Fire on the Bayou is the sixth studio album by the funk band The Meters. Background and release This was the band's first album with Cyril Neville as a member. At the time, the band's headlining performances were receiving good reviews. According to a review in The Real Paper, "they could blow virtually any other band in the country right off the stage." The album was released in July 1975, at a time when the band was opening for the Rolling Stones on their U.S. Tour. The album sold 88,000 copies and didn't meet the record label's expectations. According to Rupert Surcouf, the band's road manager at the time, the record label realized "the Meters didn't fit into any conventional mold", and the label had difficulty promoting the music. Reception Stephen Erlewine of AllMusic had a positive view and wrote "there never seems to be a concession to mainstream funk" and called the music "simmering". Ed Ward of Rolling Stone had a negative view and called the music "aimless" in comparison to the band's early works. Robert Christgau had a mixed view and gave the album a B-rating. Track listing Personnel Credits adapted in part from AllMusic. The Meters George Porter Jr. – bass guitar, producer, backing vocals Joseph Modeliste – drums, producer, vocals, graphic design, photo courtesy Leo Nocentelli – guitar, producer, backing vocals Art Neville – keyboards, producer, vocals Cyril Neville – congas, percussion, producer, vocals Additional composition Wardell Quezergue – horn arrangements Production Allen Toussaint – producer Marshall Sehorn – executive producer, remixing Efram Turchick – project manager Tim Livingston – project manager Roberta Grace – engineer Ken Laxton – engineer, remixing Bob Irwin – mastering Al Quaglieri – mastering Bunny Matthews – liner notes Rich Russell – design Paul Howrilla (aka Paul Andrew) – graphic design, photo courtesy of Photographique Studios, Inc. References 1975 albums The Meters albums Albums produced by Allen Toussaint Reprise Records albums