Little Feat – Sailin’ Shoes

This week I will feature artists with a southern feel to them. Little Feat formed in California but fit nicely with the Southern bands of the time because of their influences.

Little Feat is one of those bands that I learned about when I read about other artists. Many musicians were fans of this band. Led Zeppelin would travel to see Little Feat when they could. They were the definition of a musician’s band. The only other band that I can think of during that period like that was The Allman Brothers.

Guitarist Lowell George and keyboardist Bill Payne formed Little Feat in 1969. Lowell George was a member of Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention. Bass player of the Mothers Roy Estrada joined along with drummer Richie Hayward.

This is to me, a pure album band. You don’t just sit through single songs…you listen to the album and get the entire vibe. This song was the title track to the album produced by Ted Templeman. It was the band’s second album and was released in 1972.

Even though Sailin’ Shoes wasn’t a huge hit when it first came out, it’s become one of Little Feat’s most remembered songs. The album didn’t come close to the top 40 but it has grown in stature. Their next album Dixie Chicken would go gold.

The lineup had many changes through the years and unfortunately, Lowell died in 1979 of a heart attack. The band broke up after George’s death but reunited in 1987. The band continues today with Bill Payne still as a member.

Ted Templeton:  “These guys were monsters in terms of musicians” 

Sailin’ Shoes

Lady in a turban, cocaine treeDoes a dance so rhythmicallyShe’s cryin’, and a singin’ and having a timeand gee that cocaine tree look fineYou’ve got to put on your sailin’ shoesPut on your sailing shoesEveryone will start to cheerWhen you put on your sailin’ shoesJedidiah, he’s got a dimeSays he catch a more fish, every timeWell I’ve got a line, and you’ve got a poleAnd I’ll meet you at the fishin’ holeYou’ve got to put on your sailin’ shoesPut on your sailing shoesEveryone will start to cheerWhen you put on your sailin’ shoesDoctor, doctor, I feel so badThis is the worst day, I ever hadHave you this misery a very long time?Well if you if, I’ll lay it on the lineYou’ve got to put on your sailin’ shoesPut on your sailing shoesEveryone will start to cheerWhen you put on your sailin’ shoes

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

45 thoughts on “Little Feat – Sailin’ Shoes”

  1. I couldn’t believe Little Feat would continue/re-form after Lowell George’s death. I identified the band with him – his voice, his slide guitar, his compositions – even though the sound owed a lot to the rest of the band. I’ll admit I’ve listened to very little of the post-Lowell George work.

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  3. Pingback: Little Feat – Sailin’ Shoes – MobsterTiger

  4. I really only know a few songs from them. As you say they are an album band. I guess it’s more reputation than anything that put them on my radar. I’ll give more of a listen when i land in a quiet spot later today.

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  6. Maybe I do need to listen to one of their albums in its entirety. A band I know very little about, but one I feel I should know more about because they get talked about a lot. I did not know they were still active either!

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    1. It’s hard to compare them with anyone…they are interesting. Not catchy pop songs but good songs. Yea that surprised me also about them being together now.

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  7. I read about these guys in Templeman’s book. Never heard them until today with your vid posted. Some nice guitar work on that track. Dude went way too young….

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  8. I seem to echo other people here, I know the name well but not their music. I’m sure I’ve heard bits and pieces of some of their work but can’t name any off the top of my head.
    This one to me sounds, if I HAD to make a comparison , a bit like the Grateful Dead. You make a good point in that ‘Southern Rock’ doesn’t have to come from states that used to fly the Confederate flag, but most does seem to.

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    1. You probably heard Dixie Chicken before and a few others. Yea you can have a southern feel from anyone….like CCR and a few others…it depends on who your influnces were. The Dead and Allmans were close in some ways…

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  9. Max, do Little Feat do a faster version of the song? This cover by Robert Palmer is the one I’m familiar with. I echo Bruce in that I’d like to listen to them more. Good music!

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      2. Little Feat’s original feels like a psychedelic trip with its lyrics and dreamy tempo. Robert Palmer’s has hepped it up to a dance tune. Both are great imo.

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      6. The Robert Palmer version of Sailin Shoes is the first song of a medley of Sailin Shoes, Hey Julia and Sneaking Sally Through The Alley. Lowell and, I believe, other members of Little Feat play on the track. The whole medley is great.

        I have no idea what a cocaine tree might be but Lowell was very aware of drugs and the language surrounding them.

        Thanks for the link. i assume the full medley would be too much of a load.

        Van Dyke Parks released a version of this tune that Lowell liked, and Lowell was involved,

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  10. Again, most of what the first commenters said. I know them from Dixie Chicken- which is their high (no pun intended) point, and I did buy his solo album but felt it was a step down overall. ‘Two Trains’ is nice, ‘Himmler’s Ring’ is odd and sort of drug-addled; so I thought at the time. I agree though, Little Feet have that easy feel and flow through an album, like the Band.

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    1. They are rootsy like the Band…the talent they had was outstanding.
      Lowell George was a hell of a player…but yea…he did have his problems.

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    1. I love what I’ve heard from them…but I’m no expert…but what great musicians they were…I’ll check out that album man thanks.

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  13. I love Little Feat, especially the Lowell George led Little Feat.

    Templeman wrote a book? I’d love details…

    The drug references and the wonderful puns in the lyrics tell a story that is tragic and wasteful. God, I miss Lowell’s music.

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  14. I just looked and don’t see any posts about Robert Palmer. Robert Palmer was a very good white soul singer. His first solo album (after leaving the band Vinegar Joe) is entitled Sneakin’ Sally Through The Alley. It starts with a medley of Lowell’s “Sailin’ Shoes,” Palmer’s own “Hey Julia” and “Sneakin’ Sally Through The Alley,” the Allen Toussaint classic. I strongly recommend it.

    STRONGLY!!!

    (Lowell and Feat are all over Palmer’s first two records, including Sneakin’ Sally Through The Alley.)

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    1. For some reason I haven’t got to Palmer yet…I did like him a lot.
      Allen Toussaint I did one one…great fantastic writer and also worked with The Band.

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