''Rare Bird Alert'' is a 2011 bluegrass album by Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers, featuring guest appearances by

Paul McCartney Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter and musician who gained global fame with the Beatles, for whom he played bass guitar and the piano, and shared primary songwriting and lead vocal duties with John ...

and the Dixie Chicks. This is Martin's second consecutive musical album, and comprises 13 songs. His first all-music album was 2009's '' The Crow: New Songs for the 5-String Banjo''. ''Rare Bird Alert'' was first released on March 15, 2011. The album was nominated for a

Grammy The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious a ...

on November 30, 2011 (Best Bluegrass Album). " King Tut" is a new bluegrass arrangement of a song that was a ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

'' top 20 hit for Martin in 1978.

Track listing

All songs written by Steve Martin except where noted. #"Rare Bird Alert" nstrumental#"Yellow-Backed Fly" – Woody Platt & Mike Guggino on vocals #"Best Love" –

on vocals #"Northern Island" nstrumental#"Go Away, Stop, Turn Around, Come Back" – Woody Platt & Mike Guggino on vocals (comp. Steve Martin, Nicky Sanders, Woody Platt, Graham Sharp, Charles R. Humphrey III & John Frazier) #"Jubilation Day" – Steve Martin & Steep Canyon Rangers on vocals #"More Bad Weather On The Way" – Steep Canyon Rangers on vocals #"You" – Dixie Chicks on vocals #"The Great Remember (for Nancy)" nstrumental#"Women Like To Slow Dance" – Steep Canyon Rangers & Steve Martin on vocals (comp. Steve Martin, Philip Barker & Charles R. Humphrey III) #"Hide Behind A Rock" nstrumental#"Atheists Don't Have No Songs" – Steep Canyon Rangers & Steve Martin on vocals (comp. Steve Martin, Graham Sharp & Woody Platt) #" King Tut" – Steve Martin & Steep Canyon Rangers on vocals

Other editions

A Deluxe Limited Edition was released and is packaged in a full-length vinyl LP in gatefold packaging, and includes a limited edition t-shirt, novelty cards and DRM-free digital downloads of the entire album. Other editions include a mixed variety between vinyl, CD and digital download.

Music video

"Jubilation Day" was made into an animated music video depicting the heads of Steve Martin, along with the Steep Canyon Rangers, over the bodies of various birds.

Chart performance

References

2011 albums Steve Martin albums Rounder Records albums Steep Canyon Rangers albums Country albums by American artists Bluegrass albums {{2010s-country-album-stub