Claire Thompson
Dixie Chicken is a classic rock staple by Little Feat, an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. The song was released on January 25, 1973, as the title track of the group's third album. It was co-written by Lowell George, Little Feat's primary guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter, and Martin Kibbee. The inspiration for the song came from a billboard advertising a Dixie Chicken restaurant that Kibbee saw while driving home one day. The song tells the story of a visitor to the Commodore Hotel who falls in love with a woman, only to have his heart broken when she leaves him for a guitar player. Despite not being an overnight success, Dixie Chicken gained popularity and became a favourite on rock radio, helping to define the band's New Orleans funk and R&B sound.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the song | Dixie Chicken |
| Band | Little Feat |
| Co-writers | Lowell George and Martin Kibbee |
| Inspiration for the song | Billboard advertising a restaurant named "Dixie Chicken" |
| Year of release | 1973 |
| Genre | Rock, blues, jazz, country, and funk |
| Singer | Bonnie Bramlett |
| Album | Dixie Chicken |
| Album track | Dixie Chicken |
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What You'll Learn
Lowell George's chicken suit
The infamous chicken suit worn by Lowell George is an important part of the story behind the classic rock song "Dixie Chicken" by Little Feat. The song, co-written by Lowell George and Martin Kibbee, was released on the band's third album, also titled "Dixie Chicken," in 1973.
The idea for the song came about when Lowell George and Martin Kibbee were up all night trying to write a song. As Kibbee was leaving, he saw a chicken restaurant with a sign that said "Dixie Chicken." The name stuck in his head, and by the time he got home, he had written the song.
To promote the album, the band delivered fried chicken to radio stations in Los Angeles, with Lowell George wearing a chicken suit. Linda Ronstadt, who remembered George as "an enigma," described the incident: "I couldn't believe that Lowell actually put on the chicken suit... He wouldn't wear the head, though. I wore the head, and we both wore sunglasses so you couldn't tell. It was strange, funny, and degrading..."
The chicken suit became a symbol of the band's unique sense of humour and their willingness to do whatever it took to promote their music. Despite the initial lack of success of the song and album, "Dixie Chicken" eventually became a sleeper hit and is now considered a classic. The song's popularity inspired a bar in Texas to be named Dixie Chicken and influenced the original name of the country music group, the Dixie Chicks (later shortened to The Chicks).
Lowell George, the leader of Little Feat, was a talented singer, songwriter, guitarist, and multi-instrumentalist. Despite his impressive musical skills and influence on other musicians, he is sometimes overlooked in the music industry. His health and addiction issues ultimately led to his untimely death at the age of 34 in 1979.
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Co-writer Martin Kibbee
Martin Kibbee co-wrote the song "Dixie Chicken" with Lowell George. Kibbee and George first met while attending Hollywood High School. Kibbee was not a member of Little Feat, but he frequently collaborated with George.
Kibbee recalled the inspiration for the song in an interview:
> "Lowell and I had been up all night trying to write a song. We had the Ace Screen Door factory down on Laurel Canyon. As I was leaving, there was a chicken place with a sign that said, 'Dixie chicken.' He'd been playing the damn thing all night, you know, [imitates riff], which was going through my brain. By the time I got home, I had written this song. When I came back the next morning to the rehearsal hall at the Warner Brothers' soundstage, I went, 'I've got it! I've got it!' And they all looked at me, like, 'Puh-leeze, you're kidding!' and resisted the notion for weeks, but eventually wound up in chicken suits."
Kibbee wrote the lyrics for "Dixie Chicken," which tell the story of a visitor to the Commodore Hotel who falls in love with a woman, only to have his heart broken when she leaves him for a guitar player. The song's title and theme came from a billboard advertising a Dixie Chicken restaurant that Kibbee saw while driving in Los Angeles.
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The Commodore Hotel
The lyrics of "Dixie Chicken" were written by Kibbee, who drew inspiration from a billboard advertising a Dixie Chicken restaurant that he drove past in Los Angeles. The name stuck in his head, and by the time he got home, he had written the lyrics. The music was written by George, who played guitar in Little Feat. The song was released on the band's third album, also titled "`Dixie Chicken", in 1973. Despite not initially gaining popularity, the song eventually became a hit and is now considered a classic.
> If you'll be my Dixie Chicken, I'll be your Tennessee lamb / And we can walk together down in Dixieland / Down in Dixieland.
Lowell George, the co-writer and musician of "Dixie Chicken", was known for his eclectic musical style and talent on various instruments, including the guitar, harmonica, saxophone, and sitar. He formed Little Feat in 1969 along with other members of Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention. George's health and addiction issues led to his early death in 1979 at the age of 34, but his musical legacy lives on through songs like "Dixie Chicken", which continues to captivate listeners with its unique blend of Southern rock and New Orleans-inspired funk.
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The band's new sound
Little Feat's musical style is marked by an eclectic fusion of genres, incorporating elements of rock, blues, jazz, country, and funk. Their early albums introduced a blend of country rock with folk influences. However, the addition of new members guitarist Paul Barrere, percussionist Sam Clayton, and bassist Kenny Gradney, shifted the band's sound towards New Orleans-style Dixieland, funk, and R&B. This new sound, showcased on their third album, "Dixie Chicken," was a result of the band members' New Orleans heritage and musical influences.
The title track "Dixie Chicken," co-written by Lowell George and Martin Kibbee, became the band's unofficial signature song. The song's inspiration came from a late-night songwriting session between George and Kibbee, where they struggled to find the right words to match George's riff. As Kibbee drove home, he passed a billboard advertising a "Dixie Chicken" restaurant, and the lyrics came to him. The song tells the story of a spurned lover, with the singer falling in love with a woman in front of the Commodore Hotel, only to be left for a guitar player.
The "Dixie Chicken" album, released in 1973, marked a transitional period for the band, with a new lineup and a shift in their musical style. Despite poor initial sales, the album and its title track gained momentum and eventually became a sleeper hit. The song's popularity inspired the name of the all-female country group, the Dixie Chicks (later shortened to The Chicks).
Little Feat's sound continued to evolve, and by the late 1970s, they began incorporating jazz-rock fusion elements. Their eclectic style and complex rhythms, influenced by bandleader Lowell George's bottleneck guitar work, earned them a devoted following. The band's lineup underwent frequent changes, and in 1979, they disbanded due to creative differences shortly before George's untimely death. However, surviving members reunited in 1987, adding new members Craig Fuller and Fred Tackett, and released the acclaimed album "Let it Roll" in 1988.
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The song's legacy
'"Dixie Chicken" is a classic rock staple by Little Feat, a band formed by Lowell George, and is considered one of their best-known songs. The song is a defining aspect of the band's New Orleans funk and R&B sound, showcasing a distinctive funk sound that became a hallmark of their style. The song's title was inspired by a billboard advertising a Dixie Chicken restaurant that co-writer Martin Kibbee spotted while driving in Los Angeles.
The song's music was written by Lowell George, with lyrics by Kibbee, who became his frequent collaborator. "Dixie Chicken" tells the story of a visitor to the Commodore Hotel who falls in love with a woman, only to be left heartbroken when she leaves him for a guitar player. The song's chorus contrasts with the sad story, creating a joyful and catchy tune.
"Dixie Chicken" was released in 1973 as the title track to Little Feat's third album, which featured a new lineup, including guitarist Paul Barrere and percussionist Sam Clayton, bringing a New Orleans-style Dixieland sound to the band. Despite initial poor sales, the song gained momentum and became a favourite on Album-Oriented Rock radio, later becoming a classic rock staple. The song's popularity inspired the name of the country group The Dixie Chicks (now known as The Chicks).
Lowell George died in 1979 while touring as a solo artist, and Little Feat disbanded shortly after. However, the band reunited in 1987 and has remained active since. "Dixie Chicken" continues to be a beloved and influential song, leaving a lasting legacy in the world of rock music and beyond.
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Frequently asked questions
The song was written by Lowell George and Martin Kibbee.
The song was performed by Little Feat.
The lyrics were inspired by a billboard advertising a Dixie Chicken restaurant that Martin Kibbee saw while driving home.
'Dixie Chicken' is a classic spurned-lover song. The singer falls in love with a woman in front of the Commodore Hotel. She promises to be his Tennessee Lamb if he will be her Dixie Chicken. However, she leaves him for a guitar player after he spends all his money on her.
'Dixie Chicken' marked a transition in Little Feat's musical style, showcasing a distinctive New Orleans-inspired funk sound that became a hallmark of their work.
