Little Feat Announce Sailin’ Shoes and Dixie Chicken Deluxe Editions

Two of Little Feat’s finest albums – 1972’s Sailin’ Shoes and 1973’s Dixie Chicken – will be reissued as deluxe editions just in time for the summer. 

The expanded editions of the two albums will arrive on June 23, 2023, via Rhino, each on 2-CD or 3-LP 180-gram vinyl. 

From the album announcement: 

Released in February 1972, Sailin’ Shoes was the second studio album from the founding quartet of singer-guitarist Lowell George, drummer Richard Hayward, keyboard player Bill Payne and bassist Roy Estrada. Ted Templeman produced the record, which was the first to feature artwork by illustrator Neon Park, who created covers for nearly all of Little Feat’s albums.

SAILIN’ SHOES (DELUXE EDITION) opens with a newly remastered version of the original album, which introduced signature tunes like “Easy To Slip,” the title track, and an updated version of “Willin’” a song that also appeared in 1971 on the band’s eponymous debut. Several outtakes from the album’s recording sessions make their debut on the Deluxe Edition, including alternate versions of “Cold, Cold, Cold,” “A Apolitical Blues,” and “Willin’.” 

The magic that Little Feat conjured in concert takes center stage in the new set with a newly discovered and previously unreleased complete show recorded at the Palladium in Los Angeles on August 28, 1971. This live set marks the only multi-track recording in existence to feature the original lineup of the band. The performance features songs from both Sailin’ Shoes (“Tripe Face Boogie,” “Teenage Nervous Breakdown”) and Little Feat (“Hamburger Midnight,” “Snakes On Everything.”) The set also comes with illustrated liner notes written by acclaimed music journalist, David Fricke.

Dixie Chicken, the band’s third studio album, emerged in 1973 and introduced fans to Little Feat’s evolving sound and new line-up. The group’s shift toward New Orleans-style funk was accompanied by the arrival of three new members, guitarist Paul Barrere, percussionist Sam Clayton, and bassist Kenny Gradney (who replaced Estrada).

DIXIE CHICKEN (DELUXE EDITION) contains the newly remastered album, which features classics like “Two Trains,” “Fat Man In The Bathtub,” and the title track. Several unreleased session recordings debut in the new set, including alternate versions of “Roll Um Easy,” “On Your Way Down,” and “Juliette.” The unreleased live music was recorded at Paul’s Mall in Boston on March 1, 1973. They feature songs from Dixie Chicken (“Two Trains,” “Walkin’ All Night”) and the band’s earlier albums (“Willin’,” “Got No Shadow.”) The illustrated liner notes included in the collection were written by author Dennis McNally, who got his start as the Grateful Dead’s publicist.

Little Feat will celebrate these deluxe editions with “The Albums Tour” this fall, which will feature the band playing each album in its entirety across back-to-back nights at select venues (night one will be Sailin’ Shoes and night two will be Dixie Chicken). Preceding “The Album Tour,” the band is currently in the midst of their “Boogie Your Spring Away” tour, making their way across the East Coast in the coming days before making special appearances at the MerleFest in North Carolina April 27 and The Green River Festival on June 25 in Massachusetts. After a short break, Little Feat will hop back on the road for the “Boogie Your Summer Away” tour, kicking off July 12 in Atlanta and wrapping up summer dates at the Hot August Music Festival on August 19 in Maryland.

 

SAILIN’ SHOES (DELUXE EDITION)

2CD Track Listing

Disc One: Original Album (2023 Remaster)

“Easy To Slip”

“Cold, Cold Cold”

“Trouble”

“Tripe Face Boogie”

“Willin’”

“A Apolitical Blues”

“Sailin’ Shoes”

“Teenage Nervous Breakdown”

“Got No Shadow”

“Cat Fever”

“Texas Rose Café”

Disc Two: Hotcakes, Outtakes, Rarities 

“Sailin’ Shoes” – Demo *

“Easy To Fall” (early version of “Easy To Slip”) – Demo For Doobie Bros. 

“Texas Rose Café” – Demo For Doobie Bros. 

“Cold, Cold, Cold” – Alternate Version *

“Roto/Tone”

“A Apolitical Blues” – Alternate Version *

“Boogie” (early version of “Tripe Face Boogie”)

“Trouble” – Alternate Version *

“Doriville”

“Willin’” – Alternate Version *

“Easy To Slip” – Mono Single Version

Thank You! I’ll Eat It Here: Live At The Palladium, Los Angeles, CA (8/28/71)

“Tripe Face Boogie” *

“Hamburger Midnight” *

“Cat Fever” *

“Willin’” *

“Strawberry Flats” *

“Got No Shadow” *

“Texas Rose Café” *

“Snakes On Everything” *

“Hot Rod” *

“Teenage Nervous Breakdown” *

 

DIXIE CHICKEN (DELUXE EDITION)

2CD Track Listing

Disc One: Original Album (2023 Remaster)

“Dixie Chicken”

“Two Trains”

“Roll Um Easy”

“On Your Way Down”

“Kiss It Off”

“Fool Yourself”

“Walkin’ All Night”

“Fat Man In The Bathtub”

“Juliette”

“Lafayette Railroad”

Disc Two: Hotcakes, Outtakes, Rarities

“Two Trains” – Demo

“Fat Man In The Bathtub” – Demo

“Walkin’ All Night” – Alternate Version *

“Roll Um Easy” – Alternate Version *

“On Your Way Down” – Alternate Version *

“Eldorado Slim”

“Juliette” – Alternate Version *

“Hi Roller (Ace In The Hole)”

“Dixie Chicken” – Alternate Version *

Icepick Eldorado: Live At Paul’s Mall, Boston, MA (4/1/73)

“Two Trains” *

“Got No Shadow” *

“On Your Way Down” *

“Walkin’ All Night” *

“Fat Man In The Bathtub” *

“Willin’” *

“A Apolitical Blues” *

 

Little Feat – “Boogie Your Summer Away” Tour Dates 

April 26 Roanoke, VA  Berglund Center

April 27 Wilkesboro, NC MerleFest 2023

April 29 Wilmington, NC  Kenan Auditorium

April 30 Charleston, SC Charleston Music Hall

June 25 Northampton, MA The Green River Festival

July 12 Atlanta, GA  Atlanta Symphony Hall

July 13 Louisville, KY Iroquois Amphitheater

July 15 Chesterfield, MO Chesterfield Amphitheater

July 16 Decatur, IL  Devon Lakeshore Amphitheater

July 18 Cedar Rapids, IA McGrath Amphitheater

July 19 Omaha, NE Orpheum Theater

July 21 Greenwood Village, CO Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater

July 22 Grand Junction, CO Amphitheater At Las Colonias Park

July 23 Salt Lake City, UT Red Butte Garden

July 26 Seattle, WA Moore Theater

July 27 Portland, OR Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall

July 29 San Francisco, CA The Warfield

July 30 Reno, NV Grand Sierra Resort

Aug 1 San Diego, CA  Humphrey’s Concert By The Bay

Aug 2 Las Vegas, NV The Smith Center

Aug 3 Phoenix, AZ The Celebrity Theater

Aug 17 Spartanburg, SC Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium

Aug 18 Richmond, VA Carpenter Theater At Dominion Energy Center

Aug 19 Cockeyville, MD Hot August Music Festival

 

The Albums Tour

Sept 29 Nashville, TN Ryman Auditorium+

Sept 30 Nashville, TN Ryman Auditorium#

Oct 3 Washington D.C. Warner Theater+

Oct 4 Washington D.C. Warner Theater#

Oct 6 New York, NY The Town Hall+

Oct 7 New York, NY The Town Hall#

Oct 9 Boston, MA The Wilbur+

Oct 10 Boston, MA The Wilbur#

Oct 12 Collingswood, NJ Scottish Rite Auditorium+

Oct 13 Collingswood, NJ Scottish Rite Auditorium#

Oct 15 Chicago, IL The Vic Theater+

Oct 16 Chicago, IL The Vic Theater#

Oct 20 Los Angeles, CA Theater at Ace Hotel+

Oct 21 Los Angeles, CA Theater at Ace Hotel#

 

+performing Sailin’ Shoes in its entirety

#performing Dixie Chicken in its entirety