| Rooster Rag | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | June 26, 2012 | |||
| Studio | Ultratone Studios | |||
| Length | 57:56 | |||
| Label | Hot Tomato | |||
| Producer | Bill Payne, Paul Barrere | |||
| Little Feat chronology | ||||
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| Review scores | |
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| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |    [1] |
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.
The album marks the band's first original album since 2003's Kickin' It at the Barn and the recording debut with the group of new drummer Gabe Ford who replaced original drummer Richie Hayward following his death in 2010. Four of the songs were written by former Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter in collaboration with keyboard player Bill Payne, now the only musician to have played with every line-up of the group. Surprisingly, Paul Barrere, the group's main writer/singer, was only credited with writing on one track, although his usual co-author Fred Tackett contributed four songs, all of which have appeared on his solo albums, but not all of which he sang lead on here.
The song "Candy Man Blues" by Mississippi John Hurt had already been performed by the band live for some years and appeared on their 2005 collection Barnstormin' Live .
Reviewing the album for American Songwriter , Hal Harowtz said:
Swampy rhythms? Check. Nasty, cutting slide guitar? Present. A funky combination of blues, country and rock and roll? Oh yeah. Quirky idiosyncratic songwriting? Well, three out of four ain’t bad. ... With keyboardist Billy Payne as the lone remaining original member, Feat stomp and strum their way through a pretty good batch of new tunes that capture the band’s distinctive musical gumbo but aren’t exactly classics on the order of Lowell George’s timeless songs that remain the backbone of the group’s raison d’être. Still, with help from Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter, they’re solid enough and the veteran band sounds fresh, inspired and revived if not exactly young and hungry on their first studio album of original material in twelve years and after losing irreplaceable founding drummer Ritchie Heyward. Considering their time in the cult trenches, that’s plenty impressive. [2]
Writing for All About Jazz , C. Michael Bailey said:
Rooster Rag reveals the same sophistication of all post-Lowell George-era Little Feat releases, except that this sophistication sounds progressive, more like the band is having a good time making the music. ... This album is something other than greater than the sum of its parts. The blanket presence of Paul Barrere's underrated slide guitar causes this disc to reveal that these seasoned musicians can still draw from their peers. [3]
Lowell Thomas George was an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer, who was the primary guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and founder/leader for the rock band Little Feat.
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.
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.
Time Loves a Hero is the sixth studio album by the American rock band Little Feat, released in 1977.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Chinese Work Songs is the 13th studio album by the American rock band Little Feat, released in 2000.
Live at the Ram's Head is the third live album by the American rock band Little Feat, released in 2002.
Down Upon the Suwannee River is the fourth live album by the American rock band Little Feat, released in 2003.
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.
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".
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.
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.
Rocky Mountain Jam is the ninth live album by the American rock band Little Feat, released in 2007. The album features long improvisational jams on most of the songs including a nod to both Miles Davis' "So What" and the Grateful Dead's "Dark Star" at the beginning of "Dixie Chicken."
Extended Versions is a live album by the American rock band Little Feat, recorded at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles CA on June 15, 1998, for the Under the Radar album release, and released in 2000.
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.
