| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| The Washington Post | Favorable[2] |
Kickback is a collection of rare and unreleased material by the funk group the Meters.
Background
The fourteen tracks on this album were originally recorded in 1975 and 1976 for Fire on the Bayou and Trick Bag albums but were not released.[2] The album includes original material as well as covers of songs by Earl King, The Beatles, Rolling Stones and Hank Williams. It includes a nine-minute cover of Neil Young's "Down by the River" as well as a cover of Booker T. & the M.G.'s instrumental hit "Hang 'Em High".[2] The band had released another Neil Young cover on the Cabbage Alley album.[3]
Reception
Stephen Erlewine of AllMusic called the album a satisfying listen. He called the covers "intriguing" and said the band "lay[s] down a solid, irresistible groove" on the original songs.[1] Music critic Geoffrey Himes wrote: "Kickback is no substitute for the original albums, but it offers some fascinating moments for the devoted New Orleans funk fan."[2]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Big Chief" | Earl King | 3:00 |
| 2. | "Come Together" | John Lennon, Paul McCartney | 3:09 |
| 3. | "Hang 'Em High" (previously unissued version) | Dominic Frontiere, Ennio Morricone | 3:29 |
| 4. | "What More Can I Do" | Leo Nocentelli | 2:52 |
| 5. | "Keep on Marching (Funky Soldier)" | The Meters | 3:23 |
| 6. | "Jambalaya" | Hank Williams | 2:47 |
| 7. | "Down by the River" (previously unissued) | Neil Young | 9:02 |
| 8. | "Honky Tonk Women" (previously unissued version) | Mick Jagger, Keith Richards | 4:16 |
| 9. | "He Bite Me" | Ziggy Modeliste | 2:58 |
| 10. | "Easy (Trip)" | George Porter Jr., Art Neville | 5:58 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Rock and Roll Medley: Rockin' Pneumonia / Something You Got / I Know / Everybody Loves a Lover" | Huey Smith, Chris Kenner, Barbara George, Robert Allen, Richard Adler | 5:08 |
| 12. | "All I Do Everyday" | The Meters | 4:59 |
| 13. | "Love the One You're With" (previously unissued) | Stephen Stills | 3:34 |
| 14. | "A Mother's Love" (previously unissued) | Earl King | 2:21 |
Personnel
Credits adopted from Allmusic.[4]
- Primary artist
- George Porter Jr. – bass, background vocals, composer, producer
- Cyril Neville – congas, vocals, composer, producer
- Joseph Modeliste – drums, vocals, composer, producer
- Leo Nocentelli – guitar, background vocals, composer, producer
- Art Neville – keyboards, vocals, composer, producer
- Production
- Allen Toussaint – producer
- Marshall E. Sehorn – producer
- Bill Dhalle – design, liner notes
- Bob Irwin – mastering
- Bunny Matthews – photography
- Jeff Smith – design
- Tim Livingston – project manager
- Efram Turchick – project manager
References
- ^ a b "Allmusic: The Meters – Kickback – review". allmusic.com. Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
- ^ a b c d Geoffrey Himes (March 23, 2001). "The Meters 'Kickback' Sundazed". Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 3, 2017. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
- ^ "The Meters Covering Neil Young". jambase.com. February 25, 2016. Archived from the original on April 27, 2016. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
- ^ "Allmusic: The Meters – Kickback – credits". allmusic.com. Archived from the original on August 1, 2016. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
