Wikipedia

Representing the Mambo

Representing the Mambo is the ninth studio album by the American rock band Little Feat, released in 1990. It peaked at No. 45 on the Billboard 200 and was supported by a North American tour.[1][2] "Texas Twister" and "Rad Gumbo" were released as singles.[3]

Representing the Mambo
Studio album by
Little Feat
Released1990
StudioSkywalker Ranch, Marin County, California, U.S.
GenreCountry rock, blues
Length50:49
LabelWarner Bros.
ProducerGeorge Massenburg, Bill Payne
Little Feat chronology
Let It Roll
(1988) 		Representing the Mambo
(1990) 		Shake Me Up
(1991)

Production

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The majority of the album was recorded at Skywalker Ranch, following a week's worth of work in Los Angeles.[4] The album cover art is by Neon Park.[5] Craig Fuller, Bill Payne, and Paul Barrère sing on Representing the Mambo.[6]

"Those Feat'll Steer Ya Wrong Sometimes" is about a band member failing to get out of a speeding ticket.[7] "Teenage Warrior" is about gang warfare in Los Angeles.[8]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [9]
Calgary HeraldC−[10]
Chicago Sun-Times    [11]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music     [12]
Los Angeles Times     [13]
Ottawa Citizen     [14]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide     [15]

The Calgary Herald wrote that "one or two tunes sound interesting (the album has a Steely Dan-like studio polish to it), but nothing holds up to even cursory scrutiny."[10] The Sun-Sentinel opined that "though the band still packs a tremendous one-two punch with its rich mix of country rock and blues, the crackle that marked Let it Roll, as well as previous releases, is nowhere to be found."[16] The Chicago Sun-Times praised "the evocative, cinematic title cut."[11]

The Ottawa Citizen noted that "there are hints of the post-psychedelic country-rock of Little Feat's infancy, which usually rings stale."[14] The St. Petersburg Times determined that "some of the new album treads closely to standard rock-radio fare."[17] The Times deemed Representing the Mambo "a more full-tilt slice of Southern rock-a-boogie funk."[18]

Track listing

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  1. "Texas Twister" (Barrère, Kibbee, Payne, Tackett) – 4:45
  2. "Daily Grind" (Barrère, Fuller, Payne) – 5:06
  3. "Representing the Mambo" (Barrère, Park, Payne, Tackett) – 5:54
  4. "Woman in Love" (Barrère, Payne, Tackett) – 3:49
  5. "Rad Gumbo" (Barrère, Clayton, Gradney, Kibbee, Park, Payne) – 3:29
  6. "Teenage Warrior" (Barrère, Fuller, Payne, Tackett) – 4:53
  7. "That's Her, She's Mine" (Barrère, Clayton, Payne) – 4:09
  8. "Feelin's All Gone" (Fuller) – 4:59
  9. "Those Feat'll Steer Ya Wrong Sometimes" (Barrère, Fuller, Hayward, Payne, Tackett) – 5:01
  10. "The Ingenue" (Barrère, Fuller, Payne, Tackett) – 4:22
  11. "Silver Screen" (Barrère, Payne, Tackett) – 4:22

Personnel

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Band members

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Additional personnel

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  • Renee Armand – backing vocals ("Those Feat'll Steer Ya Wrong Sometimes")
  • Peter Asher – dialogue ("Representing the Mambo")
  • Michael Brecker – saxophone ("The Ingenue")
  • Sharon Celani – backing vocals and dialogue ("Representing the Mambo")
  • Marilyn Martin – backing vocals ("Representing the Mambo" and "Silver Screen"), dialogue ("Representing the Mambo")
  • Neon Park – dialogue ("Representing the Mambo")
  • Shaun Murphy – backing vocals ("That's Her She's Mine")

Notes

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  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2010). Top Pop Albums (7th ed.). Record Research Inc. p. 463.
  2. ^ Christensen, Thor (16 May 1990). "Little Feat Always Fears That It No Longer Measures Up". The Milwaukee Journal. p. B7.
  3. ^ Point, Michael (24 May 1990). "Little Feat stumbles on follow-up". Onward. Austin American-Statesman. p. 20.
  4. ^ Anderson, John (17 Dec 1989). "Pop Notes". Part II. Newsday. p. 2.
  5. ^ Heim, Chris (13 Apr 1990). "Little Feat made a miraculous return...". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. S.
  6. ^ Larsen, Dave (April 27, 1990). "Recordings on Review". Go!. Dayton Daily News. p. 21.
  7. ^ Burliuk, Greg (12 May 1990). "Coming Around Again". Magazine. The Kingston Whig-Standard. p. 1.
  8. ^ Beach, Randall (May 26, 1990). "Little Feat Steps into Spotlight Again". Billboard. 102 (21): 34.
  9. ^ "Representing The Mambo Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  10. ^ a b Tremblay, Mark (19 Apr 1990). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. H3.
  11. ^ a b McLeese, Don (April 27, 1990). "Little Feat 'Representing the Mambo'". Weekend Plus. Chicago Sun-Times. p. 73.
  12. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 5. MUZE. p. 264.
  13. ^ Hochman, Steve (10 June 1990). "In Brief". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 70.
  14. ^ a b Erskine, Evelyn (20 Apr 1990). "Little Feat Representing the Mambo". Ottawa Citizen. p. E6.
  15. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 427.
  16. ^ Wilker, Deborah (19 Apr 1990). "Representing the Mambo: Little Feat". Sun-Sentinel. p. 3E.
  17. ^ Snider, Eric (27 Apr 1990). "Feat Falters". Weekend. St. Petersburg Times. p. 17.
  18. ^ "Rock". Features. The Times. April 21, 1990.
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