The Lowell George-fronted version of Little Feat pretty much reached the end of its tether with TIME LOVES A HERO. George had become disenchanted with the slicker, jazzier sound that keysman Bill Payne and guitarist Paul Barrere were moving towards (exemplified by the jazz-rock instrumental "Day at the Dog Races" and the Steely Dan-meets-Doobie Brothers "Red Streamliner"). George had dialed down his compositional input, and consequently, the bluesier, grittier elements of the the band's sound. This was to be the last Feat album released in George's lifetime; he died in 1979, shortly after dissolving the band.