Customer Reviews

Fire on the Bayou

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I think this album was recorded just before Rejuvenation, perhaps 1974. Love Slip Upon Ya is perhaps the greatest Meters song up to this point unreleased on CD. Several other classics, available on the Rhino 2 CD re-release (Funkify Your Life) are also here. As with all the Meters' albums in the '70s, it's all over the place. Funk, and more. Compared to Cabbage Alley and Rejuvenation, it's not quite as good. Still, this is one of the best examples of Funk music in the 70's.

Obviously Dorky Butt knows nothing about Music, this is a musical materpiece. The Meters are the kings of groove and feel good sounds. This is a testament to their versatility and originality. I recommend this to anyone who knows good music.
-- JcH

I echo the comment about Dorky Blue who seems to like Kenny G. This funky soul stew is too raw for his tastes which seems to be for elevator music. Classic disc when issued on lp and still sounds fresh today.

One of My favorites CD's of all time! Great beat, great songs & just an A Plus group of music! If You've ever lived in new orleans & liked Dr John, Professor Longhair, or any of the other great New Orleans beat musicians that came from this great & historic city this is the cd You'll play over & over!

I have to be honest, I prefer the METERS to the NEVILLE's... this album, however, is the perfect middle ground
ZIg's drum beats aren't as over the top, and its not the "Booker T. and the MGs only way funkier" INSTRUMENTAL soul of the METERS... but rather a FUNKY N'awleans Rock and Soul band - - that happens to be driven by the METERS... has more of a '70s disco/fatback beat (and sometimes even Doobie/Southern Rock influence), and the Neville's trademark sweet vocalizations thrown in... but is still the Meters ("Love Slip Upon You" being my favorite cut - - and "Fire on the Bayou" with its red hot rhythm and grimey Hammond being the deserved fan fave !) - - in addition, though not all the tunes are great, many not only show new directions for the band, but suggest new directions for music in general (!)

That said, warning... its not the old instrumental gutbucket METERS sound, the band definitely funks out on half the tracks... Typical to the NEVILLE BOTHERS stuff, there's some eclecticism... including a calypso meets New Orleans/Southern Rock ditty called "They All Ask'd For You", which would probably appeal just as much to a Randy Newman fan as would "Talkin' About New Orleans" - - "Liar" is also funky, but would appeal just as much to the Steve Miller Set, and "You're A Friend of Mine" is a nice ballad, but definitely ain't your typical Meter's bag... On the other hand, check out what starts out as a Wes Montgomery influenced funk/groove thing, then goes in a contemporary Jazz directions and though definitely NOT typical METER shows the interesting directions the band was taking at the time... The 1'27 "Running Fast" in contrast sounds almost like something like The Ohio Players meets early EWF, only ... as played by... well the Neville's with that distinct riff rhythm guitar/organ mix that was there's alone... and, surprise, surprise... album ends with... a Mardis Gras ditty.

All and all, if you've never heard this album, but have collected most of the Meter's early stuff, expect to be shocked. If you like Dr. John and The Neville's, but are also a true blue funkateer, you'll dig it... the key element here is a person's willingness to go from Cissy Strut to a such a totally different direction...

P.S. Desperatly needs to be remastered ! ! !

This si for die hard fans only! If you like the Meters, you may not nessicarily like Fire On The Bayou. The 1st song is ok, but by the time you get to track 3, you pretty much knwo hwo the whole album is going to sound. PREDICTIBLE, and a little mundane.