Wikipedia

New Directions (The Meters album)

New Directions is the eighth and final studio album by the funk band the Meters, released in 1977.[1] Produced by David Rubinson in California, it is the band's only album recorded outside New Orleans. The album features the Oakland-based Tower of Power horn section.[2]

New Directions
Studio album by
the Meters
Released1977
GenreFunk
Length41:02
LabelWarner Bros.
ProducerDavid Rubinson, Jeffrey Cohen
The Meters chronology
Trick Bag
(1976) 		New Directions
(1977) 		Good Old Funky Music
(1990)

Reception edit

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [3]
Christgau's Record GuideB+[4]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide     [1]
The Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul     [5]

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.[6]

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.[3] Robert Christgau called the album "a very good commercial funk record."[4]

Track listing edit

All tracks are written by Art Neville, Ziggy Modeliste, Cyril Neville, Leo Nocentelli and George Porter Jr.; except as noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."No More Okey Doke" 4:20
2."I'm Gone"Allen Toussaint4:30
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 Tosh4:50
7."We Got the Kind of a Love"Leo Nocentelli5:20
8."Give It What You Can"Carl Marsh, James Tarbutton, Steve Cropper4:34
2001 digitally remastered CD bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
9."Be My Lady" (Single version) 3:25
10."All I Do Every Day" (Previously unreleased demo)Porter, Modeliste4:57

Personnel edit

The Meters
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 edit

  1. ^ a b MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1996. p. 457.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ a b Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "AllMusic: New Direction – review". allmusic.com. Archived from the original on November 1, 2016. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  4. ^ a b 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.
  5. ^ Larkin, Colin (1998). The Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul. Virgin. p. 229.
  6. ^ John Swenson (September 8, 1977). "The Meters: New Directions". Rolling Stone. No. RS 247. Straight Arrow. ISSN 0035-791X. Archived from the original on October 1, 2007. Retrieved November 4, 2017.
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