"Chicken Fried" and Bounced Around
I saw the Lost Trailers this weekend and was really impressed. But other than hearing their "Holler Back" and "How 'Bout You Don't" over and over and over on the radio, I don't know much about their back story. So I did a little research and discovered they debuted back in March 2006 at No. 53 with their first single, "Chicken Fried." Hmm. I think I know that song. In fact, I totally know that song. It's one of my favorites from the Zac Brown Band. So what up? It looks like that song is like the little slut of country music. First Zac Brown co-wrote her, recorded her in 2003, relinquished her to the Lost Trailers in 2006 and then took her back again. And now she and the Zac Brown Band are happy together, having spent some quality time at the very top of the charts. But it makes me wonder how many other singles have bounced around from artist to artist?
©2008 Country Music Television, Inc., a Viacom company. A division of
RedMaZ says:
This fact has been established some time ago. On this very blog site. It’s nice to see you’re finally doing some research. Even though a little late on this one.
Sue says:
I have not heard The Lost Trailers version of Chicken Fried but my guess is Zac did a better job performing it. It turns out that it was a smart move to release his version since it made #1 on radio. He must have used the colonel’s secret recipe: record a great song and add 1 big scoop of great promotion.
Another single that has bounced from artist to artist is the Christmas classic Santa Baby, which was recorded by Eartha Kitt in 1953 and has been covered countless times. It was recorded by Kellie Pickler and released to country radio as a Christmas single from the Sony BMG album “Hear Something Country Christmas 2007.” Kellie delivers the best vocal in the history of the song, absolutely beautiful, flawless, sassy, sexy, and she totally nailed it. It’s based on the original longer, slow tempo version Eartha recorded in 1953, which is the most difficult to sing. Madonna’s and many other versions are based on the shorter, uptempo version Eartha recorded in 1963. Even Santa himself said Kellie’s Santa Baby is his favorite and Mrs. Claus likes to play it around the house often. The elves listen to it all the time while making toys in the workshop, and Santa and the reindeer listen to it on the sleigh.
Since it’s the best, it’s no wonder that Kellie’s Santa Baby single is the highest charting since Eartha’s original, certainly on country radio at least (it hasn’t been released outside of country). Madonna’s infamous version may have charted higher on top 40 radio, and it’s the best-selling version even though her vocal is dreadful and one of the worst in the history of the song, so that’s an example of many pop fans not caring about good singing. When Kellie’s version was released in 2007 it passed Madonna’s on the iTunes sales chart for awhile. Kellie’s Santa Baby currently ranks around #3 just behind Madonna and Eartha. Santa says Kellie’s label should promote her version to country radio more and release it to AC and pop radio next Christmas and it might become the new #1 seller. It could easily be a hit on AC and maybe pop radio.
lolhorse6375 says:
I love that song Chicken Fried!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cindy says:
Chicken Fried is one of my favorite songs! Sue thank you for your review of Kellie Pickler’s Santa Baby. It’s much more informative and accurate than the nonsense review another blog published and they don’t have a clue.
Matt B. says:
The Lost Trailers and Zac Brown Band are both from Georgia and are friends so when TLT got their 2nd major label deal (after one with Universal Republic) and went completely mainstream country, they released “Chicken Fried.” After Zac decided to do the same thing, he quickly wanted the song back. Now, both acts are doing well on the airwaves and it probably won’t be long before they’re touring together.
Bobby says:
Okay, if a song by two artists is a “little slut” (a phrase I never thought I’d see on CMT’s website!), then what does that make Dennis Linde’s “What’ll You Do About Me”? Steve Earle released it, then The Forester Sisters, then Doug Supernaw. Randy Travis and McGuffey Lane also cut it, but their versions weren’t singles.
…Oh, and how about “Why Baby Why”? I know two versions went to #1, the Possum’s was a #4, Palomino Road had a version, and so did about two or three other one-hit wonders (or in Palomino Road’s case, a no-hit wonder).
Madonnanew album says:
Madonna - Music (Sticky Sweet Tour Official DVD)…
Madonna is known for exploring religious symbolism and sex in her work. This drew critisc from the Vatican throughout the 1980s. In 1992, she started an entertainment company, Maverick, which published a book of erotic pictures named Sex….