I couldn't even hope to improve on the excellent comments that precede - but wanted to add a quick note of a recent discovery. For those who loved & miss Br'r George & crew, take a listen at a group called 'NRBQ'....I think they're about the closest thing to the original 'Dixie Chickenz' that's come down the pike since Lowell's departure. A li'l different seasonings, but the stylings are there. Hope y'all like 'em too!
*ribit*
Shut...UP! ~8)

~J-Hi
'Down East'

A fun album to listen to for sure. The version of "Willin" here is much better than the one on the first album. "Trouble," "Got No Shadow," and "Apolitical Blues" are equally great, and there are several more standouts. There's no comparison between their later music and this. The influence of Zappa's attitude is more evident here than anywhere else in Lowell George's music, even though it's country boogie rock. Truly original music and one of my favorites, period.

As a collection of songs, this might be Little Feat's strongest effort ever. Americana Rock in the general vein of Moby Grape, The Band or American-Beauty era Dead.

While the songs are great, this record's secret weapon lies in the fact that you kind of slip into it's groove and before you know it, a collection of rather short songs becomes a groove album! This doesn't happen on most Little Feat albums due to their more mercurial nature in styles.

The original version of the almost-standard "Willin'" is here too.

Sailin' Shoes is Little Feat's second album and arguably the best collection of songs the band ever released. Although their sound isn't nearly as eclectic here as that of future albums Feats Don't Fail Me Now and The Last Record Album, every track here is great with Lowell George penning some of the best material of his too short life and career.

The opening track "Easy To Slip", which was later covered by Bob Weir, is one of their most underrated songs. "Teenage Nervous Breakdown" is the band at their most energetic. Bill Payne's tracks "Got No Shadow" and the especially the blues of "Cat Fever" are both great and his piano playing on the album, especially on the excellent "A Apolitical Blues", is top notch. "Tripe Face Boogie", penned by Payne and drummer Richie Hayward is also outstanding. But this is clearly Lowell George's show as many of the tracks here including the truckin' anthem "Willin'", the title track, and the country flavored "Trouble" are among his best. His slide playing is great throughout, particularly on "Tripe Face Boogie" and he also plays a mean harmonica on "A Apolitical Blues." Other strong tracks here include "Cold, Cold, Cold" and "Texas Rose Cafe" which starts out as rollicking but then enters into a short fusion jam during the middle which hints at their future jazz explorations. All told, this is an outstanding album and along with Dixie Chicken and their live album Waiting For Columbus is their best work. Highly recommended.

Even if you have ever experienced a band showing on their second album what they're truly made of, compared to a debut that was obvious fumbling for the right style and strongness of songwriting, you will be surprised when listening to Little Feat's first two albums in chronological order. OK, perhaps not style in this case, as the Feats already had their style - it just took a second album to develop it to the max.

And what a festive table we have here: instantly likeable pop/rock, bluesy rock, country blues, piano boogie, country, raw blues, a ballad, and a furious rocker - the first eight tracks! The moment you hear the fabulous intro of "Easy to Slip", you know that "Sailin' Shoes" is the record to put on when you want to introduce Little Feat to someone who has probably never even heard of the band. Even "Willin'" sounds better than on the eponymous debut - it's not as gritty, but it certainly does good to your ears. And "Teenage Nervous Breakdown", which I've happened to read quite a lot of negative comments about (even George himself hated it, according to the sleeve notes of "Hoy-Hoy"), kicks like a bull in a rodeo arena.

The last three songs are, to put it bluntly, unimpressive and a bit boring, but I won't let that affect my rating. It's hard to write even eight great songs for an album, let alone 11.

Newcomers should start here, then collect the rest of the 70's LF albums in any order they happen to come across them.