BLOG | OCT. 14, 2024

Lowell George Documentary

I recently found myself diving back into the Little Feat catalog, and came across a documentary on the band's founder, guitarist, and frontman Lowell George, called Feats First - The Life & Music of Lowell George. Music docs, especially on the streaming services, are really hit and miss. Some are very well researched and presented, and others are painfully hard to watch. Feats First is one of the good ones. Not only does it cover the band's origins, and tell the story in a fairly complete and comprehensive way, it is an excellent look at the Los Angeles music scene in the late-'60s and early-'70s. The archival footage is fantastic, and features interviews with Little Feat/Lowell George collaborators Van Dyke Parks, Russ Titelman, George Massenburg, Little Feat band members, friends, and more.

LG

Whether you are a fan of the music or not, Feats First is a fun watch, with loads of "behind the scenes" music industry insights, music production and studio stories, record label politics, and a look at how Little Feat developed into one of the era's funkier rock bands.

Directed by John Storey. Streaming on Prime Video/Freevee and Apple TV.

Tape Op is a bi-monthly magazine devoted to the art of record making.

Or Learn More

MORE ENTRIES

Juana Molina: DOGA

BLOG

Juana Molina: DOGA

November 14, 2025

I first stumbled upon Juana Molina's music in 2007. Her album Un Dia was a revelation, and I am not sure I had ever heard anything like...
New From Courtney Barnett: "Stay in Your Lane"

BLOG

New From Courtney Barnett: "Stay in Your Lane"

By John Baccigaluppi

November 14, 2025

We recently interviewed Stella Mozgawa in Tape Op #169, and she talked about working on new music with Courtney Barnett. Here’s the super fun and...
Khruangbin: The Universe Smiles Upon You ii

BLOG

Khruangbin: The Universe Smiles Upon You ii

November 14, 2025

We interviewed Khruangbin's Mark Speer and their engineer Steve Christensen for the Tape Op Podcast, and that interview also appeared in...
West Virginia Snake Handler Revival: “They Shall Take Up Serpents”

BLOG

West Virginia Snake Handler Revival: “They Shall Take Up Serpents”

October 28, 2025

West Virginia Snake Handler Revival “They Shall Take Up Serpents” marks the arrival of a landmark record, documenting the last snake handling church...
Tame Impala: Deadbeat

BLOG

Tame Impala: Deadbeat

October 17, 2025

I love that the opening track, "My Old Ways", on Tame Impala's [Tape Op#95] new album, Deadbeat, starts with what appears to be a rough...
New Music From Madison Cunningham: Ace

BLOG

New Music From Madison Cunningham: Ace

October 13, 2025

It's always a treat when an album brings you right into its world from the moment you hit play. Such is the case with Madison Cunningham's...
New Music From Neko Case: Neon Grey Midnight Green

BLOG

New Music From Neko Case: Neon Grey Midnight Green

September 30, 2025

The new album from Neko Case [Tape Op #127], Neon Grey Midnight Green, is an adventurous listen that grew on me like fungus in a Florida swamp. It is...
New Fruit Bats Album: Baby Man

BLOG

New Fruit Bats Album: Baby Man

By Geoff Stanfield

September 16, 2025

Fruit Bats, the moniker of Eric D. Johnson's musical endeavors, has just released Baby Man. The album is follows the 2023 release, A River Runs...
New video from Yeemz on recording her track “No Trace”

BLOG

New video from Yeemz on recording her track “No Trace”

By John Baccigallupi

September 14, 2025

Yi-Mei Templeman is friend of Tape Op who records under the name Yeemz. She’s a songwriter and composer who plays cello, piano, banjo, guitar, and...