Vince Gill, Brooks & Dunn On Little Feat CD

Vince Gill photo courtesy of MCA Nashville.

June 13, 2008 — One of the most-respected acts among rock and roots musicians is Little Feat, a band perhaps best known by country fans as the originator of "Dixie Chicken," which Garth Brooks covered on his 1992 album The Chase.

The group’s next album, Join The Band, comes out Aug. 26, and it blends in a host of other artists and musicians, including such country acts as Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris and Brooks & Dunn. Vince takes the vocal reins on a remake of "Dixie Chicken," Emmylou makes an appearance on the closing "Sailing Shoes," and Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn are featured on "Willin’." Jimmy Buffett is aboard on two tracks, "Champion Of The World" and "Time Loves A Hero," and Craig Fuller, who authored the Pure Prairie League classic "Amie," chips in on "Spanish Moon."

Mac McAnally, who wrote the Sawyer Brown hit "All These Years" and the Kenny Chesney concert staple "Back Where I Come From," co-produced the project, which also includes work by banjo legend Bela Fleck and fiddler-mandolinist Sam Bush.

Little Feat’s made its own contributions to country music. Most of the band backed Travis Tritt when he recorded "Bible Belt" for the 1991 movie My Cousin Vinny. Keyboard player Bill Payne has played on several of Emmylou’s hits as well as Johnny Lee’s "Lookin’ For Love." Guitarist Fred Tackett’s credits include Clint Black’s "The Shoes You’re Wearing" and multiple hits by Glen Campbell and Kenny Rogers.