Artist:The Meters
Song:Cabbage Alley
Album:Funkify Your Life:The Meters Anthology
The Neville Brothers are a pretty good place to start talking about New Orleans R & B. Most folks are familiar with Aaron Neville and the more recent incarnation known as The Neville Brothers. But it all started back in the early 60s with keyboardist Art Neville. In 1966 he formed Art Neville & The Sounds with brothers Aaron & Charles Neville, guitarist Leo Nocentelli, drummer Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste and bassist George Porter. They were hired by the legendary Allen Toussaint as his studio house band. So they were the New Orleans version of Booker T & The MGs. They were renamed The Meters and signed with Josie Records. They had some R & B chart hits and moved to Reprise Records in 1972. Though they didn't have the chart success there, they built a substantial cult following for their trademark funky sound. They finally did have a top 40 single with Hey Pocky A Way in 1974. They continued to back up New Orleans bands but lost the Meters name to Toussaint in 1977. Then Art formed The Neville Brothers band. Funkify Your Life is Rhino's definitive 2CD comp of the funky music of The Meters. It's essential for funk fans. Here are The Meters performing Look-Ka Py Py & Jungle Man on the PBS TV show Soundstage in 1974.
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