The 500 - #220 - Look-Ka Py Py - The Meters

I was inspired by a podcast called The 500 hosted by Los Angeles-based comedian Josh Adam Meyers. His goal, and mine, is to explore Rolling Stone Magazine's 2012 edition of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. 

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Album: #220
Album Title: Look-Ka Py Py 
Artist: The Meters
Genre: Funk
Recorded: Le Fevre Studios, Atlanta, Georgia

Released:  December, 1969 
My age at release: 4
How familiar was I with it before this week: Not at all

Is it on the 2020 list? Yes, moving down 195 places to position 415
Song I am putting on my Spotify Playlist: Look-Ka Py Py

Initially, I thought  The Meters’ second studio record, Look-Ka Py Py, would be a new discovery. In many ways, it was. It turns out, I have heard songs by The Meters before – their distinct instrumental brand of New Orleans Funk making it an immediate reminder. Some rudimentary research showed their music has been featured in several commercials and on television programs and movies which I was aware of.

An example was The Meters’ biggest hit, Cissy Strut, which was featured humorously in the 2020 Danish black comedy Druk (labelled Another Round for English releases) that my wife and I watched during the height of the pandemic. The film stars Mads Mikkelsen, who had already secured success in Hollywood as the Bond villain Le Chiffre in Casino Royale (2006) and as Dr. Hannibal Lecter in the television series Hannibal (2013-15).

Danish movie poster for Druk (2020)

Druk/Another Round tells the story of four high-school teachers who commiserate about their careers and mid-life malaise. They struggle to motivate their students and feel their lives have become routine and boring. At a dinner celebrating a 40th birthday, the foursome discuss a ‘theory’ from Norwegian psychiatrist Finn Skårderud.  Skårderud (sort of) postulated that humans are born with a deficiency in their blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.05%. It didn’t take long for the characters to conjecture that elevating one's BAC to a positive 0.05% would improve relaxation and creativity. By way of comparison, 0.05% is achieved by most adults knocking back two standard drinks.

Mikkelsen on the poster for the 
English release of Another Round.

The group decides to embark on an experiment, punctuating each day with enough alcohol to maintain this slightly positive BAC. At first, things go swimmingly and this emboldens the quartet to up the ante, often drinking to excess in the evening and on weekends. During one scene featuring a robust session of imbibing, the song Cissy Strut from The Meters is played on a turntable. The montage that follows captures the delightful bacchanalian excess that an evening of intoxicated celebration with friends can bring. Predictably, the darkly funny film also addresses the short and long term effects of boozy celebration. I won't spoil it as the Academy Award winning flick is worth your time watching.

Slightly intoxicated is a good way to describe how listening to The Meters makes me feel. The music features light, infectiously melodic grooves, punctuated by punchy, fun bass riffs and a danceable drum beat. Much like the characters in Druk/Another Round, it triggers an impulse to dance on the furniture. Formed in 1965 in New Orleans, The Meters comprise Zigaboo Modeliste (drums), George Porter Jones Jr. (bass), Leo Nocentelli (guitar) and Art Neville (keyboards). Look-Ka Py Py is the group's second release and the title track, along with Cissy Strut from their debut albums, are considered funk classics.

The Meters - clockwise from left: Zigaboo Modeliste,
Art Neville, George Porter Jr. and Leo Nocentelli

The group did not experience much mainstream success but are highly-regarded by critics. Along with James Brown, they are recognized as the originators of the funk genre. They also served as back-up band for multiple artists, including Leo Dorsey, Robert Palmer, Allen Toussaint and Dr. John. Coming across this bit of trivia reminded me I had also seen the band perform on Saturday Night Live when I was twelve-years-old. It was in 1977, when SNL was  routine viewing for me. That performance can be seen here.

Dr. John's sixth album, In The Right Place, which features
The Meters as his backing band.

We will revisit The Meters in 81 weeks when we reach album #139,  Rejuvenation, on The 500 list. However, I suspect I will listen to it well before the November, 2025 date. The Meters is a band  I was thrilled to re-discover after unknowingly being locked up in my head for more than 40 years.