{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = Representing the Mambo | type = studio | artist = Little Feat | cover = Little Feat - Representing the Mambo.jpg | alt = | released = 1990 | recorded = | venue = | studio = Skywalker Ranch, Marin County, California, U.S. | genre = Country rock, blues | length = 50:49 | label = Warner Bros. | producer = George Massenburg, Bill Payne | prev_title = Let It Roll | prev_year = 1988 | next_title = Shake Me Up | next_year = 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 and was supported by a North American tour.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Whitburn |first1=Joel |title=Top Pop Albums |date=2010 |publisher=Record Research Inc. |page=463 |edition=7th}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Christensen |first1=Thor |title=Little Feat Always Fears That It No Longer Measures Up |work=The Milwaukee Journal |date=16 May 1990 |page=B7}}</ref> "Texas Twister" and "Rad Gumbo" were released as singles.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Point |first1=Michael |title=Little Feat stumbles on follow-up |work=Austin American-Statesman |date=24 May 1990 |department=Onward |page=20}}</ref>
==Production== The majority of the album was recorded at Skywalker Ranch, following a week's worth of work in Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Anderson |first1=John |title=Pop Notes |work=Newsday |date=17 Dec 1989 |department=Part II |page=2}}</ref> The album cover art is by Neon Park.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Heim |first1=Chris |title=Little Feat made a miraculous return... |work=Chicago Tribune |date=13 Apr 1990 |department=Friday |page=S}}</ref> Craig Fuller, Bill Payne, and Paul Barrère sing on ''Representing the Mambo''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Larsen |first1=Dave |title=Recordings on Review |work=Dayton Daily News |date=April 27, 1990 |department=Go! |page=21}}</ref>
"Those Feat'll Steer Ya Wrong Sometimes" is about a band member failing to get out of a speeding ticket.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Burliuk |first1=Greg |title=Coming Around Again |work=The Kingston Whig-Standard |date=12 May 1990 |department=Magazine |page=1}}</ref> "Teenage Warrior" is about gang warfare in Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Beach |first1=Randall |title=Little Feat Steps into Spotlight Again |magazine=Billboard |date=May 26, 1990 |volume=102 |issue=21 |page=34}}</ref>
==Critical reception== {{Music ratings | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1Score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Representing The Mambo Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/representing-the-mambo-mw0000207978 |website=AllMusic |access-date=28 February 2023}}</ref> |rev2 = ''Calgary Herald'' |rev2score = C−<ref name="CH">{{cite news |last1=Tremblay |first1=Mark |title=Recent Releases |work=Calgary Herald |date=19 Apr 1990 |page=H3}}</ref> |rev3 = ''Chicago Sun-Times'' |rev3score = {{rating|3|4}}<ref name="CS">{{cite news |last1=McLeese |first1=Don |title=Little Feat 'Representing the Mambo' |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=April 27, 1990 |department=Weekend Plus |page=73}}</ref> |rev4 = ''The Encyclopedia of Popular Music'' |rev4score = {{rating|2|5}}<ref>{{cite book |last1=Larkin |first1=Colin |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |date=2006 |publisher=MUZE |volume=5 |page=264}}</ref> |rev5 = ''Los Angeles Times'' |rev5score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref name="LA">{{cite news |last1=Hochman |first1=Steve |title=In Brief |work=Los Angeles Times |date=10 June 1990 |department=Calendar |page=70}}</ref> |rev6 = ''Ottawa Citizen'' |rev6score = {{rating|2|5}}<ref name="OC">{{cite news |last1=Erskine |first1=Evelyn |title=Little Feat Representing the Mambo |work=Ottawa Citizen |date=20 Apr 1990 |page=E6}}</ref> |rev7 = ''The Rolling Stone Album Guide'' |rev7score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite book |title=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |date=1992 |publisher=Random House |page=427}}</ref> }} 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."<ref name=CH/> 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."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wilker |first1=Deborah |title=Representing the Mambo: Little Feat |work=Sun-Sentinel |date=19 Apr 1990 |page=3E}}</ref> The ''Chicago Sun-Times'' praised "the evocative, cinematic title cut."<ref name=CS/>
The ''Ottawa Citizen'' noted that "there are hints of the post-psychedelic country-rock of Little Feat's infancy, which usually rings stale."<ref name=OC/> The ''St. Petersburg Times'' determined that "some of the new album treads closely to standard rock-radio fare."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Snider |first1=Eric |title=Feat Falters |work=St. Petersburg Times |date=27 Apr 1990 |department=Weekend |page=17}}</ref> ''The Times'' deemed ''Representing the Mambo'' "a more full-tilt slice of Southern rock-a-boogie funk."<ref>{{cite news |title=Rock |work=The Times |date=April 21, 1990 |department=Features}}</ref>
==Track listing== #"Texas Twister" (Barrère, Kibbee, Payne, Tackett) – 4:45 #"Daily Grind" (Barrère, Fuller, Payne) – 5:06 #"Representing the Mambo" (Barrère, Park, Payne, Tackett) – 5:54 #"Woman in Love" (Barrère, Payne, Tackett) – 3:49 #"Rad Gumbo" (Barrère, Clayton, Gradney, Kibbee, Park, Payne) – 3:29 #"Teenage Warrior" (Barrère, Fuller, Payne, Tackett) – 4:53 #"That's Her, She's Mine" (Barrère, Clayton, Payne) – 4:09 #"Feelin's All Gone" (Fuller) – 4:59 #"Those Feat'll Steer Ya Wrong Sometimes" (Barrère, Fuller, Hayward, Payne, Tackett) – 5:01 #"The Ingenue" (Barrère, Fuller, Payne, Tackett) – 4:22 #"Silver Screen" (Barrère, Payne, Tackett) – 4:22
==Personnel== '''Band members''' *Paul Barrère – guitar, vocals (lead on 1, 4, 5, 7; co-lead on 10) *Sam Clayton – percussion, vocals (co-lead on 10) *Craig Fuller – vocals (lead on 2, 6, 8, 9), guitar *Kenny Gradney – bass *Richie Hayward – drums, vocals *Bill Payne – keyboards, synthesizer, vocals (lead on 3, 11) *Fred Tackett – guitar, trumpet
'''Additional personnel''' *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")
==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (1990) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- {{album chart|Canada|42|artist=Little Feat|album=Representing the Mambo|chartid=1250|rowheader=true|accessdate=January 6, 2026}} |- {{album chart|Sweden|35|artist=Little Feat|album=Representing the Mambo|rowheader=true|accessdate=January 6, 2026}} |- {{album chart|Switzerland|37|artist=Little Feat|album=Representing the Mambo|rowheader=true|accessdate=January 6, 2026}} |- {{album chart|Billboard200|45|artist=Little Feat|rowheader=true|accessdate=January 6, 2026}} |}
== Notes == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{Discogs release|187971|Representing the Mambo|type=album}}
{{Little Feat}}
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Category:Little Feat albums Category:1990 albums Category:Warner Records albums Category:Albums produced by Bill Payne Category:Albums produced by George Massenburg Category:Albums with cover art by Neon Park