SANTA MONICA, CA. (Top40 Charts/ 429 Records) - Forty years into an iconic career that has produced dozens of timeless rock classics and generations of admiring musical peers,
Little Feat is set to revisit the pop charts with the release tomorrow of LITTLE FEAT AND FRIENDS: JOIN THE BAND. Executive-produced by Jimmy Buffett, JOIN THE BAND finds the original members of
Little Feat re-recording their classic songs such as "Fat Man in the Bathtub," "Dixie Chicken," "Sailing Shoes" and "Oh Atlanta" with the help of friends/musical fans Dave Matthews, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Chris Robinson, Brooks & Dunn, Bob Seger, Inara George,
Sonny Landreth, Bela Fleck,
Jimmy Buffett and others. A stunning recording and a true labor of love, JOIN THE BAND is in stores tomorrow, August 26th, on 429 Records.
A distinctive and eclectic blend of rock, funk, folk, jazz, country, rockabilly, and New Orleans swamp boogie, Little Feat's musical style was forged when Lowell George was fired from Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention and told to form his own band. Bill Payne, Richie Hayward and Roy Estrada joined with him to create Little Feat, a band that would continue recording, touring and transcending musical boundaries long after the tragic and premature death of its founder.
JOIN THE BAND was an idea born in 2004 just after original Little Feat keyboardist Billy Payne had played on Jimmy Buffett's chart topping album, "License to Chill." Jimmy suggested flying the band out to his Shrimp Boat Sound studios in Key West to put together the all-star project that had been planned for years prior. With the production team of Payne and Buffett associates Mac McAnally and Alan Schulman in place, the project began to take shape.
Just as it was impossible to easily categorize the sound of Little Feat, JOIN THE BAND is a true collaboration amongst stellar talents - the current members of Little Feat including Billy Payne (keyboards), Richie Hayward (drums), Paul Barrere (guitar), Sam Clayton (Percussion), Kenny Gradney (bass), Fred Tackett (guitar) and Shaun Murphy (vocals) would often provide backup on songs sending tracks to artists giving them full reign over their contribution. Some songs such as Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land" feature Little Feat members on vocals with guest artists Mike Gordon from Phish laying down the bass. The resulting confluence of Feat, Phish, Guthrie, blues folk and gospel creates a musical gem unique to the spirit of "JOIN THE BAND."
The complete album was serviced to U.S. radio outlets and program directors immediately focused on "Fat Man in the Bathtub" featuring Dave Matthews, "Oh Atlanta" featuring Chris Robinson, and "Something in the Water" featuring Bob Seger. Promotion began the first week of August and the project was No 2 MOST ADDED at Triple A Radio, while Americana, Country, and Mainstream and Classic Rock also joined the band with significant airplay. Says Diane Michaels from radio station KPND: "This is the best record I have listened to from beginning to end - the calls into the station have all been basically gushing!"
Complete JOIN THE BAND track list:
1. "Fat Man in the Bathtub" w/ Dave Matthews & Sonny Landreth
2. "Something in the Water" w/ Bob Seger
3. "Dixie Chicken" w/ Vince Gill & Sonny Landreth
4. "See You Later Alligator"
5. "Champion of the World" w/ Jimmy Buffett
6. "The Weight" w/ Bela Fleck
7. "Don't Ya Just Know It"
8. "Time Loves A Hero" w/ Jimmy Buffett
9. "Willin'" w/ Brooks & Dunn
10. "This Land is Your Land" w/ Mike Gordon
11. "Oh Atlanta" w/ Chris Robinson
12. "Spanish Moon" w/ Craig Fuller & Vince Gill
13. "Trouble" w/ Inara George
14. "Sailin' Shoes" w/ Emmylou Harris, Sam Bush & Bela Fleck
Bonus track
15. "I Will Play for Gumbo" w/ Sam Bush
Little Feat will be on tour throughout the Summer and Fall of 2008. Dates confirmed are as follows:
8/29 Denver, CO Taste of Colorado Festival
9/13 Ventura, CA Ventura Hillsides Music Festival
9/20 Little Rock, AR Clinton Presidential Center
9/25 Glenside, PA Keswick Theater
9/26 New York, NY Concert Hall at Society for Ethical Culture
9/27 New York, NY Concert Hall at Society for Ethical Culture
9/28 Foxborough, MA Showcase Live
