Little Feat - Dixie Chicken (1973)

Dixie Chicken is the third studio album by the American rock band Little Feat, released in 1973. The artwork for the front cover was by illustrator Neon Park and is a reference to a line from the LP's third song, "Roll Um Easy".

The album is considered their landmark album with the title track as their signature song that helped further define the Little Feat sound. This was augmented by two additional members (guitarist Paul Barrere and percussionist Sam Clayton) added to make the more complete and familiar lineup that 
continued until their 1979 breakup following the death of Lowell George. Bassist Kenny Gradney was brought in to replace original bassist Roy Estrada, who had left after the band's second album Sailin' Shoes to join Captain Beefheart's Magic Band. This new lineup radically altered the band's sound, leaning toward New Orleans R&B/funk.(Wiki)


Following Roy Estrada's departure during the supporting tour for Sailin' Shoes, Lowell George became infatuated with New Orleans R&B and mellow jamming, all of which came to a head on their third album, 1973's Dixie Chicken. Although George is firmly in charge - he dominates the record,
writing or co-writing seven of the 10 songs - this is the point where Little Feat found its signature sound as a band, and no album they would cut from this point on was too different from this seductive, laid-back, funky record. But no album would be quite as good, either, since Dixie Chicken
still had much of the charming lyrical eccentricities of the first two albums, plus what is arguably George's best-ever set of songs. Partially due to the New Orleans infatuation, the album holds together better than Sailin' Shoes and George takes full advantage of the band's increased musical
palette, writing songs that sound easy but are quite sophisticated, such as the rolling "Two Trains," the gorgeous, shimmering "Juliette," the deeply soulful and funny "Fat Man in the Bathtub" and the country-funk of the title track, which was covered nearly as frequently as "Willin'." In addition
to "Walkin' All Night," a loose bluesy jam by Barrere and Bill Payne, the band also hauls out two covers which fit George's vibe perfectly: Allan Toussaint's slow burner "On Your Way Down" and "Fool Yourself," which was written by Fred Tackett, who later joined a reunited Feat in the '80s.
It all adds up to a nearly irresistible record, filled with great songwriting, sultry grooves, and virtuosic performances that never are flashy. Little Feat, along with many jam bands that followed, tried to top this album, but they never managed to make a record this understated, appealing and fine.
(AllMusic Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine)

Tracks : 01 Dixie Chicken (Lowell George, Fred Martin) 02 Two Trains (George) 03 Roll Um Easy (George) 04 On Your Way Down (Allen Toussaint)  05 Kiss It Off (George)
06 Fool Yourself (Fred Tackett) 07 Walkin All Night (Paul Barrère, Bill Payne) 08 Fat Man in the Bathtub (George) 09 Juliette (George) 10 Lafayette Railroad (George, Payne)  (instrumental)


Out of all my albums...this is probably played the most - 36 minutes of great grooves,songs,singing...and women ! Nuff Said - Gus