Feat Flashback
"Waiting for Columbus" is so reminiscent of the '70's arena concert scene I could feel the press of bodies trying to get closer to the stage along with the sweet smell of weed being smoked throughout the arena. It's a great flashback to a now bygone era. Good quality live recording from the apex of Lowell George's Little Feat. Except for Lowell George the band is still together and spinning out that distinctive supertight jazzy rock-n-roll boogie groove the right way! And I know you know what I mean! Little Feat now allows recording of their concerts by fans. Many live recordings can be found in circulation on the net from recent shows. If you don't already own it, add this one to your collection.

WAITING FOR COLUMBUS...WELL WORTH THE WAIT ! (especially this expanded and remastered 2-disc version)
Little Feat's classic Waiting for Columbus (1978) is one of rock music's most distinguished live albums, and deservedly so. The performances are enthusiastic and professional, and the song selection is everything that you would expect from this Lowell George fronted version of Little Feat. The musicianship is outstanding!

These performances were recorded in August of 1977 at The Rainbow Theatre in London and George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Although enough material was recorded for a 3-record set, Waiting for Columbus was originally released as a double album. With this reissued 2-disc edition, we get all of the original songs plus the unreleased archived recordings. It all sounds great, too.

The music of Little Feat is a mix of laid back and funky New Orleans piano blues and slide guitar dominated electric rock n' roll. They also incorporate a lot of jazz and a little of country into their sound, and vocalist and slide guitar legend Lowell George's wry and demented lyrics suggest a Frank Zappa influence leftover from his days as a guitarist with Zappa's Mothers Of Invention.

The Little Feat staples from this era are covered nicely here, including Fat Man In The Bathtub, All That You Dream, Time Loves A Hero, Spanish Moon, and an incredible 9:00 minute version of Dixie Chicken. They go hippie country and western with semi-unplugged versions of Willin' and the hilarious Don't Bogart That Joint. Most of the songs feature excellent solos from Lowell on slide guitar, Paul Barrere on electric guitar, and Bill Payne on piano and synthesizer especially, but the Tower Of Power horn section is smoking hot as well, and they add tremendously to the sound of the entire album.

Guest performances include ex-Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor on Apolitical Blues, and the Doobie Brothers' Michael McDonald and Patrick Simmons provide the backing vocals on Red Streamliner.

Unfortunately, Lowell George would die of a heart attack at 34 less than two years after these shows were recorded. While Little Feat has continued to record and tour with several different lineups since then, this album captures the classic band in peak form. Waiting for Columbus features the talents of many, but for much of the album, it's Lowell George who takes center stage, and his singing, songwriting, and legendary slide guitar playing is clearly the primary focus. He doesn't disappoint anybody, either. Waiting for Columbus is an essential live rock n' roll album that's in a class with the best live rock music albums of it's time.

"I'm Temporarily Qualmless And Sinking."
"Waiting For Columbus" is one of the best live albums ever recorded, and this two disc packaging improves dramatically on what was already a classic. The album was recorded over several nights at the Lisner Auditorium at George Washington University in Washington, DC and at the Rainbow Theatre in London during August 1977. Tragically, Little Feat's dynamic frontman, Lowell George, would play his last concert at Lisner less than two years later.

This two CD set restores some great songs to the earlier abridged release, notably "Cold, Cold, Cold," "Rock and Roll Doctor," and "Teenage Nervous Breakdown." This album is one of the few live albums that stands the test of time, competing favorably with other greats like "Alchemy" from Dire Straits for my favorite live album of all time. For me the standouts here are "Fat Man in the Bathtub," "Mercenary Territory," Spanish Moon," "Dixie Chicken," and "Rocket in my Pocket." The live version of "Feats Don't Fail Me Now," is, like several other songs on the set, a poster child for improvisation, a staple of the live Little Feat experience. During these concerts the Tower of Power horn section contributed constructively to the overall sound of the live band, making an already great listening experience utterly sublime.

I normally don't buy "remastered" albums, but here I wholly endorse spending the money: the sound quality of this release is excellent, and the added material is a gift to Little Feat loyalists like myself.

I could not recommend any recording more highly.

Good memories
As a long time Lowell George & Little Feat fan who saw them live at Washington D.C.'s Warner Theater tis live album brings back some great memoriers of my younger days.A mut for all collections.Wheverever you are Lowell keep on Rockin'

The Best Live Album Ever
Yea, I know some people will already be clicking this review is of no help and comment about some live at this or that by some group from some period in their lives, but the reality is is that this is one smoking set. There's no way that you can listen through to this concert and wonder why you weren't following Little Feat around when Lowell George was still with us. The jam based Dixie Chicken is one of the few live recordings that makes the studio version pale in comparison; the live Atlanta just swings; Willin' never sounded better. (So glad Zappa gave George the boot for wanting to record this cut; now we can hear it the way it was conceived.) Great set, great solos, great vocals, and arguably the best live album ever.