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]
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| Christgau's Record Guide | B+[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
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
- ^ a b MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1996. p. 457.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "AllMusic: New Direction – review". allmusic.com. Archived from the original on November 1, 2016. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (1998). The Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul. Virgin. p. 229.
- ^ 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.
