New Directions (The Meters album)
New Directions is the eighth and final studio album by the funk group The Meters. Produced by David Rubinson in California, it is the band's first and only album produced outside New Orleans. The album features the Oakland-based Tower of Power horn section.[3]
| New Directions | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1977 | |||
| Genre | Funk | |||
| Length | 41:02 | |||
| Label | Warner Bros. | |||
| Producer | David Rubinson, Jeffrey Cohen | |||
| The Meters chronology | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| Christgau's Record Guide | B+[2] |
Reception
Stephen Erlewine of Allmusic called the music gritty and a move in the right direction as compared to the band's previous album Trick Bag.[1] John Swenson of Rolling Stone said the album "attempts to consolidate the group's style" and noted an overreliance on arrangement rather than the band's musical instinct.[4] Music critique Robert Christgau called the album "a very good commercial funk record."[2]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Art Neville, Ziggy Modeliste, Cyril Neville, Leo Nocentelli and George Porter, Jr.; except as noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "No More Okey Doke" | 4:20 | |
| 2. | "I'm Gone" | Allen Toussaint | 4:30 |
| 3. | "Be My Lady" | 6:25 | |
| 4. | "My Name up in Lights" | 5:23 | |
| 5. | "Funkify Your Life" | 5:40 | |
| 6. | "Stop That Train" | Peter Tosh | 4:50 |
| 7. | "We Got the Kind of a Love" | Leo Nocentelli | 5:20 |
| 8. | "Give It What You Can" | Carl Marsh, James Tarbutton, Steve Cropper | 4:34 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9. | "Be My Lady" (Single version) | 3:25 | |
| 10. | "All I Do Every Day" (Previously unreleased demo) | Porter, Modeliste | 4:57 |
Personnel
- The Meters
- Ziggy Modeliste – drums, vocals; lead vocals (track 5)
- Art Neville – organ, vocals; lead vocals (tracks 2, 6)
- Cyril Neville – congas, vocals; lead vocals (tracks 1, 3, 4, 7, 8)
- Leo Nocentelli – guitar, vocals
- George Porter, Jr. – bass, vocals
- Additional Personnel
- Emilio Castillo – tenor saxophone
- Mic Gillette – trombone, trumpet, flugelhorn
- Stephen "Doc" Kupka – baritone saxophone
- Lenny Pickett – alto flute, alto and soprano and tenor saxophone
- Kurt McGettrick – baritone saxophone (tracks 1, 2, 4), bass saxophone (track 2), clarinet (track 7), flute (track 7), horn arrangements
- Swamp Tabernacle Choir – background vocals
- Production
- David Rubinson – producer, engineer
- Jeffrey Cohen – producer
- Fred Catero – engineer
- Chris Minto – engineer
- Fred Rubinson – engineer
- Bob Irwin – mastering
- Bill Naegels – design
- Rich Russell – design
- Ron Coro – design
- Gary Heery – photography
- Michael P. Smith – photography
- John Cabalka – art direction
- Ed Thrasher – art direction, photography
- Bill Dahl – liner notes
References
- Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Allmusic: New Direction – review". allmusic.com. Archived from the original on November 1, 2016. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
- Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: M". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 7, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- Daniel Knobler (February 2011). "Here Come the Meter Men". Perfect Sound Forever magazine. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved November 4, 2017.
- John Swenson (September 8, 1977). "The Meters: New Directions". Rolling Stone. Straight Arrow (RS 247). ISSN 0035-791X. Archived from the original on October 1, 2007. Retrieved November 4, 2017.
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