Disc 2, Track 2 recorded live at The Rainbow Theatre, London, England - 8/2 and 8/3/1977
Disc 2, Track 7 recorded live at The Rainbow Theatre, London, England - 8/3/1977
Disc 2, Track 8 recorded live at Lisner Auditorium, Washington, D.C. - 8/9/1977

CD 3-4: Live At Manchester City Hall, England - 7/29/1977 (previously unreleased)

  1. Walkin' All Night
  2. Skin It Back
  3. Fat Man in the Bathtub
  4. Red Streamliner
  5. Oh Atlanta
  6. Day At the Dog Races
  7. All That You Dream
  8. On Your Way Down
  9. Time Loves a Hero
  10. Day or Night
  1. Rock and Roll Doctor
  2. Old Folks Boogie
  3. Dixie Chicken
  4. Tripe Face Boogie
  5. Willin'
  6. Don't Bogart That Joint
  7. Feats Don't Fail Me Now
  8. Rocket in My Pocket
  9. Sailin' Shoes
  10. Teenage Nervous Breakdown

CD 5-6: Live At The Rainbow Theatre, London, England - 8/2/1977 (previously unreleased except where noted)

  1. Walkin' All Night
  2. Fat Man in the Bathtub
  3. Red Streamliner
  4. Oh Atlanta
  5. Day At the Dog Races
  6. All That You Dream
  7. Mercenary Territory
  8. On Your Way Down
  9. Skin It Back
  10. Old Folks Boogie
  1. Rock and Roll Doctor
  2. Cold Cold Cold
  3. Dixie Chicken
  4. Tripe Face Boogie
  5. Willin'
  6. Don't Bogart That Joint
  7. Feats Don't Fail Me Now
  8. Rocket in My Pocket
  9. Spanish Moon
  10. A Apolitical Blues
  11. Teenage Nervous Breakdown

Disc 5, Track 7 and Disc 6, Track 8 released on original album
Disc 5, Track 9 released on Waiting for Columbus (Expanded Edition) - Rhino R2 78274, 2002

CD 7-8: Live At Lisner Auditorium, Washington, D.C. - 8/10/1977 (previously unreleased except where noted)

  1. Walkin' All Night
  2. Red Streamliner
  3. Fat Man in the Bathtub
  4. Day At the Dog Races
  5. All That You Dream
  6. On Your Way Down
  7. Time Loves a Hero
  8. Day or Night
  9. Skin It Back
  1. Oh Atlanta
  2. Old Folks Boogie
  3. Dixie Chicken
  4. Tripe Face Boogie
  5. Feats Don't Fail Me Now
  6. Rocket in My Pocket
  7. Sailin' Shoes
  8. Teenage Nervous Breakdown

Disc 7, Track 6 released on Waiting for Columbus (Expanded Edition) - Rhino R2 78274, 2002

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Joe Marchese

JOE MARCHESE (Editor) joined The Second Disc shortly after its launch in early 2010, and has since penned daily news and reviews about classic music of all genres. In 2015, Joe formed the Second Disc Records label. Celebrating the great songwriters, producers and artists who created the sound of American popular song, Second Disc Records, in conjunction with Real Gone Music, has released newly-curated collections produced by Joe from iconic artists such as Johnny Mathis, Bobby Darin, Laura Nyro, Melissa Manchester, Chet Atkins, and many others. He has contributed liner notes to reissues from a diverse array of artists, among them Nat "King" Cole, Paul Williams, Lesley Gore, Dusty Springfield, B.J. Thomas, The 5th Dimension, Burt Bacharach, The Mamas and the Papas, Carpenters, Perry Como, Rod McKuen, Doris Day, Jackie DeShannon, and Andy Williams, and has compiled releases for talents including Robert Goulet and Keith Allison of Paul Revere and the Raiders. Over the past two decades, Joe has also worked in a variety of capacities on and off Broadway as well as at some of the premier theatres in the U.S., including Lincoln Center Theater, George Street Playhouse, Paper Mill Playhouse, Long Wharf Theatre, and the York Theatre Company. He has felt privileged to work on productions alongside artists such as the late Jack Klugman, Eli Wallach, Arthur Laurents, Betty Comden and Adolph Green. In 2009, Joe began contributing theatre and music reviews to the print publication The Sondheim Review, and in 2012, he joined the staff of The Digital Bits as a regular contributor writing about film and television on DVD and Blu-ray. Joe currently resides in the suburbs of New York City.

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Comments

  1. Wonderful news.
    One my preferred live albums.
    I still remember the first time I listened to it, it was also the first time I heard Little Feat, what an impression it made on my young self!

    Reply

  2. That’s a lot of Little Feat. It looks nice. I think I’m good with the Hotcakes and Outtakes set tho.

    Reply

  3. Disc 2, Track 7 is listed twice :
    - Disc 1, Track 1 and Disc 2, Track 7 recorded live at Lisner Auditorium, Washington, D.C. - 8/10/1977
    - Disc 2, Track 7 recorded live at The Rainbow Theatre, London, England - 8/3/1977

    According to the booklet of the 2002 DeLuxe Disc 2, Track 7 (Sailin' Shoes) is Lisner Auditorium, Washington, D.C. - 8/10/1977. As such it is repeated on Disc 8, Track 7 (not mentioned above).

    The second listing is a typo (I assume) and should read:
    - Disc 2, Track 6 recorded live at The Rainbow Theatre, London, England - 8/3/1977

    Reply

  4. It's a pity that the BBC broadcast of the London August 3 show, several songs with Mick Taylor, is not included.
    Hopefully this release is the start of a reissue campaign.

    Reply

  5. The Manchester show actually took place at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester. It was the Newcastle show two days before that where the venue was called "City Hall".

    Reply

  6. Saw them live last night in Pittsburgh. They played the original album, but was wondering why they subbed Red Streamliner for Mercenary Territory

    Reply

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