| Time Loves a Hero | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | April 15, 1977 | |||
| Recorded | 1976–1977 | |||
| Studio | Sunset Sound Studios, Hollywood, CA Warner Bros. Studios, North Hollywood, CA Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA Record Plant, Sausalito, CA | |||
| Length | 35:23 | |||
| Label | Warner Bros. | |||
| Producer | Ted Templeman | |||
| Little Feat chronology | ||||
| ||||
Time Loves a Hero is the sixth studio album by the American rock band Little Feat, released in 1977.
The album's cover art is by Neon Park.
Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [1] |
| Christgau's Record Guide | B[2] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [3] |
Record World called the title track "a philosophical, mid-tempo funk tune with some interesting melodic and instrumental hooks."[4]
In his review of the album, music critic Robert Christgau held a somewhat neutral view, writing that "they're not a rock band or even a boogie band anymore—they're a funk band" but that "'Old Folks Boogie' beats anything on the last two albums, 'Time Loves a Hero' tries, and 'Rocket in My Pocket' is a Lowell George readymade like you didn't think he had in him anymore."[5]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead Vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Hi Roller" | Paul Barrère | Lowell George | 3:35 |
| 2. | "Time Loves a Hero" | P. Barrère, Kenny Gradney, Bill Payne | P. Barrère, Payne | 3:47 |
| 3. | "Rocket in My Pocket" | George | George | 3:25 |
| 4. | "Day at the Dog Races" | P. Barrère, Sam Clayton, Gradney, Richie Hayward, Payne | (instrumental) | 6:27 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead Vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Old Folks Boogie" | Gabriel Barrère, P. Barrère | P. Barrère | 3:31 |
| 2. | "Red Streamliner" | Payne, Fran Tate | Payne | 4:44 |
| 3. | "New Delhi Freight Train" | Terry Allen | George | 3:42 |
| 4. | "Keepin' Up with the Joneses" | P. Barrère, George | P. Barrère | 3:51 |
| 5. | "Missin' You" | P. Barrère | P. Barrère | 2:21 |
Personnel
[edit]- Paul Barrère – vocals, guitar
- Sam Clayton – backing vocals, congas, percussion
- Lowell George – vocals, guitar
- Kenny Gradney – bass
- Richie Hayward – backing vocals, drums, percussion
- Bill Payne – vocals, keyboards, synthesizer, marimba
Additional musicians
- Greg Adams – trumpet
- Jeff "Skunk" Baxter – dobro ("Missin' You")¹
- Emilio Castillo – tenor saxophone
- Mic Gillette – trombone, trumpet
- Stephen "Doc" Kupka – baritone saxophone
- Michael McDonald – vocals ("Red Streamliner")
- Lenny Pickett – alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
- Patrick Simmons – guitar ("New Delhi Freight Train"), vocals ("Red Streamliner")
- Fred Tackett – mandocello and guitar ("Time Loves a Hero") (joined band 1988)
Charts
[edit]| Chart (1977) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[6] | 48 |
| Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[7] | 62 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[8] | 14 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[9] | 31 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[10] | 8 |
| US Billboard 200[11] | 34 |
Certifications
[edit]| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[12] | Silver | 60,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[13] | Gold | 500,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Note
[edit]¹ Little Feat – Raw Tomatoes Vol.1 (2002) booklet p14: "the skunk was not on that track"
References
[edit]- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Time Loves a Hero at AllMusic
- ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: L". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 1, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 427.
- ^ "Single Picks" (PDF). Record World. September 3, 1977. p. 14. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
- ^ "Robert Christgau: CG: Little feat".
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 178. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Image 5250b". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Little Feat – Time Loves a Hero". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Little Feat – Time Loves a Hero". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart on 22/5/1977 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
- ^ "Little Feat Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
- ^ "British album certifications – Little Feat – Time Loves a Hero". British Phonographic Industry.
- ^ "American album certifications – Little Feat – Time Loves a Hero". Recording Industry Association of America.
