A previously unissued recording of Lowell George’s signature song “Willin’,” performed by Willie Nelson and Emmylou Harris and featuring Inara George, is out now as part of ‘Rock And Roll Doctor: Lowell George Tribute Album’, a long out-of-print collector’s edition released via Omnivore Recordings on vinyl, CD, and digitally.
The 2 LP set brings together 15 standout performances from Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Little Feat, Randy Newman, and more in celebration of one of rock and roll’s most underrated figures. Originally released in Japan in 1997 and in the US the following year, this new edition marks the first time the collection has been available on vinyl and introduces the previously unheard Nelson and Harris recording for the first time.
For Inara George, the track carries deeply personal meaning. “I remember how meaningful it was to sing ‘Trouble’ with Van Dyke Parks and Ry Cooder, they were both friends of my dad, which made it even more special,” she says. “So to be able to add voice, so many years later, to a track with such greats as Emmylou Harris and Willie Nelson feels like a perfect bookend. It’s such a gift to celebrate my father’s work alongside his musical peers.”
Lowell George’s influence as a writer, guitarist, singer, and producer spanned rock, R&B, country, blues, and West Coast jazz. He co-founded Little Feat in 1969 after a stint with Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention, and alongside Bill Payne and Richie Hayward built a sound unlike anything else of the era. His songwriting delivered enduring classics including “Willin’,” “Dixie Chicken,” and “Sailin’ Shoes.” Tragically, he passed away in 1979 at just 34, while touring in support of his only solo album ‘Thanks I’ll Eat It Here.’
“It’s always fun when Little Feat gets to record with Bonnie Raitt, especially when we’re giving tribute to our brother Lowell,” says co-founder Bill Payne, whose presence on the collection gives it an extra layer of authenticity.