Leader and songwriter extraordinaire Lowell George is also at the top of his game. Standards such as the acoustic "Roll Um Easy," keyboard-drenched "Kiss It Off," and adroit title track hook the listener from the start, as does the timeless "Fat Man in the Bathtub," a tune that continues George's knack for twisted storytelling. Legendary New Orleans arranger Allen Toussaint contributes the intoxicating "On Your Way Down," which the sextet turns into a slow dark blues that ripples with rock overtones. Thick grooves and sultry riffs abound throughout this brilliant set.

And ensemble playing doesn't get any better. Splitting the line between taut studio perfection and loose jamming, Little Feat lays down some of the most exhilarating slide-guitar and colorful percussive work heard on record. Several distinguished guests contribute to the party: Bonnie Raitt, Bonnie Bramlett, ex-Rolling Stone Mick Taylor, and multi-instrumentalist Fred Tackett among them. In every sense, Dixie Chicken is the epitome of early 70s American rock and roll – funny, smart, relaxing, cohesive, melodic, smooth, stylish, engaging.