RSD 2-LP vinyl

As Little Feat, in 2026, embarks on its Last Farewell Tour, this reissue of the band’s 1971 self-titled debut revisits where it all began. Announcing to the world a quartet of Southern California longhairs, its chief architect was the late Lowell George, a Howlin’ Wolf disciple and Zappa cast-off working up a cracked mirror reflection of electric blues and stoned trucker tunes. As a guitarist and singer-songwriter, George teamed with the symbiotic sounds, songcraft, and singing of keyboardist Billy Payne, and popped the cap on an ambitious and arresting ten-song effort that was rewarded with more of a curious glance than chart success; like its somewhat self-deprecating band moniker- a little feat.

Yet, Little Feat would grow, both in membership and stature, and find its way through varying degrees of commercial appreciation over the next fifty-five years. More importantly, Feat had the ears of peers, like Dylan, and Zeppelin, and the Stones. And was just about everybody’s favorite cult band, showing up incognito on hits by Robert Palmer, the Doobie Brothers, and Bonnie Raitt.

This is the flashpoint, and well-preserved with a new, all-analog, 2-LP vinyl edition as a Record Store Day special. The second platter is filled with outtakes and alternates; some previously released, (“Rat Faced Dog,” an absolute treasure) and sequenced almost as a companion album to its original. It’s a sharply compiled set produced by Rhino’s Jason Jones, whose lovingly conscientious series of Feat reissues extends its streak of wins with this one. Best of all is the informality of the bonus cuts, giving a telling glimpse of the loose silliness that contrasted the burgeoning talents of the four.

Pressed on quiet, deep black wax, the gatefold vinyl package serves the celebratory moment accordingly. Visually and sonically, a great piece of work, showcasing the first rendition of the soon to be classic “Willin’,” and its brethren of ramshackle, greasy LA grooves. Little Feat would embrace southern fried boogie, then slide into fusion and beyond, on subsequent albums. This initial entry remains somewhat singular in the catalog; a lowdown, subversive, smiling postcard from Venice Beach ’71.