egroj world: The Meters • The Meters

Monday, December 1, 2025

The Meters • The Meters

Review by Rovi Staff
Initially created to be the house band for Allen Toussaint and Marshall Sehorn's Sansu Enterprises, the Meters started out backing such famous names as Lee Dorsey and Betty Harris. Led by organist Art Neville, the quartet was rounded out by jazz-influenced guitarist Leo Nocentelli, along with the bubbling rhythm section of bassist George Porter, Jr. and drummer Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste. Booker T. & the M.G.'s may have been the most obvious influence, but the Meters differentiated themselves by injecting a healthy dose of New Orleans funk into their sound. Led by Neville's fat-sounding organ, the Meters quickly scored hits with the sinewy "Cissy Strut" and the more languid "Sophisticated Cissy." Simplicity is the hallmark of this impressive debut and nuance is paramount, whether it's Nocentelli's lazy riffs echoing throughout "Ease Back" or Modeliste unobtrusively riding his hi-hat along the perimeter of the Memphis-fried "6V6 La." Not unlike the M.G.'s, the Meters were masters of interpretation -- the band here moves easily from a chugging reading of Sly Stone's "Sing a Simple Song," to kicking back on a smoky version of the Classics IV's "Stormy."

https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-meters-mw0000261353

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Reseña por Rovi Staff
Inicialmente creados para ser la banda de la casa de Allen Toussaint y Marshall Sehorn's Sansu Enterprises, the Meters comenzaron respaldando nombres tan famosos como Lee Dorsey y Betty Harris. Dirigido por el organista Art Neville, el cuarteto fue completado por el guitarrista Leo Nocentelli, influenciado por el jazz, junto con la burbujeante sección rítmica del bajista George Porter, Jr.y el baterista Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste. Booker T. & the Mg's pueden haber sido la influencia más obvia, pero the Meters se diferenciaron inyectando una buena dosis de funk de Nueva Orleans en su sonido. Liderados por el órgano que sonaba gordo de Neville, los Medidores rápidamente anotaron éxitos con el vigoroso "Cissy Strut" y el más lánguido "Sophisticated Cissy"."La simplicidad es el sello distintivo de este impresionante debut y los matices son primordiales, ya sean los perezosos riffs de Nocentelli resonando en "Ease Back" o Modeliste montando discretamente su charles a lo largo del perímetro de Memphis-fried " 6V6 La."Al igual que los MG, los Medidores eran maestros de la interpretación -- la banda aquí pasa fácilmente de una lectura entusiasta de "Sing a Simple Song" de Sly Stone, a relajarse con una versión ahumada de "Stormy" de The Classics IV."

https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-meters-mw0000261353

Tracks:
1 - Cissy Strut - 3:04
2 - Here Comes The Meter Man - 2:54
3 - Cardova - 4:32
4 - Live Wire - 2:39
5 - Art - 2:32
6 - Sophisticated Cissy - 2:55
7 - Ease Back - 3:13
8 - 6V6 LA - 2:24
9 - Sehorn's Farm - 2:2
10 - Ann - 2:44
11 - Stormy - 3:37
12 - Sing A Simple Song - 3:02

Credits:
Bass – George Porter, Jr.
Drums – Joseph "Zig" Modeliste
Guitar – Leo Nocentelli (tracks: 1 to 10)
Organ – Arthur "Art" Neville

Originally issued as Josie LP JOS-4010, May 1969.
Recorded at Cosimo Matassa's Studio, New Orleans LA.