Fire On The Bayou (Rhino Reserve) vinyl

The legendary New Orleans funkateers' sixth album - first out in 1975 - sees the group at their most cohesive and confident. Its an expression with a continuous simmering groove that rarely lets up. The fire, as the band described it, was their way of saying they were igniting stages wherever they played. Tracks like 'Talkin' 'Bout New Orleans' and 'They All Ask'd For You' show a raw local flavour, the latter being a playful nod to Dixieland traditions, a departure from their usual funk but handled with easy charm. It proved a surprising highlight and an anthem in its own right. What sets Fire on the Bayou apart from the rest of their Reprise catalogue is its grit and steady focus, with a unified sound and a real swagger. Just how we like it.