LITTLE FEAT And BONNIE RAITT Team For “Long Distance Call”; Band’s New Album Out This Friday

Article Contributed by SRO | Published on Thursday, May 16, 2024

“I’ve always loved Little Feat, and this new incarnation of the band is bringing some serious heat, cred and new blood to their enduring legacy,” says Bonnie Raitt, a longtime friend of LITTLE FEAT.

With her warm and deeply soulful vocals, Raitt duets with the band’s Sam Clayton on a cover of Muddy Waters’ “Long Distance Call.” It’s the newly released third single from the band’s new album SAM’S PLACE (Hot Tomato Productions/MRI) out this Friday, May 17. Listen to the slow-burning song HERE that was premiered yesterday (May 15) via Ultimate Classic Rock.

SAM’S PLACE marks the legendary band’s first new studio album in 12 years; first-ever blues album; and the first one to feature linchpin conga player Clayton on lead vocals on every song. Pre-order/pre-save the album HERE.

“Every Feat fan loves us some Sam,” adds Raitt. “I’m so glad he’s now gotten a chance to step out front and center and put his spin on these wonderful blues songs. I loved singing ‘Long Distance Call’ with him, always one of my favorites, and Scott slayed on slide. Know you’ll enjoy hanging out with us at Sam’s Place!"

“Long Distance Call,” which also features Michael “Bull” LoBue on harmonica,  follows the first two tracks/videos from SAM’S PLACE: “You’ll Be Mine,” a cover of the Willie Dixon-written chestnut popularized by Howlin’ Wolf and “Can’t Be Satisfied,” a rollicking interpretation of the classic Muddy Waters-written gem.

The members of LITTLE FEAT 2024 are: Bill Payne, Keyboards and Vocals; Sam Clayton, Percussion and Vocals; Fred Tackett, Guitars and Vocals, Kenny Gradney, Bass; Scott Sharrard, Guitars and Vocals; and Tony Leone, drums and vocals. Their individual musical chops and collective chemistry light up the nine-track SAM’S PLACE, which was waxed at Sam Phillips Recording in Memphis, TN (August 2023), except for “Got My Mojo Working (Live),” recorded live at the Boulder Theatre in Boulder, CO (December 17, 2022). This is the first LITTLE FEAT album recorded with new members Sharrard and Leone.

LITTLE FEAT emerged from the pandemic with their sense of humor, chops, and collective joy in playing intact—and their creativity has been renewed with the joyously blues-soaked SAM’S PLACE. The idea for the album started with Bill, but the whole band jumped in. They started working on songs at sound checks. Sam, Scott and Fred wrote a new song, “Milk Man.” Visiting backstage at a FEAT show, Bonnie Raitt suggested the Howlin’ Wolf tune “You Will Be Mine.” Scott suggested “Why People Like That,” a Bobby Charles tune. Sam chose the Willy Dixon-penned “Don’t Go No Further,” a deep Muddy track. And they included a live version of “Got My Mojo Working.”

Scott had recorded in Memphis, and they eventually found their way to the second Phillips (the first was Sun Studios, where Elvis began his career) studio there, complete with Jerry Lee Lewis’s piano, which Bill noted “practically played itself.” FEAT’s a rock band, but as Scott observed, at the end “the blues is home,” and they basically recorded it live in the studio, in the tradition. Their playing is at an all-time high, and Bill thought their musical conversation was “flawless.”

Sam was a happy vocalist. His own “Milk Man,” a song about his nephew, has lyrics from his wife, Joni.  The duet with Bonnie on “Long Distance Call,” he humbly admitted, was classic. “We go good together, man.” “Last Night” was done in memory of Sam’s very good friend, the late Ed Bradley of Sixty Minutes. And “Why People Like That” was particularly satisfying. “I just like the way the slide sounds and everything. I knew Scott is a great slide player too, plus he is a great lead guitarist. And I know we would put our touch to it, the Little Feat touch. So we just sort of did it. Scott just adds a lot to it and he answers to what I'm singing.”

SAM’S PLACE scratches a deep itch. Sam added, “I'm very happy because I was never expecting anything like that. I mean, I have wanted to, but I just wasn't expecting it to come to fruition. It was a long wait, but it’s satisfying.”

LITTLE FEAT will be busy this summer on the road. From touring with the Tedeschi Trucks Band to headline shows with The Wood Brothers, Los Lobos, Marc Broussard, Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel, The Steel Wheels, and Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley, there will be plenty of chances to boogie with the band. For their Baltimore, MD show on June 14, LITTLE FEAT will perform their classic 1973 album, Feats Don’t Fail Me Now, in its entirety. Tickets are available HERE.

Friday, May 31

Berkeley, CA

Greek Theatre

Supporting Tedeschi Trucks Band

Saturday, June 1

Berkeley, CA

Greek Theatre

Supporting Tedeschi Trucks Band

Tuesday, June 4

Reno, NV

Grand Sierra Theatre

Supporting Tedeschi Trucks Band

Wednesday, June 5

Santa Barbara, CA

Santa Barbara Bowl

Supporting Tedeschi Trucks Band

Friday, June 7

Los Angeles, CA

Greek Theatre

Supporting Tedeschi Trucks Band

Saturday, June 8

San Diego, CA

Cal Coast Credit Union Amphitheater

Supporting Tedeschi Trucks Band

Sunday, June 9

Los Angeles, CA

Greek Theatre

Supporting Tedeschi Trucks Band

Monday, June 10

Los Angeles, CA

Grammy Museum at L.A. LIVE

 

Thursday, June 13

Cary, NC

Koka Booth Amphitheater

Headline

Friday, June 14

Baltimore, MD

Pier Six Pavilion

Headline

Saturday, June 15

Syracuse, NY

New York State Blues Festival 2024

 

Monday, June 17

Pittsburgh, PA

Carnegie Music Hall of Oakland

Headline

Tuesday, June 18

Cincinnati, OH

PNC Pavilion

Headline

Thursday, June 20

Indianapolis, IN

Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park

Headline

Friday, June 21

Grand Rapids, MI

Meijer Gardens Amphitheater

Headline

Saturday, June 22

Highland Park, IL

Ravinia Festival

Co-Headline w/ Los Lobos

Monday, June 24

Evansville, IN

Victory Theatre

Headline

Tuesday, June 25

St. Louis, MO

The Factory

Headline

Wednesday, June 26

Kansas City, MO

Uptown Theater

Headline

Friday, June 28

Sioux Falls, SD

Washington Pavilion

Headline

Saturday, June 29

Saint Paul, MN

Fitzgerald Theater

Headline

Sunday, June 30

Mankato, MN

Vetter Stone Amphitheater

Headline

Tuesday, July 2

Des Moines, IA

Hoyt Sherman Place

Headline

Wednesday, July 3

Omaha, NE

The Astro

Headline

Friday, July 5

Morrison, CO

Red Rocks

Supporting The Avett Brothers

Saturday, August 17

Milford, CT

Milford Oyster Festival 2024

 

Sunday, August 18

Jim Thorpe, PA

Penn’s Peak

Headline

Tuesday, August 20

Deerfield, MA

Tree House Brewing Company Summer Stage

Headline

Wednesday, August 21

Hyannis, MA

Cape Cod Melody Tent

Headline

Thursday, August 22

Cohasset, MA

South Shore Music Circus

Headline

Saturday, August 24

Webster, MA

Indian Ranch

Headline

Sunday, August 25

Bethel Woods, NY

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

Supporting Tedeschi Trucks Band

Tuesday, August 27

Patchogue, NY

Patchogue Theatre

Headline

Wednesday, August 28

Philadelphia, PA

The Mann Center

Supporting Tedeschi Trucks Band

Friday, August 30

Selbyville, DE

Freeman Arts Pavilion

Headline

Saturday, August 31

Saratoga Springs, NY

Saratoga Performing Arts Center

Supporting Tedeschi Trucks Band

Sunday, October 20

Northfield, OH

MGM Northfield Park

Headline

Tuesday, October 22

Wheeling, WV

The Capitol Theatre

Headline

Thursday, October 24

Louisville, KY

Louisville Palace Theater

Headline

Friday, October 25

Cherokee, NC

Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort Event Center

Headline

Saturday, October 26

Charlottesville, VA

The Paramount Theater

Headline

Monday, October 28

Virginia Beach, VA

Sandler Center For The Performing Arts

Headline

Tuesday, October 29

Charlotte, NC

The Knight Theater

Headline

Wednesday, October 30

Wilmington, NC

Kenan Auditorium

Headline

Friday, November 1

Macon, GA

Macon City Auditorium

Headline

Saturday, November 2

Miramar Beach, FL

Moon Crush Cowboy Moon 2024

 

Feb. 28 – Mar. 7, 2025

Miami, FL

Cayamo 2025

 

Here’s the track listing for SAM’S PLACE:

1.   Milkman- Written by Sam Clayton (ASCAP), Fred Tackett for Hoceanna Music (ASCAP), and Scott Sharrard for Brickyard Blues Music BMI

2.   You’ll Be Mine - Written by Willie Dixon for Hoochie Coochie Music (BMI)

3.   Long Distance Call – Written by Muddy Waters for Watertoons (BMI)

4.   Don’t Go No Further - Written by Willie Dixon for Hoochie Coochie Music (BMI)

5.   Can’t Be Satisfied – Written by Muddy Waters for Watertoons (BMI)

6.   Last Night – Written by Walter Jacobs for ARC Music (BMI)

7.   Why People Like That – Written by Bobby Charles for Street People Songs (BMI)

8.   Mellow Down Easy – Written by Willie Dixon for BMG Bumblebee (BMI)

9.   Got My Mojo Working (Live) – Written by Preston Foster for Dar Music, Inc (BMI)

Here are LITTLE FEAT’s tour dates. For more information and ticket links, go HERE.

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