Little Feat – Time Loves A Hero

Ah … Time Loves A Hero proves that The Last Record Album was not Little Feat’s last record album, though the album’s artwork is rather confusing, where I’m sure there’s a backstory that I haven’t discerned after all these years. Beginning in the foreground, the statue is that of San Miguel de Allende, the building behind it is that of the 9th Century church in Italy, Cattolica di Stilo, and the background is that of the city San Miguel De Allende in Mexico … a geographic anomaly at best, with the artwork being uncredited.

Too few musical snobs seem to realize that Little Feat were entirely as innovative as Steely Dan, relegating the band to simply more of the same rock n’ roll that was coming down the pike in the latter half of the 1970’s. Ironically, Little Feat weren’t all about southern rock here, and they hadn’t been since the delivery of their second album, where their songs and verse became more intricate, more groove laden, downshifting and blending those southern elements, elements that were more about New Orleans than southern music in general, creating innovative tones and time signatures, formalized fundamental rhythms and intriguing jam structures laced with funk, soul, R&B, jazz fusions and of course a healthy dose of rock n’ roll.

With Little Feat being more of a collective now, the varied song structures were sounding strong and playful, coalescing into something singular, perhaps unheard of, fresh, engaging and bursting with confidence … where were creatively bouncing ideas off of each other in a productive manner establishing yet again, a new identity for the band. With that in mind, I’d be remiss if I didn’t suggest that during this time period Lowell George was becoming increasing unhappy, even irritated with the jazz-rock fusion the band was slipping more deeply into, at time when George was less in charge of the band’s responsibilities and set out to get his visions back on course, secretly beginning the recordings for Thanks, I’ll Eat It Here, which was released in 1979, declaring at every opportunity that Little Feat were dead, defunct and out of fashion. It was on the tour in of his solo efforts that Lowell George, now totally overweight and deeply into a bottomless abyss of drug addiction died during that that summer in the cheesy Twin Bridges Marriott Motel in Arlington, Varginia … a tragic loss for the world.

So, let’s pretend that this isn’t a great album, let’s simply suggest that Time Loves A Hero is sonically consistent, with a smart selection and presentation of songs that are filled with a down-home boogie vibe, an album laced with jazz-rock fusions that come across light airy and unpretentious, infused with considered lyrics and high spirits, all designed to rock you back and allow you to smile … where that in and of itself pretty much defines the outing a a great album.

*** The Fun Facts: According to Fred Tackett, “We were driving down the New Jersey Turnpike in this bus and we stopped at this pizza t off the highway. Everybody in the band shared a cheese pizza, but Lowell bought a large pizza with everything on it, carried it to the back of the bus and he ate the entire pizza by himself. He died two or three days later. So, when people ask me, “What really killed Lowell?” I say, “It was a pizza on the New Jersey Turnpike.”

*** Inner paper record sleeve, pictures of the band, reverse side contains lyrics.

Review by Jenell Kesler

My hubby was singing along. Clearly loves this album. For me - it's meh. Just ok. Very 70s funky folk rock blues.

I have a copy with inner sleeve plastic transparent with WB printed allover