Watch Little Feat Tear Up ‘Tripe Face Boogie’ For ‘Midnight Special’ Debut In 1974

The Midnight Special YouTube channel shared video from Little Feat’s debut on the renowned NBC late-night program in 1974. The video documents a smoking rendition of “Tripe Face Boogie.”

Little Feat’s 1977 play on Midnight Special with Emmy Lou Harris and Bonnie Raitt is perhaps the most well-known. While members of Little Feat appeared on Midnight Special in 1973 as Bonnie Bramlett’s backing band, the once feared lost ‘74 footage marked Little Feat’s proper premiere on the program. The episode aired on August 9, 1974, but Feat taped their segment earlier that summer. As per fan site FeatBase:

The Midnight Special was hosted by Sly & the Family Stone and, along with Little Feat, included Roger McGuinn, Elvin Bishop, and Henry Gross. Little Feat taped their segment for the Midnight Special in early July 1974. According to Elizabeth George, the Little Feat segment was taped before July 4th because Lowell was able to get back to Maryland for the birth of their daughter, Inara George. Little Feat were supporting the album “Feats Don’t Fail Me Now”, which was just released.

Although they were supporting Feats Don’t Fail Me Now, Little Feat delivered two songs from their 1972 album, Sailin’ Shoes on Midnight Special in 1974: “Tripe Face Boogie” and “Willin.” The former was co-written by Feat keyboardist Bill Payne and drummer Richie Hayward.

The “Tripe Face Boogie” on Midnight Special shows off the immense talent each member of the classic lineup possessed. The performance boasts a rollicking guitar solo from Paul Barrere, an eclectic piano breakdown from Payne and spirited bass from Kenny Gradney along with tight rhythm work from Hayward and percussionist Sam Clayton. Frontman Lowell George brings the song home with a sizzling slide guitar solo.

Watch Little Feat perform “Tripe Face Boogie” on Midnight Special in 1974 below:

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