Guitarist Lowell George and keyboardist Bill Payne formed Little Feat in 1969. Lowell George was a member of Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention. Bass player of the Mothers Roy Estrada joined along with drummer Richie Hayward.
This is one of their songs that got some airplay and I heard on a regular basis. It obviously is a southern sounding song…a great southern sounding song.
The band never broke out in huge commercial success but other musicians loved this band. One of them was Jimmy Page who named Little Feat his favorite American band in 1975. In the studio for this album, Lowell George stepped up as a producer and a leadership role. On the chorus, Bonnie Bramlett added a soulful voice to George’s.
The lineup had many changes through the years and unfortunately, Lowell died in 1979 of a heart attack. The band broke up after George’s death but reunited in 1987. The band continues today with Bill Payne still as a member.
This song was released in 1973 on the album of the same name. Dixie Chicken was written by Lowell George and Kibbee Martin.
Dixie Chicken
I’ve seen the bright lights of Memphis
And the Commodore Hotel
And underneath a street lamp I met a Southern belle
Well she took me to the river, where she cast her spell
And in that Southern moonlight, she sang a song so well
If you’ll be my dixie chicken, I’ll be your Tenessee lamb
And we can walk together down in dixieland
Down in dixieland
Well we made all the hot spots, my money flowed like wine
Then that low down Southern whiskey began to fog my mind
And I don’t remember church bells or the money I put down
On the white picket fence and boardwalk of the house at the edge of town
But boy do I remember the strain of her refrain
The nights we spent together, and the way she called my name
If you’ll be my dixie chicken, I’ll be your Tenessee lamb
And we can walk together down in dixieland
Down in dixieland
Well it’s been a year since she ran away
Yes that guitar player sure could play
She always liked to sing along
She’s always handy with a song
Then one night in the lobby of the Commodore Hotel
I chanced to meet a bartender who said he knew her well
And as he handed me a drink he began to hum a song
And all the boys there, at the bar, began to sign along
If you’ll be my dixie chicken, I’ll be your Tenessee lamb
And we can walk together down in dixieland
Down in dixieland
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The big hit from Little Feat, with a lot of swing and soul. They played “Dixie Chicken” different at every concert. The song is still fresh. Even today.
The musicianship in that band was off the charts. I know a few of their songs like Willin’ and Sailing Shoes that I heard from friends mostly…I do need to get an album.
The debut and “Sailin Shoes” are two top-class albums. But the music of “Dixie Chicken” is also unique without discussion. The album for a hot and muggy day. There is nothing better than that.
Yes. I got to see them in concert. Excellent.
I can’t imagine. It’s sad they weren’t noticed more by the masses.
Love Little Feat. Lowell George is another very sad story. Genius is a word that gets thrown around a lot–I ‘m guilty of it; Lowell George was a genius.
I agree with you. This song alone is close to perfection. Every style is thrown in and works perfect together…thats the case with some other of their songs.
Absolutely. Waiting for Columbus is one of my favorite albums. To me, it is perfection. They are timeless too, like Bowie.
Not bad, another one I don’t think I’ve heard before. One thing Elvis may trump the Beatles in – seem to be a lot of good songs written about Memphis, many referencing him, not many about Liverpool.
They were a musician’s band. Everything is so tight…they threw in every style and the kitchen sink and made it work.
Yea Memphis rolls off the tongue much better and it’s the south…so many styles of music. Blues, gospel, soul…
I didn’t know this song at all – but I shall be playing it till my speakers explode. Thanks for the intro!
Musically Bruce…they don’t get much better than this lot. Glad you liked it.
The Templeman book has Ted talking about Lowell George quite a bit even with a few studio pics taken from the 70’s.
I think you need to get that book. lol
Yea man I was going to say that yesterday…I am… I read music books a lot. I’m reading one about John Entwistle of the Who…I will get this book though. I really like audio books also.
How is that book on the Ox? It’s a legit book right?
Yes it is. His son Christopher handed over some stuff John wrote for a bio before he died and every one cooperated. Its not a “make look John look good” book…
It has some cool stories about Moon in it that I never heard.
Wicked, I will have to pick it up once I’m done reading Rudy Sarzos book “Off The Rails”.
I need to read something about Osborne… I never have…
Oh this one is by Paul Rees
Sarzos book just deals with his time with Ozzy
He is one of the last of the 70s rock stars…that still kinda lives like one
Little Feat is one of my all tome favs. You need to stoo everything and check out the live version of Dixie Chicken from Waiting For Columbus. Chock full of special sauce! Then get all of their 70s albums because they’re all excellent. Waiting for Columbus is a great place to start.
Someone else metnioned Waiting for Columbus today.
That I will do…I was going to ask for a starting point. I know some of their songs but not albums.
Another place to get your Feat fix is the 1st two Robert Palmer albums. Lowell plays slide all over the album
… Sneaking Sally Through the Alley. And on his second album, Pressure Drop, Little Feat is the studio .band. And a couple Feat covers on both.
I will check them both out…thanks man.
Ok cool. I knew he worked with Bonnie Raitt before…every band I read about from the seventies loved them.
Dang good jam. Been forever since hearing this one. Great find and share, Max.
Thanks Lisa…you don’t hear this everyday…it’s so southern…and good southern.
You’re welcome.
Lawd. I haven’t heard that in years. I almost didn’t recognize it.
I know it’s been a while for me… I didn’t think I would get much of a response but I did…I was glad to see it. Every other band loved them but the masses didn’t.
Tried a few Little Feat tracks before and never liked them much — dig this though, anyone who likes the band would!
Dixie Chicken is a wonderful singalong. Great song, great songwriting. Little Feat, with Lowell singing, are great. Backup by Bonnie Raitt, Bonnie Bramlett and I’m not sure if Emmylou Harris is on this or not. When Feat hosted the Midnight Special show they had guests Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris and Jesse Winchester. The label, WB, loved it as all recorded for WB (Winchester recorded for Bearsville distributed in the US by WB). Great show, by the way.
I heard a rumor that Garth Brooks recorded Dixie Chicken, but I can’t find anything to support it. Does anybody know? I don’t listen to Mr. Brooks, but I’d be very interested in this.
Yes he did…right here