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.
The cover shows one of Neon Park's several duck-girls—an allusion to "The Finishing Touch" by painter Gil Elvgren.Gil Elvgren – "The Finishing Touch" (1960)
Critical reception
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."
Track listing
Side one "Down on the Farm" (Gabriel Barrère, Paul Barrère) – 4:16 (lead singer: Paul Barrère) "Six Feet of Snow" (Lowell George, Keith Godchaux) – 2:30 (lead singer: Lowell George) "Perfect Imperfection" (Barrère, Tom Snow) – 3:46 (lead singer: Lowell George) "Kokomo" (George) – 2:58 (lead singer: Lowell George) "Be One Now" (George, Fred Tackett) – 4:05 (lead singer: Lowell George)
Side two "Straight from the Heart" (George, Bill Payne) – 4:59 (lead singer: Lowell George) "Front Page News" (George, Payne) – 5:57 (lead singer: Bill Payne) "Wake Up Dreaming" (Payne, Fran Payne) – 4:09 (lead singer: Bill Payne) "Feel the Groove" (Clayton, Gordon DeWitty) – 4:49 (lead singer: Sam Clayton)
Personnel
Band members Lowell George – guitar, lead (2–6) & backing vocals Paul Barrère – guitar, lead (1) & backing vocals Bill Payne – keyboards, synthesizer, lead (7, 8) & backing vocals Sam Clayton – congas, lead (9) & backing vocals Kenny Gradney – bass Richie Hayward – drums, backing vocals
Additional personnel
Rosemary Butler – backing vocals Gordon DeWitty – keyboards Robben Ford – guitar Jerry Jumonville – saxophone Sneaky Pete Kleinow – pedal steel guitar David Lindley – guitar Earl Palmer – drums ("Feel the Groove") Fran Payne – backing vocals Bonnie Raitt – backing vocals Dan Smith – backing vocals Fred Tackett – guitar (solo on "Kokomo") Lee Thornburg – trumpet, trombone Julia Waters – backing vocals Luther Waters – backing vocals Oren Waters – backing vocals Maxine Willard Waters – backing vocals
Charts Chart (1979-80) Peakposition Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) 41
References