I love all the Little Feat albums, but Dixie Chicken is my favorite with the Bonnies (Raitt and Bramlett) wailing on background vocals behind Lowell George. Pure funky genius with a soulful cajun and southern rock influence. Really a true classic in rock and roll and every single song sounds just as good today as it ever did. This is great party and driving music, too... part of the soundtrack of our lives and, oh, what lives we've lived. Too bad Lowell couldn't stick around a little while longer to live out more of his, but what he and Little Feat left us with is definitely up there and forever.

Little Feat were best appreciated in a live setting (WAITING FOR COLUMBUS is testament to that), but their third release is a masterpiece. With their classic lineup (Kenny Gradney replaced Roy Estrada on bass, and second guitarist Paul Barrere and conga player Sam Clayton expanded the group to a sextet), their hybrid sound of gospel, funk, rock and Dixieland has a richer fuller sound than on their earlier albums.

The album's ten tracks are dominated by slide guitar whiz Lowell George, who wrote or co-wrote seven of the songs, including the classics "Dixie Chicken," "Two Trains" and "Fat Man in the Bathtub." The only other group original is the funky "Walkin' All Night" by Payne and Barrere. The two covers are "Fool Yourself" and Allen Toussaint's "On Your Way Down." The famed New Orleans pianist/producer/arranger would often tour with Little Feat. And with Gradney and Clayton's New Orleans roots, the entire album is influenced by the Crescent City's rich musical heritage.

George would go on to record several more albums with Little Feat before pursuing a solo career (and his untimely death death in 1979), but DIXIE CHICKEN is the high water mark album of their career. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Really, I did listen to rock musics from late 60s to early 70s, but the rockmusics sounds usually did not send me into "7th heaven", then, less even now.

I heard one evening from the radio (of ALL places), the "Vanilla soul" sweet like honey voice of one Lowell George singing the centerpiece composition of this recording, "Giuliette", and I was IMMEDIATE hooked ! He sang the stars outta those words!

I purchased the vinyl disc ASAP, and found myself enjoying this Los Angeles native son's version of New Orleans -influenced sounds and subtle country-rock (ay madre!) very much .

The addition of Paul Barrere (guitar) and Bill Payne (keyboards) to the group (I read their history) added some more fluent solo stylings IMO, and later to bring a quase-jazz influence to the band in the next 2 releases, a blessing to the ears for someone as I who was a "jazzman" to begin with.

Aside the aforementioned gem "Giuliette",
Lowell's aching vocalistics (he had the "cry" for sure,a rare gift) grace the mysterious "Kiss it Off"(Can I call a composition called Kiss it off "mysterious, hehehe!),

and his Allen Toussaint(guests on keys) vudu-mojo "warning " of Karma payback in "On the Way Down" is ALMOST "Gris- Gris" period Dr John (the Night Tripper)one better!

I care less for the rocking sounds on the cd, but, as most who probably are visiting this review now can be assured, the rockmusics are a joy, and each tune has at least one creative "trick" up the sleeve that sets it above being just a "pedestrian" rock tune.

"Fool Yourself" is such fine country rock styling (as was the original Little Feat more married to this sound), it makes the "real thing" Country rock groups sound "inferior".

Take it from a "jazz-Brasilian musics snobby " elitista, if I enjoy this CD, one with more rock roll sympathies should get even more enjoyment from the recording.

I have not keep track of this group since the live recording with the "Swinging Tomato" on the cover, but I imagine, even without the Lowell George (Who passed from this planeta much too soon), they are still making nice sounds. (Are they?)

100000 stars for the compositions I love on this recording, and you can choose how many constellations on the other songs for yourself, enjoy please!