Hoods and Shades
Andre Williams
Bloodshot
February 28
By Grant Britt
Andre Williams is more schmoozer than crooner, talk-singing his way through a collection of admonishments aimed at schooling you in street-wise. Williams had a hit in ’57 with his composition “Bacon Fat,” co-wrote the rump shakin’ rock classic “Shake A Tail Feather,” recorded by the Five Du Tones in ’63, and also penned Alvin Cash and the Crawler’s “Twine Time.” Since then, he’s churned out a handful of records from country soul to funk to an ’08 punk venture with the New Orleans Hellhounds.
But Williams seems most comfortable doing old school r&b. Backed by a tight band including bassist Don Was (Was, not Was/ producer credits including the Stones, George Clinton and B.B. King,) he glides through an array of laid back odes to women money, and hustling. “Jaw Dropper” is a fast shuffle with Williams extolling the virtues of a female bombshell he has in his sights. As a cure for uppityness, “Dirt” is a not so subtle reminder of the dirt nap that awaits all of us. “ It don’t matter if you’re square or round ….or if you’re popular in town/ What it all boils down to,” Williams rumbles in his velvety baritone, backed by a melody that sounds like “High Heel Sneakers,” “we’re just dirt.”
“Swamp Dogg’s Hot Spot” is a funky tribute to legendary eccentric soulman Swamp Dogg, whose 1970 debut Total Destruction to Your Mind led critics to brand him as a blend of Van Morrison and Jackie Wilson. The tune is a thank-you note to Dogg, who Williams claims to have met in the county jail (Swamp was there for non-support; Williams’ crime of the moment was bootleg CD sales) for bailing him out of jail on another charge later on.
“I guess I’m just a bona-fide loser,” he moans on “A Good Day to Feel Bad,” as the lead guitarist stabs him in the back relentlessly.
Williams’ laid-back persona, a perfect mix of hipster cool and world-weary soul man, seems a natural fit. At 75, he’s not likely to change. Pull up a chair, sit back, and nod along.
