Little Feat - Long Distance Love (rare 1970's footage)

What an incredible band Little Feat were back in their seventies heyday...just in case this hasn't been viewed before (can't find it elsewhere on youtube), one great short clip of the one-and-only Little Feat and Lowell George performing Long Distance Love filmed around the time they played Auckland NZ's Town Hall in 1977...

[@michaelchevalier9777]

You have to be really, really good to be THIS collectively wasted and still be this in the pocket. I always remember a buddy of mine had a teacher in music school -- this great jazz horn player -- who said, "Dan, it's okay to play high, just so long as you ALWAYS PRACTICE high." Sage advice to a young man.

[@nickpopovich192]

No Shit.. That music teacher was indeed a genius!!

[@KITLEVEY]

I think Bill Payne's keys work in the Little Feat band was the stuff of legends. Can't get enough of it. Richie Hayward and Kenny Gradney were, and still may be, my favorite drum/bass combination. I miss that band beyond reason. Their sound, rhythms, and cadence remain unmatched in my mind.

[@kriswells7489]

I so agree with you. I got to see them with Lowell a couple of times, then again when they got back together. So great!!!

[@alexgreen5064]

Nobody captures longing, regret and melancholy like Lowell George. Just the sweetest Southern tones.

[@mattwalker5129]

In 1975, Little Feat was the best musician's band in the world. Lowell George still had his fighting weight of 160 lbs, two years before he ballooned to 240 from heroin and hotel food. His voice was pure and beautiful. His slide was better than anyone's, sustaining a note with a stainless steel socket wrench. It still angers me that he died from an overdose in '79. It reminds me of my ex-girlfriend's mother screaming "Such a beautiful waste" after she crashed into her mom's living room China case with a belly full of seconal. Lowell George was a beautiful waste, and "Long Distance Love" still makes me cry.

[@anvilkrandon]

Oh, man. Big upvotes on your post and the tape. The tape! Lowell George in the best of form. Sam Clayton grooving on it. Paul Barrere in the hipster hat. Bill Payne holding it together. And Ritchie Hayward with a black eye? What was THAT about? Yes, this is a precious piece of tape. Thanks to the OP for putting it up!!

[@colinborn1740]

Anon Ymous I believe the black eye was from a motorcycle accident.

[@brenthowerton8081]

Listen to Duane Allman and Lowell George.

[@hamishbond484]

The Gang, would travel hundreds of miles to see this absolutely Great Group....they opened for The Who and traveled a lot on their own.

[@berniceverwys9414]

Did you know he was also in an accident on his Yamaha motorcycle that put him in the hospital for many weeks. Two discs in his neck were shattered. Painful long recovery is one of reasons his weight ballooned. This was before Waiting for Columbas was released.

[@Theo-hc5ob]

Great to hear his voice and see this group of Fabulously talented guys. Gawd, I miss Little Feat. I think Bonnie Raitt said it best: "I miss Little Feat more than I miss being 5." RIP Lowell and Richie (One of THE best drummers in music, and those high harmonies? Heavenly). You are both sorely missed.

[@hugovermeulen9596]

bonnie said i miss littlefeat more than i miss being 8 :-)

[@thomyant]

Little Feat belongs in the RRHOF! Still one of my favorite bands.

[@williamrice1955]

Ritchie Hayward. The best drummer in rock and roll. A total groove machine and he sang harmony too.

[@iamintheburg9820]

LG looks so healthy, joyful, happy here. What a tragedy. Long live the indomitable Feat.

[@dombrace8949]

Ever time I watch this I smile . Every time I watch this I cry.

[@teapotpete]

This video taught me in 2 mins how to get my voice up there with Lowell. I had only been trying for 25 years. Unparalleled performance and I would give anything to see more from that shoot. Any one know if more footage survives? Looks like the film was 16-35mm so it won't be recorded over like many early BBC programmes!

[@wimoudijk]

+Dom Brace me 2

[@user-ok5jf1sn4g]

+Dom Brace I feel exactly the same.Chills from head to toe.What a musical treasure...!!!

[@reincarnatedman]

+Dom Brace Yeah, choked and happy every single time. Still miss that man ...

[@urbanothepopeofdeath]

me too

[@Jellybeantiger]

Just a fantastic band with charismatic Lowell George with his smokey honey voice and guitar playing,listening to this band is like bringing a warm fire and a bottle of smooth liquor with you on a cold day. They iron out all the negativity in the soul.

[@hoo_jii]

Well said!

[@thewordofgord]

Lovely! So sweet. Thanks for this rarity!

[@martydog008]

Lowell George....One of the greatest songwriters I knew. Loved the music and times. Still listen to their early stuff regularly. Missed with affection.

[@katmandew2152]

That moved me Big fan for 44 years. What a beautiful band and what a cherubim of a man in lowell. He had crabby times too which makes him sweeter. Great stuff, one of my favorites. Thanx.

[@scarletfever1000]

The talent and skill that these guys have is just off charts. Total respect!

[@reinefiske5855]

They are totally out of their minds - still playing...

[@davetighe]

I've loved this for so long, I can't explain how it moves me.

[@lynnpeirce3205]

First time I ever heard this tune was at the Main Point in Bryn Mawr PA... Jackson Browne did it♥️♥️♥️♥️! This is soooo fine🎼🎵

[@markhewins8517]

One of the greatest love songs ever written.

[@spiderstew1]

Lowell George, a rock and roll god! I saw them many times in the 70's, twice in the same week one time...Boston and DC. I've seen them many times since Lowell' death too... seeing them in Minneapolis in October. They are a mere shell of themselves without LG...but I can't stay away!

[@Voyageur314]

How is it possible that Little Feat isn't in the Rock Hall?!! 😎✌❤🎶

[@johntownsend1570]

I thoroughly agree.

[@virgilking5352]

How is it possible that a lot of people are and a lot of people aren't? Who knows. I think it must be a lot like politics. How did Nirvana make it before Deep Purple? Lots of examples like that.

[@ryanmedic789]

So wrong

[@Bret-]

But Missy Elliot is. Psh.

[@danocable]

I know what’s that about?

[@peterhendriks1602]

Lets never forget what a unique singer Lowell was. His singing was is so elegant. It is definitely a soulful voice but in very special white fashion. He sings like a musician, as if his voice is an instrument, but somehow he never fails to do a song justice. I believe every word he sings. Little feat is one of those rare acts that is not at all affected by time. The music sounds just as fresh, relevant and stunning as it did in the 70's.

[@clafong9]

So true. And the reason I consider him one of the all-time greats is that along with that soulful voice, he was a great songwriter and an excellent slide guitarist. (Along with Mick Taylor, my 2 favorite slide players.)

[@scotts.7662]

he was a horn player 1st

[@truckeemick2486]

Peter Hendriks; I believe him to be a crooner. would that be correct? unique multi sylobic, was it symetry in motion? the way he used words and fitted them in, onomopoetry, etc etc,

[@DickRichie5150]

He lived... owned these lyrics

[@saradobbie80]

my favorite footage ever of them...they are so HIGH and are so ON SPOT. LOVE LOVE LOVE this !

[@grahamhowes6904]

Just an extraordinarily tight band

[@camilooliveira6061]

I can feel the fresh Air of his voice that sundently comes into a storm. He must ' ve been an angel, and after all i can say: If Lowell's in heaven god must be smiling right now

[@michealgoodrow]

Got to play with Kenny, Fred and Paul years ago. What a lucky man I was.

[@xxHouseInMotionxx]

damn

[@edshockley3667]

the soundtrack to a decade of my life. listening now is bittersweet.

[@truckeemick2486]

Ed Shockley; EXACTLY. Mm, me too.

[@briangalibardy4210]

Great footage of the feats. Didn't know a band could be this laid back and still hold it together.

[@larrylindsey1497]

Thanks for posting this.

[@douglastemperton2410]

Great clip I saw them in 1976 they broke new ground and quite simply they were different, rock and roll doctor is still my all time favorite. We lost Lowell George far too soon.

[@gentlemanloser6787]

This is an absolute treasure. Thanks so much for posting it. Honestly can't get enough of this version and this awesome footage. What a band, what a songwriter, singer and musician in Lowell George!

[@karlnapf2314]

ONE OF THE BEST SONGS EVER :-) Lowell was real genious

[@lazycalm41]

Long Distance Love remains my go to track for Hi Fi bass testing ! fabulous band , musicians of the highest order!

[@blmrgtr]

Long Distance Love... this vid captures things about as good as humanly possible - well done!

[@jeremygreen2198]

They've been 2 or 3 seriously music wise great Bands but to this day no one touches Little, Feat n musically the could play n I seriously mean play! Melbourne Australia

[@jjsudlow]

Beautifully, written, sung and performed, consummate musicianship, as always.

[@lornamcdonald4435]

Aww man,does it get any better????

[@williamcoleman2761]

One of my go to songs since the mid-70's.

[@coolworx]

Lowell George's voice was so sweet, they needed two microphones to capture the honey.

[@michaelhoffman5486]

yeah well stay safe

[@blackfinjrblackfinjr3555]

Yeah they did. Damn. What a singer. Pure gold.

[@simonbagnall2225]

Sublime - even if they are wasted.

[@silas7129]

Kenney telling lowell "she knows". so funnny

[@m00se23]

I miss this man so bad..

[@truckeemick2486]

Robert Cardinali; Mmm, me too. real bad. He is not there to tell me whats next. he is not there to tell me they way when tears have blurred my vision. he is not there to remind me when im left holding my own or left alone at a red light and to remind me of the mysterious ways of the beautiful women i have loved. he went way too soon. the way they do sometimes.

[@clafong9]

One of the most puzzling things to ever go down in rock/blues/funk music - Little Feat were loved by the critics and other musicians but didn't make much of a dent with the public. How could anyone hear one of those early Feat tunes and not get plugged in?

[@charlescooler5680]

What a jewel !

[@eckathewrecka]

Wow I'll never forget seeing Little Feat in Australia when they performed in Sydney at the Hordern Pavilion around 1976, I'd been a fan for a while (bring a pro musco) and they were fantastic, I was so pleased to have seen the band when Lowell George was with them, this video is strange to watch he looks different and the sound is flat, but the feel it there and the band and sound is all around him...love it

[@littlekahuna15]

Gives me Goosebumps......amazing

[@langbridge]

Beautiful, just beautiful.

[@cronopio26]

Pequeña azaña. I love you Lowell and Richie, wherever you are.😘😘😘

[@karendouglas9027]

I actually got to see them at Williams College in both 1971 and 1972. That last concert was during a blizzard, and they just kept playing for hours! Been hooked since then.

[@duncanyourmate2433]

I WILL NEVER FORGET HORDEN PAVILION , lOWEL tAUGHT America

[@RogerS3019]

What a voice...damn. Gives me joy and breaks my heart, simultaneously.

[@annev2005]

I was w Lowell when he was w Zappa an watched as he started little feat. He was an angel so sweet an loving.

[@davidlenchner940]

Were you with him when they played at the Garrick Theater in NYC? I saw the Mothers there every week for about 6 months and found a new guitar player, Lowell George. After he left Frank, I followed his journey to Little Feat and have been a fan ever since.Lord I miss him so.

[@miker9101]

Little Feat was a band that other musicians raved about. Lowell was special, and his ballads were beautiful.

[@babblecamp]

What a great video. One of my favorite feat songs. very soulful tune. thanks for sharing

[@stephenbell-booth2648]

Check out Lowell's daughter singing on Rehearsal for Lowell George Tribute. She's got her Dad's amazing sense of style and timing.

[@splendidspliff]

Such a timeless song ... Supercool Cats in their prime...

[@charliearnott1923]

I love Little Feat.

[@Shawnjuan54]

My favorite band and best friends 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

[@lynnemurdock3079]

Wow. This is so intense. Beautiful. I agree with the comment "every time I watch I smile. every time I watch I cry."

[@jeremygreen2198]

One of 4 of the best contemporary bands in g the, English Sparking world and of those 4 Bands, of those 4 Bands Little Feat were the best! The Band The Allman. Bros n later the,, Amazing Rythm, Aces, Little Feat had it all n Keef Richards, said about the after seeing. they're gig think it was, T the Palomino Club in LA " I've just seen the furure of RnB albeit RnR and it ain't us!!"

[@riverreasteve]

1970? Now its nearly 2018? Has there ever been a better song than this? I once heard a Radio Jockey comment that it was the most laid back song he'd ever heard! How very true!

[@flamencoprof]

Thanks slydogmania. I saw this on TV in NZ when it came out and never forgot it. Got the album soon after. This vid has appeared and disappeared on KZbin, I am grateful this post has lasted almost 3 years. What a classic! I am from Auckland but sadly didn't get to see them here.

[@TheRealForrestGeorge]

"The Last Record Album" came out in 1975 --- "Long Distance Love" is on that record. This rehearsal is likely prior to that release...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Record_Album

[@lionheartlev]

Lots of the Feat on KZbin, but I haven't seen this either. Adored these guys. I agree Lowell looks less bloated than I recall. A wonderful video! Thanks!

[@swordfishtrombones]

Absolutely fantastic video of one of the tightest, most soulful bands ever. And look how handsome Lowell is!

[@nancyries2534]

Me too. He was my utmost favorite. The choices we make we live with. Thy will be done.😥

[@jayburkhart1781]

if i could do anything, i would be a fly on a wall at all the great recording times. feat, zappa, james brown, zep. just a fly on the wall

[@rickgriffin1429]

DAMN ... LOVE THIS... THANK YOU!?!!⚡👍🙏

[@wddub9075]

Omg. The vibe they’re creating in that room

[@GratefulDeadmagic5]

Just beautiful! Heavy, beautiful song! Thanks slydog

[@michaelallen592]

nice...real nice....the earliest video i've seen of the band...they all look so young...thanks for posting, dog

[@darrylvoss5480]

I love this. What a beautiful song.

[@Cinnamombunz]

Amazing. Just amazing. What a freakin' shame . . .

[@redbarchetta8782]

Such a great ballad.

[@ruthtaylor5253]

The best band…just after free🙃

[@thegreatlowellgeorge]

Just my all time fave Feat song

[@RhinocerosMusicTV]

I love this so much.. what an amazing find

[@ericisotalo8766]

That is beautiful.

[@helithemaddog4994]

+Eric Isotalo Love this song terribly. :)

[@waynecrawford5572]

tears

[@truckeemick2486]

being the critics choice, as they were, or being a "musicians band", is not always good for your career. they never got the recognition the greatest ever band in the world should have had. so sad. rip richie and Lowell, i still am working on it.

[@Chadyroo1]

Awe sweeeeet!

[@polopopolo2197]

Man was this brother talented!

[@jaykstanton281]

This is Astounding.

[@paradiddledoo6854]

Beautiful song. The wear and tear of film makes it sound you're listening to the dirtiest record in your dad's closet.

[@glennjammin1]

Why do I keep playing this over and over...?

[@lawrencepowell298]

in the zone...beautiful

[@arborcam]

Wow. There is some great stuff here for young bands. Straight out soul and truth.

[@raphkatchdrums]

Seriously my favorite video on youtube.

[@jazzfuze]

Wow! Great footage. Never seen this before. Thanks for sharing!

[@mcparlandt]

RIP, LG.

[@truckeemick2486]

yes i saw this once on nz tv back round when i saw them at wgton show buildings same time. very special this short clip. it kills me everytime.

[@glennjammin1]

So high, so right in the pocket. Thanks for sharing.

[@423gtrman]

RIP Paul

[@lizhood6132]

Stunning.

[@wolfspritzer9253]

i cant describe what this song means to me.

[@bigcomcast]

Lowell George looks so young.I think this is the only time I have ever seen him shaved.

[@GlennMcCreedy]

Lowell's white soul-voice at his best.

[@martyfour]

love this...so young sweaty and sexy...the way the 70's made you feel

[@user-je5wu2oe3z]

Beautiful song. Liking Kenny's natural and Richie's black eye.

[@geoffreyfitch7095]

Heard / saw Little Feat in Shibuya @ insistence of late Bernard du Crest (Nagra man). Maybe '74/ '75 -super gig !

[@davec7759]

I'm cryin'