Representing the Mambo

Representing the Mambo
Studio album by
Little Feat
Released 1990
Studio Skywalker Ranch, Marin County, California, U.S.
Genre Country rock, blues
Length 50:49
Label Warner Bros.
Producer George Massenburg, Bill Payne
Little Feat chronology
Let It Roll
(1988) 		Representing the Mambo
(1990) 		Shake Me Up
(1991)

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. The band supported the album with a North American tour. "Texas Twister" and "Rad Gumbo" were released as singles.

Production

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

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

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic
Calgary Herald C−
Chicago Sun-Times
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Los Angeles Times
Ottawa Citizen
The Rolling Stone Album Guide

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." 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." The Chicago Sun-Times praised "the evocative, cinematic title cut."

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

Track listing

  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