The Meters "The Complete Josie/Reprise And Warner Recordings 1968-1977" 6CD box set [[SoulMusic UK)

Among the most sampled groups of the 60s and 70s by a slew of top rap and hip-hop artists of the 90s and beyond [[including 2 Pac, Ice-T, A Tribe Called Quest, Public Enemy and Beastie Boys among others), the legendary New Orleans band and Grammy Lifetime Achievement awardees The Meters created an instantly recognizable sound through almost a decade of recording, initially for the Josie label and then for Reprise and Warner Brothers. Group members guitarist Leo Nocentelli, bassist George Porter Jr., drummer Joseph ‘Zigaboo’ Modeliste and keyboardist/singer Art Neville formed the core of the band, later augmented by Art’s younger brother, percussionist/singer Cyril who joined The Meters in 1975.

With a superb, informative and extensive essay by renowned UK writer Charles Waring that includes quotes from Nocentelli, Porter and Cyril Neville from interviews conducted for the liner notes, first class mastering by Nick Robbins and stellar artwork by Roger Williams [[featuring rare photos supplied by Warner Music), this wonderful 116-track, 6-CD SoulMusic Records’ box set [[produced by SoulMusic.com’s David Nathan) showcases The Meters’ entire recorded output for Josie Records [[1968-1971), Reprise and Warners Brothers [[1972-77). In addition to their eight full albums [[almost all consisting of original material by the group), this luxurious package [[with a 40-page booklet) includes non-album singles, bonus material, single edits and a rare 1977 disco mix of ‘Disco Is The Thing Today’, available for the first time on CD.

Disc One comprises an expanded edition of the group’s 1969 debut Josie LP, THE METERS [[including the US charted singles, ‘Sophisticated Cissy’ and ‘Cissy Strut’ and bonus tracks, ‘The Look Of Love’ and ‘Soul Machine’) plus the entire follow-up album, 1970’s LOOK-KA PY PY.

Disc Two is an expanded edition of 1970’s STRUTTIN’, their third and final Josie LP [[featuring the US hit, ‘Chicken Strut’) along with two bonus tracks, ‘Grass’ and ‘Borro’ and the ‘A’ and ‘B’ sides of three non-album US R&B-charted singles.

Disc Three marks the start of The Meters’ association with Reprise Records and consists of an expanded edition of 1972’s CABBAGE ALLEY [[with the ‘A’ and ‘B’ sides of the single ‘Chug Chug Chug-A-Lug [[Push And Shove)’ as bonus tracks); and the first six tracks from the 1974 LP, REJUVENATION including the classic ‘Hey Pocky A-Way’ and funk’n’groove favourite, ‘Just Kissed My Baby’.

Disc Four kicks off with the remaining three tracks from REJUVENATION plus an expanded edition of the group’s best-selling Reprise album 1975’s FIRE ON THE BAYOU [[with four bonus cuts).

Disc Five features an expanded edition of the 1976 set TRICK BAG [[with five additional tracks including versions of The Beatles’ ‘Come Together’, Neil Young’s ‘Down By The River’ and Stephen Stills’ ‘Love The One You’re With’)

Disc Six concludes the box set with the group’s sole Warner Brothers’ album, 1977’s NEW DIRECTIONS, rounding out with edits of various tracks including the single versions of charted hits, ‘Hey Pocky A-Way’, ‘People Say’ and ‘Be My Lady’ plus the long version of ‘Running Fast’.

[CD1: Here Comes The Meter Man]
1. Sophisticated Cissy
2. Sehorn’s Farm
3. Cissy Strut
4. Here Comes The Meter Man
5. Cardova
6. Live Wire
7. Art
8. 6V6 LA
9. Stormy
10. Sing A Simple Song
11. Ease Back
12. Ann
13. The Look Of Love
14. Soul Machine
15. Dry Spell
16. Little Old Money Maker
17. Look-Ka Py Py
18. Rigor Mortis
19. Pungee
20. Thinking
21. This Is My Last Affair
22. Funky Miracle
23. Yeah, You’re Right
24. Oh, Calcutta!
25. The Mob
26. 9 ‘Til 5

[CD2: A Message From The Meters]
1. Chicken Strut
2. Hey! Last Minute
3. Grass
4. Borro [[aka Borrow)
5. Liver Splash
6. Wichita Lineman
7. Joog
8. Go For Yourself
9. Same Old Thing
10. Hand Clapping Song
11. Darling Darling Darling
12. Tippi-Toes
13. Britches
14. Ride Your Pony
15. Funky Meters’ Soul
16. Meter Strut
17. A Message From The Meters
18. Zony Mash
19. Stretch Your Rubber Band
20. Groovy Lady
21. [[The World Is A Bit Under The Weather) Doodle-Oop
22. I Need More Time
23. Good Old Funky Music
24. Sassy Lady

[CD3: Just Kissed My Baby]
1. Do The Dirt
2. Smiling
3. You’ve Got To Change [[You Got To Reform)
4. Stay Away
5. Birds
6. The Flower Song
7. Soul Island
8. Lonesome And Unwanted People
9. Gettin’ Funkier All The Time
10. Cabbage Alley
11. Chug Chug Chug-A-Lug [[Push And Shove) Part I
12. Chug Chug Chug-A-Lug [[Push And Shove) Part II
13. People Say
14. Love Is For Me
15. Just Kissed My Baby
16. What’cha Say
17. Jungle Man
18. Hey Pocky A-Way

[CD4: Mardi Gras Mambo]
1. It Ain’t No Use
2. Loving You Is On My Mind
3. Africa
4. Out In The Country
5. Fire On The Bayou
6. Love Slip Upon Ya
7. Talkin’ ‘Bout New Orleans
8. They All Ask’d For You
9. Can You Do Without?
10. Liar
11. You’re A Friend Of Mine
12. Middle Of The Road
13. Running Fast
14. Mardi Gras Mambo
15. Keep On Marching
16. He Bite Me
17. A Mother’s Love
18. Jambalaya [[On The Bayou)

[CD5: Mister Moon]
1. Disco Is The Thing Today
2. Mister Moon
3. Find Yourself
4. All These Things
5. I Want To Be Loved By You
6. Suite For 20 G
7. Doodle Loop [[The World Is A Little Bit Under The Weather)
8. Trick Bag
9. Chug-A-Lug
10. Hang ‘Em High
11. Honky Tonk Woman
12. Love The One You’re With
13. What More Can I Do?
14. Down By The River
15. Come Together
16. Big Chief

[CD6: Be My Lady]
1. No More Okey Doke
2. I’m Gone
3. Be My Lady
4. My Name Up In Lights
5. Funkify Your Life
6. Stop That Train
7. We Got The Kind Of Love
8. Give It What You Can
9. All I Do Every Day
Various Single Edits:
10. Hey Pocky A-Way
11. People Say
12. Running Fast
13. Disco Is The Thing Today [[Disco Mix)
14. Be My Lady



Amazon USA
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081KQLJDX/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B081KQLJDX/?tag=imwan-21