The Meters - 1970 - Struttin'

The Meters

1970

Struttin'

01. Chicken Strut 2:48

02. Liver Splash 2:40

03. Wichita Lineman 2:58

04. Joog 2:12

05. Go For Yourself 3:10

06. Same Old Thing 2:52

07. Hand Clapping Song 2:55

08. Darlin' Darlin' 2:53

09. Tippi-Toes 2:26

10. Britches 2:50

11. Hey! Last Minute 2:59

12. Ride Your Pony 3:19

Art Neville – organ, keyboards, vocals

Leo Nocentelli – guitar

George Porter Jr. – bass guitar

Ziggy Modeliste – drums, percussion

Allen Toussaint – producer

As the third full-length album released by the Meters, Struttin' may not appear to be drastically different than its predecessors, at least not on the surface. After all, the title of the lead single "Chicken Strut" intentionally recalls their previous biggest "Cissy Strut," and it has the same basic Meters groove. And if the essential sound remains unchanged, that's because that organic, earthy funk is the Meters' signature. Other groups have tried to replicate it, but nobody ever played it better. Because of that, Struttin is an enjoyable record, even if it never quite feels like anything more focused than a series of jam sessions; after all, that's what it was. This time around, however, the Meters did make a conscious decision to emphasize vocals, and not just with shout-alongs on the chorus ("Chicken Strut," "Same Old Thing"), but with Art Neville's leads on covers of Ty Hunter's soulful uptown shuffle "Darling, Darling, Darling," Jimmy Webb's groovy ballad "Wichita Lineman," and Lee Dorsey's "Ride Your Pony" (the Meters provided support on the original recording). This gives the album a bit more diversity than its predecessors, which is welcome, even for devotees of the group's admittedly addictive sound. But the real difference is how the band seems willing to expand their signature sound. "Hand Clapping Song" is a spare, syncopated breakdown without an obvious through-line, while "Joog" turns the group's groove inside out. These variations are entertaining -- as entertaining as the vocals -- and the songs that are solidly in the Meters tradition are also fun. The results are pretty terrific, though given the fact that Struttin' never really pulls itself into a coherent album, it may be the kind of first-rate record only aficionados of the band will need to seek out.

The Meters' last album for local independent label Josie is another sure-shot marathon of sparse funk mastery. 'Struttin'' also is the final disc that has the band in a virtually complete instrumental mode - adding vocals was experimented with here - "Wichita Lineman" - but the bread and butter of The Meters' remained chant-heavy instru-funk.

This is best examplified by the crazy funk romp "Chicken Strut", a delicously bouncin' groove featuring some hilarious faux-chicken cackles and crows. And the beat goes on with such tasty New-Orleans vittles as "Liver Splash" - a bluesy, uptempo groove kicked in the rear by Porter's thumping bass pops - and the bare naked Louisiana swamp funk of "Joog", with drummer Modeliste's ultra-suspenseful beats and Art Neville's muddy organ wails.

Guitarist Nocentelli provides some razor sharp chanks on "Go for Yourself", a messy jam showcasing Art's organ skills. Aggressive, vicious funk returns with the heavy duty "Same Old Thing", which is drenched in Neville's thick-as-molasses Hammond riffs and propelled by Porter's percussive bass hooks. "Hand Clapping Song" may well rate as The Meters' most minimalistic of minimalist funk work-outs, with nothing more than drums, bass and Nocentelli's twangy guitar to counter the loud hand clapping throughout. It's back to the Big Easy with "Darlin' Darlin", where Art takes the lead vocal, turning in a cajun/funk/swamp thang best described as a boogie-ballad. Nocentelli's teasing, metallic, chipping guitar notes on "Tippi-Toes" gives this jam its edge, while The Meters' go for some serious Sly Stone soul rockin' on "Britches".But the heaviest funk is reserved for "Hey! Last Minute", a ruthless groovathon driven by Modeliste's fatback, in-the-pocket drumming, and a stupendous cover of Lee Dorsey's "Ride Your Pony". The Meters had backed Dorsey up on the original, and their own rendition is just as fiery.

More solid gold funk from Nawlins' finest.