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The late Lowell George is best known as the lead singer, slide guitarist, songwriter, and producer of Little Feat, acclaimed in the '70s by the likes of Mick Jagger and Jimmy Page as their favourite band. George's offbeat sense of humour and surreal lyrics became a Little Feat trademark, making songs like "Fat Man in the Bathtub" and "Dixie Chicken" unforgettable. Rock & Roll Doctor explores the genius that animated Little Feat - from George's early bands The Standells and Garage, to his work with Frank Zappa, landmark albums such as Feats Don't Fail Me Now and The Last Record Album, and his later production work with Linda Ronstadt and the Grateful Dead. George's colourful childhood (he lived next door to Hollywood idol Errol Flynn) is covered in depth - as is his solo career after Little Feat that was cut short tragically - but most of this book portrays his highly productive period with this great rock & roll band. Each Little Feat album is treated to a separate chapter that examines in detail the development of every song - how it was conceived, recorded, and produced. The analysis of Little Feat's complex rhythms will fascinate musicians and fans alike.
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First Sentence
Take a casual glance through a selection of albums by Californian rock acts from the 1970s and you'll see an apparently interchangeable host of Laurel Canyon desperados, cosmic cowboys and jet-set drifters. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Take a casual glance through a selection of albums by Californian rock acts from the 1970s and you'll see an apparently interchangeable host of Laurel Canyon desperados, cosmic cowboys and jet-set drifters. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The first thing to be said about this overdue biography of one of the most musical people to work in the field of rock is that it is a thorough account of his career. The bands, their records (and the commercial impact) are well covered and there is a very good appendix detailing the many sessions that George played on. From memory it would appear to be a dependable account. So if you are only interested in the work, particularly with Little Feat, this slim volume will not disappoint.
I'm sure that many people who warmed to the humour in Lowell George's writing, and indeed in his slide guitar playing, would have liked to learn a little more about what sort of man he really was, however. There always seemed to be more to George than the well documented gargantuan rock `n' roll appetites that cut his life so short. Was there? Rock and Roll Doctor doesn't really say.
Although biographies of the self destructive tend to leave one liking the subject less and less as the narrative unfolds (the gruesome account of John Martyn's disintegration, "Some People Are Crazy" springs to mind) fans of George will probably feel that that price would have been worth paying for a bit more insight into the man. Maybe next time?
I'm sure that many people who warmed to the humour in Lowell George's writing, and indeed in his slide guitar playing, would have liked to learn a little more about what sort of man he really was, however. There always seemed to be more to George than the well documented gargantuan rock `n' roll appetites that cut his life so short. Was there? Rock and Roll Doctor doesn't really say.
Although biographies of the self destructive tend to leave one liking the subject less and less as the narrative unfolds (the gruesome account of John Martyn's disintegration, "Some People Are Crazy" springs to mind) fans of George will probably feel that that price would have been worth paying for a bit more insight into the man. Maybe next time?
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
An excellent warts-and -all biography of my all-time musical hero.This book has filled in much of the background to Lowell's life and times - I hate to use the hackneyed phrase"flawed genius" but I'm going to anyway, simply because that is what the man was.
His flaw was that Lowell wanted to share the musical load with his collaborators,( be they fellow Feat or people he was producing), yet maintain overall control. Problem was, his talents were greater, and that comes across in the music - he was the best slide player,(oh what a slide player!),singer, songwriter and producer amongst some pretty fair competition.This gave him a lot of work to do,either overdubbing or mixing far into the night(s),fuelled by high-octane Ovaltine.
A detailed discography,along with record production duties, make this book an indispensible tool for Lowell Goerge fans, Little Feat fans as well as anyone interested in the better music of the late 60s and 70s.
As a lover of Lowell George trivia, I was pleased to have the F-Troop matter cleared up, and whilst on the subject of trivia, wonder if the Sidney George who played flute and alto on Steve Stills' "Cherokee"was in fact our hero?
It's such a pity that his talents led, via a massive workload and hedonistic lifestyle, to his untimely death and it must be scant consolation to his friends and family that he left us with such a trove of witty,funky music.
My only regret is that I didn't buy the book sooner - well,two regrets actually - I never got to meet the guy!(and no, I wasn't at the Rainbow!)Buying and reading this book lessens the regrets though.
His flaw was that Lowell wanted to share the musical load with his collaborators,( be they fellow Feat or people he was producing), yet maintain overall control. Problem was, his talents were greater, and that comes across in the music - he was the best slide player,(oh what a slide player!),singer, songwriter and producer amongst some pretty fair competition.This gave him a lot of work to do,either overdubbing or mixing far into the night(s),fuelled by high-octane Ovaltine.
A detailed discography,along with record production duties, make this book an indispensible tool for Lowell Goerge fans, Little Feat fans as well as anyone interested in the better music of the late 60s and 70s.
As a lover of Lowell George trivia, I was pleased to have the F-Troop matter cleared up, and whilst on the subject of trivia, wonder if the Sidney George who played flute and alto on Steve Stills' "Cherokee"was in fact our hero?
It's such a pity that his talents led, via a massive workload and hedonistic lifestyle, to his untimely death and it must be scant consolation to his friends and family that he left us with such a trove of witty,funky music.
My only regret is that I didn't buy the book sooner - well,two regrets actually - I never got to meet the guy!(and no, I wasn't at the Rainbow!)Buying and reading this book lessens the regrets though.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
13 reviews
24 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Lowell would laugh at this one...
30 April 2006
Format:Paperback
I was a friend of Lowell's.
I found this book extremely disappointing. It seems as if the author did some online research and talked to a couple of people that knew the band.
The claim of providing insight into the origination of the songs was almost completely bogus.
Even worse was the lack of factual and personal information about Lowell himself. Shoot, if I described the time we spent together and recalled the stories he told me you would have a much better idea as to who he was.
I agree with the person that wrote that it is better than nothing, but not by much. Lowell deserves a documentary on film and it is my intent to make one, if it's the last thing I do
Lastly, I was with Lowell when he wrote "Kokomo". The song happens to be about me. I never had much of a poker face and Lowell would often laugh at my expressions. He also liked my perfume and knew that I was a friend with many other musicians at the time. Regardless, he knew that he was my best friend and that my loyalty was to him and him alone.
He was the best man I've ever known. He had an incredible sense of humor. He was a man of honor and integrity. The wheels were always turning inside his brilliant mind. He read Scientific American Magazine in his spare time and listened to "World Music" before it was even coined as that.
He had an amazing amount of charisma and it was interesting to watch both men and women compete for his attentions. Most anyone that came in contact with him was drawn to him.
He was that kind of guy. He was generous and kind, talented and humble. Exuding an absolutely magnetic and magical energy to those around him.
It's a real shame that no one realized how sick he was before he went on the road in 1979'. When I saw pictures of him taken a month before he died, I cried. Shaking my head in wonder that those close to him could not see in his face that he was not well. It seemed so obvious, especially when I compared those pictures to ones taken of him 6 months earlier.
But sometimes we don't see that which is right in front of us.
I promise my documentary will provide considerable more insight, into this amazing and talented individual.
I know the band as well and when I contacted them about being involved in his documentary they did not respond. So, sadly they may choose to remain silent. But many of his other friends will be glad to contribute to this project.
I found this book extremely disappointing. It seems as if the author did some online research and talked to a couple of people that knew the band.
The claim of providing insight into the origination of the songs was almost completely bogus.
Even worse was the lack of factual and personal information about Lowell himself. Shoot, if I described the time we spent together and recalled the stories he told me you would have a much better idea as to who he was.
I agree with the person that wrote that it is better than nothing, but not by much. Lowell deserves a documentary on film and it is my intent to make one, if it's the last thing I do
Lastly, I was with Lowell when he wrote "Kokomo". The song happens to be about me. I never had much of a poker face and Lowell would often laugh at my expressions. He also liked my perfume and knew that I was a friend with many other musicians at the time. Regardless, he knew that he was my best friend and that my loyalty was to him and him alone.
He was the best man I've ever known. He had an incredible sense of humor. He was a man of honor and integrity. The wheels were always turning inside his brilliant mind. He read Scientific American Magazine in his spare time and listened to "World Music" before it was even coined as that.
He had an amazing amount of charisma and it was interesting to watch both men and women compete for his attentions. Most anyone that came in contact with him was drawn to him.
He was that kind of guy. He was generous and kind, talented and humble. Exuding an absolutely magnetic and magical energy to those around him.
It's a real shame that no one realized how sick he was before he went on the road in 1979'. When I saw pictures of him taken a month before he died, I cried. Shaking my head in wonder that those close to him could not see in his face that he was not well. It seemed so obvious, especially when I compared those pictures to ones taken of him 6 months earlier.
But sometimes we don't see that which is right in front of us.
I promise my documentary will provide considerable more insight, into this amazing and talented individual.
I know the band as well and when I contacted them about being involved in his documentary they did not respond. So, sadly they may choose to remain silent. But many of his other friends will be glad to contribute to this project.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Hopefully not the last Lowell George Book
22 April 2003
Format:Paperback
I love Lowell Georges music. I love the work that Little Feat did with him at the helm of that great band. I bought this book, like others, because it was about Lowell & his music. It is clear that the author wanted a chance to review every song and every little contribution that Lowell made to them. But I'm not sure that he particularly liked many of the songs. There are a lot of quotes from the Lovin Spoonful alums, and very little from Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, and other names most Feat fans associate with the original Little Feat, and Lowell George. If you are the type of fan that likes to sing along and tap your feat to the great licks, if you have been listening to Little Feat for as long as you can remember, don't buy this book. You'll probably find you favorite song shredded by this complete review of the music you love, by someone who isn't as interested in the sum as he is in the parts. This isn't a biography, it's more like a revisionist history. Lowell should be listened to not picked apart. Long Live Lowell George!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
The only Lowell George biography
13 Aug 2005
Format:Paperback
This book read somewhat like a textbook, however, it is the only biography of Lowell George that I am aware of. Because of that, I think it is worth the purchase. Although not the most exciting book, I wanted to learn more about Lowell George and it helped me do just that. Also, in the back of the book there is a list of all the known collaborations and session work that Lowell George did throughout his career, which is useful in exploring more work by the Doctor.
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