A Tribute to George’s Music <i> and </i> Spirit
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*** VARIOUS ARTISTS
“Rock and Roll Doctor:
A Tribute to Lowell George”
CMC International
Even 19 years after Little Feat leader George’s death, and even with some of the Hollyweird curves of his songs straightened out by well-meaning former compadres, his blend of New Orleans funk, blues, L.A. rock and colorfully twisted imagery makes for mighty good hip shaking. So it’s fine that most of the cast--including Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Taj Mahal, Allen Toussaint and Little Feat itself--doesn’t stray far from the originals.
Raitt fires up her vocal cords and stinging, George-influenced slide guitar on “Cold, Cold, Cold,” while Browne adds earthy ache to “I’ve Been the One.” But two standouts go well beyond replication: Randy Newman and Valerie Carter put “Sailin’ Shoes” through a spooky, almost hallucinogenic haze. And George’s daughter Inara slides her rich vocals through loving, parlor-band backing arranged by Van Dyke Parks on a charming version of “Trouble.” *
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