New Directions (The Meters album)

New Directions is the eighth and final studio album by the funk group The Meters. Produced by David Rubinson in California, it is the band's first and only album produced outside New Orleans. The album features the Oakland-based Tower of Power horn section.

Reception
Stephen Erlewine of Allmusic called the music gritty and a move in the right direction as compared to the band's previous album Trick Bag. John Swenson of Rolling Stone said the album "attempts to consolidate the group's style" and noted an overreliance on arrangement rather than the band's musical instinct. Music critique Robert Christgau called the album "a very good commercial funk record."

Personnel
Credits adapted from AllMusic.


 * Primary artist
 * Ziggy Modeliste – drums, vocals, composer
 * Art Neville – keyboards, vocals, composer
 * Cyril Neville – congas, percussion, vocals, composer
 * Leo Nocentelli – bass guitar, guitar, background vocals, composer
 * George Porter, Jr. – bass guitar, background vocals, wah wah bass, composer


 * Performance
 * Emilio Castillo – tenor saxophone
 * Mic Gillette – trombone, trumpet, flugelhorn
 * Stephen "Doc" Kupka – baritone saxophone
 * Kurt McGettrick – clarinet, flute, baritone and bass saxophone, horn arrangements
 * Lenny Pickett – alto flute, alto and soprano and tenor saxophone
 * Swamp Tabernacle Choir – background vocals


 * Additional composition
 * Steve Cropper – composer (track 8)
 * Carl Marsh – composer (track 8)
 * Jimmy Tarbutton – composer (track 8)
 * Peter Tosh – composer (track 6)
 * Allen Toussaint – composer (track 2)


 * Production
 * David Rubinson – producer, engineer
 * Jeffrey Cohen – producer
 * Fred Catero – engineer
 * Chris Minto – engineer
 * Fred Rubinson – engineer
 * Bob Irwin – mastering
 * Bill Naegels – design
 * Rich Russell – design
 * Ron Coro – design
 * Gary Heery – photography
 * Michael P. Smith – photography
 * John Cabalka – art direction
 * Ed Thrasher – art direction, photography
 * Bill Dahl – liner notes