Down on the Farm (album)

Last updated
Down on the Farm
Little Feat - Down on the Farm.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 14, 1979 [1]
Studio
Genre Rock [2]
Length37:28
Label Warner Bros.
Producer Lowell George
Little Feat chronology
Waiting for Columbus
(1978)
Down on the Farm
(1979)
Hoy-Hoy!
(1981)

Down on the Farm is the seventh studio album by the American rock band Little Feat. The album was completed and released shortly after the death of the band's founder and frontman, Lowell George, in 1979. It was their last original work for nine years. The band had announced their break-up in June 1979 during the making of the album. Little Feat would reform in 1987.

Contents

The cover shows one of Neon Park's several duck-girls—an allusion to "The Finishing Touch" by painter Gil Elvgren. [3] [4]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Christgau's Record Guide C+ [5]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [6]

The New York Times wrote that "it's very much an album of songs, with none of the longish solos and other experiments that often seemed out of place on Little Feat albums in the past." [7]

Track listing

Side One

  1. "Down on the Farm" (Paul Barrère) – 4:16 (lead singer: Paul Barrère)
  2. "Six Feet of Snow" (Lowell George, Keith Godchaux) – 2:30 (lead singer: Lowell George)
  3. "Perfect Imperfection" (Barrère, Tom Snow) – 3:46 (lead singer: Lowell George)
  4. "Kokomo" (George) – 2:58 (lead singer: Lowell George)
  5. "Be One Now" (George, Fred Tackett) – 4:05 (lead singer: Lowell George)

Side Two

  1. "Straight from the Heart" (George, Payne) – 4:59 (lead singer: Lowell George)
  2. "Front Page News" (George, Payne) – 5:57 (lead singer: Lowell George)
  3. "Wake up Dreaming" (Payne, Fran Payne) – 4:09 (lead singer: Bill Payne)
  4. "Feel the Groove" (Clayton, Gordon DeWitty) – 4:49 (lead singer: Sam Clayton)

Charts

Chart (1979–80)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [8] 41
US Top LPs & Tape (Billboard)29

Personnel

Band Members

Additional personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Feat</span> American rock band

Little Feat is an American rock band formed by lead vocalist and guitarist Lowell George, keyboardist Bill Payne, drummer Richie Hayward and bassist Roy Estrada in 1969 in Los Angeles. The band's classic line-up, in place by late 1972, comprised George, Payne, Hayward, bassist Kenny Gradney, guitarist and vocalist Paul Barrere and percussionist Sam Clayton. George disbanded the group because of creative differences shortly before his death in 1979. Surviving members re-formed Little Feat in 1987 and the band has remained active to the present.

<i>Sailin Shoes</i> 1972 studio album by Little Feat

Sailin' Shoes is the second studio album by the American rock band Little Feat, released in 1972. Produced by Ted Templeman, it marked a shift away from the sound of the band's eponymous debut, to that of their subsequent album, Dixie Chicken. It also introduced the cover artwork of Neon Park to the group, and was the last album appearance of original bassist Roy Estrada.

<i>Feats Dont Fail Me Now</i> 1974 studio album by Little Feat

Feats Don't Fail Me Now is the fourth studio album by the American rock band Little Feat, released in 1974, on the Warner Bros. label. The cover was designed by Neon Park.

<i>The Last Record Album</i> 1975 studio album by Little Feat

The Last Record Album is the fifth studio album by the American rock band Little Feat, released in 1975.

<i>Time Loves a Hero</i> 1977 studio album by Little Feat

Time Loves a Hero is the sixth studio album by the American rock band Little Feat, released in 1977.

<i>Let It Roll</i> (Little Feat album) 1988 studio album by Little Feat

Let It Roll is the eighth studio album by the American rock band Little Feat, released in 1988. Eight of the ten songs on the album were co-written by new band member Craig Fuller, the founding member of Pure Prairie League. Fuller also takes most lead vocals. The album attained RIAA certified gold status on February 14, 1989. It is the first Little Feat studio album without Lowell George, after his death in 1979 and is one of their most successful albums, sparking a comeback by the band. The first single, "Hate to Lose Your Lovin'", earned the band their first #1 hit on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.

<i>Representing the Mambo</i> 1990 studio album by Little Feat

Representing the Mambo is the ninth studio album by the American rock band Little Feat, released in 1990. It peaked at No. 45 on the Billboard 200. The band supported the album with a North American tour. "Texas Twister" and "Rad Gumbo" were released as singles.

<i>Shake Me Up</i> 1991 studio album by Little Feat

Shake Me Up is the tenth studio album by the American rock band Little Feat, released in 1991. It was the last album they recorded with frontman Craig Fuller. It is also their only album to feature no lead vocals from keyboardist Bill Payne.

<i>Aint Had Enough Fun</i> 1995 studio album by Little Feat

Ain't Had Enough Fun is the 11th studio album by the American rock band Little Feat, released in 1995. It was their first with female vocalist Shaun Murphy, and was dedicated to the memory of their cover artist Neon Park who died in 1993.

<i>Live from Neon Park</i> 1996 live album by Little Feat

Live from Neon Park is the second live album by the American rock band Little Feat, released in 1996. The name of the album was a suggestion of a Little Feat fan in commemoration of the then-recent passing of long-time Little Feat album cover artist and friend of the band, Neon Park.

<i>Under the Radar</i> (Little Feat album) 1998 studio album by Little Feat

Under the Radar is the 12th studio album by the American rock band Little Feat, released in 1998. It was the fifth studio album since the band reunited in 1988, and the second since vocalist Shaun Murphy joined the group.

<i>Chinese Work Songs</i> 2000 studio album by Little Feat

Chinese Work Songs is the 13th studio album by the American rock band Little Feat, released in 2000.

<i>Kickin It at the Barn</i> 2003 studio album by Little Feat

Kickin' It at the Barn is the 14th studio album by the American rock band Little Feat, released in 2003. The album's name came from its recording at guitarist Fred Tackett's barn in Topanga Canyon. Tackett made his debut as a lead vocalist on this album with his own song In A Town Like This, fifteen years after he joined the group. The song also served as the title track of Tackett's solo debut, released the same year.

<i>Dixie Chicken</i> 1973 studio album by Little Feat

Dixie Chicken is the third studio album by the American rock band Little Feat, released in 1973. The artwork for the front cover was by illustrator Neon Park and is a reference to a line from the album's third song, "Roll Um Easy".

<i>Hoy-Hoy!</i> 1981 compilation album by Little Feat

Hoy-Hoy! is a Little Feat collection released in 1981 two years after the band's break-up following the death of founder Lowell George. Originally released as a double album and later a single CD, it contains alternate versions and live recordings of many Feat tracks as well as some previously unreleased material. The cover is illustrated by Neon Park.

<i>Thanks, Ill Eat It Here</i> 1979 studio album by Lowell George

Thanks I'll Eat It Here (1979) is the only solo album by rock and roll singer-songwriter Lowell George. While George is best known for his work with Little Feat, by 1977 Lowell felt that they were moving increasingly into jazz-rock, a form in which he felt little interest. As a result, he began working on his own album. Thanks I'll Eat It Here is an eclectic mix of styles reminiscent of Little Feat's earlier albums – in particular Dixie Chicken, on which the track "Two Trains" originally appeared.

<i>Pressure Drop</i> (album) 1975 studio album by Robert Palmer

Pressure Drop is the second solo album by English singer Robert Palmer, released in 1975. Palmer is backed by Little Feat and other musicians. The title track is a cover version of the reggae hit by Toots & the Maytals. However, many other songs on the album use "New Orleans funk ... along with smooth, dated disco ballads smothered in strings". Continuing his association with Little Feat started by his cover of "Sailing Shoes" on his 1974 debut album Sneaking Sally Through the Alley, Feat was used as backing band on several cuts, most notably Lowell George's slide guitar on "Here With You Tonight". George also contributed the tune "Trouble" on which Feat pianist Bill Payne plays the intro. David Jeffries' review says that the album is considered "too blue-eyed and polished for fans of Palmer's more gutsy moments" but concludes that "Pressure Drop has grown into the great overlooked album in Palmer's discography". In June of 2009, the album was ranked as No. 20 on Mojo's list of the 50 best records released by Island. The album peaked at No. 136 in the US.

<i>Barnstormin Live</i> 2005 live album by Little Feat

Barnstormin' Live is a Little Feat live performance that was first released as two single CD albums, Volume One and Volume Two, in early and late 2005. It was then reissued as a single boxed set in 2006.

<i>Join the Band</i> (Little Feat album) 2008 studio album by Little Feat

Join the Band is a 2008 album recorded by Little Feat. Their first studio album in five years, it features no new original songs but is a set of collaborations with other artists such as Bob Seger, Emmylou Harris, Dave Matthews and Inara George. It was released on July 1, 2008.

<i>Rooster Rag</i> 2012 studio album by Little Feat

Rooster Rag is the fifteenth album by American rock band Little Feat released in June 2012, on the Hot Tomato label. It was their only studio album to feature drummer Gabe Ford and the last to feature guitarist Paul Barrere who died in 2019.

References

  1. David Dodd. "The Annotated Grateful Dead Discography: Guest Appearances". ucsc.edu. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  2. 1 2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Down on the Farm at AllMusic
  3. "Neon Park".
  4. Gil Elvgren - "The Finishing Touch" (1960)
  5. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: L". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies . Ticknor & Fields. ISBN   089919026X . Retrieved March 1, 2019 via robertchristgau.com.
  6. The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 427.
  7. Palmer, Robert (30 Nov 1979). "The Pop Life". The New York Times. p. C12.
  8. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 178. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.