Dixie Chicken

The Zoo Crew is spinning the funky, soulful vibes of Dixie Chicken by Little Feat, a track from their iconic 1973 album of the same name, and the Zoo Freaks are surely grooving along. This song, a staple of the band’s legacy, has a quirky origin story. Songwriter Martin Kibbee, Lowell George’s longtime collaborator, was inspired to write the lyrics after driving past a Los Angeles restaurant sign that read “Dixie Chicken.” By the time he got home, the song’s narrative—a tale of a man duped by a charming Southern belle, only to find out he’s one of many in her web—was fully formed in his head. The band initially resisted the idea, but it eventually became their signature tune. To promote the song, Little Feat went all out, delivering fried chicken to radio stations with Lowell George donning a chicken suit (though he famously refused to wear the head). The boxes were branded “Finger Pickin’ Good,” a playful riff on Kentucky Fried Chicken’s slogan, featuring the album’s cover art girl instead of Colonel Sanders.

The song’s storytelling is layered with humor and heartbreak, as the narrator recounts his love for a woman who leaves him, only to learn from a bartender and other bar patrons that they’ve all been charmed by the same “Dixie Chicken.” This communal twist, where the men end up singing in harmony about their shared misfortune, was a lyrical gem credited to Kibbee and George. The track also features Bonnie Bramlett of Delaney & Bonnie sharing lead vocals with George, adding a soulful edge. New band members Kenny Gradney and Sam Clayton, both formerly of Delaney & Bonnie, brought a New Orleans funk sensibility that defined the album’s sound. Fun fact: the all-female country group The Chicks took their original name, Dixie Chicks, from this very song, though they dropped “Dixie” in 2020 amid cultural shifts.

Little Feat got their start in Los Angeles in 1969, born from the creative spark of Lowell George and Bill Payne. George, a charismatic guitarist and vocalist, had been part of Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention, where he met keyboardist Payne. Legend has it Zappa encouraged George to form his own band after hearing his song “Willin’,” which referenced drugs—a no-go for Zappa’s outfit. George teamed up with Payne, bassist Roy Estrada (also ex-Mothers), and drummer Richie Hayward from George’s earlier band, The Factory. Their early sound blended blues, country, rock, and R&B, but it was the 1972 lineup shift—adding Gradney, Paul Barrere, and Sam Clayton—that cemented their New Orleans-infused, swamp-rock groove, fully realized on Dixie Chicken. Despite critical acclaim, commercial success was slow until later albums like Feats Don’t Fail Me Now and Waiting for Columbus. George’s death in 1979 led to a breakup, but the band reformed in 1987 and remains active, their fanbase often compared to Grateful Dead’s Deadheads for its loyalty.

Stay connected with Little Feat through their Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts, where they share tour updates and celebrate milestones like the 52nd anniversary of Dixie Chicken, as posted on X in January 2025. Fans can dive deeper at the official Little Feat website, which offers merch, tour dates, and deluxe album editions. For community vibes, check out the Little Feat Fans Facebook Group, a hub for Zoo Freaks and Feat enthusiasts to swap stories, share concert experiences, and keep the band’s funky spirit alive.