• CURRENT RELEASE

    • Release
      LIFE
      Oct. 2, 2012
      BUY
  • AUDIO


  • Andre Williams began a very prolific and creative phase of his life when he finally got off booze and drugs. His intake of various substances was excessive, unrelenting, and dated back to at least the 1960s, when he was working extensively with Ike Turner. Reflecting on his very first drug-and-alcohol-free studio session in 2009, Andre says, “It was traumatic. It was like someone shot me out in space and I woke up on Pluto!”

    Andre Williams’ new album Life was recorded this past winter in Detroit, the city where his musical career first began in the 1950s. Andre’s new songs are his latest experiments and explorations outside of the garage-soul bag that he’s often associated with. Produced by Matthew Smith, the album’s sonic palette recalls the work of Norman Whitfield’s Motown productions, ’70s Rolling Stones, Can, Bill Withers, Serge Gainsbourg, as well as Andre’s own doo-wop and funk history.

    Life finds Andre in a pretty upbeat mood, whether he’s singing about people being rude and impatient (“But’n”), or laying down a political commentary (“Blame it on Obama”), reciting a children’s bedtime story (“Ty the Fly”), singing a simple love song (“Stuck in the Middle”, “It’s Only You That I Love”), or conjuring a nocturnal fetish-sex-groove (“Heels”).

    The album also includes his own definitive rocking version of the standard he wrote and produced for the Five Du-Tones in 1963, “Shake a Tail Feather.” It’s a reminder that Andre Williams is one of the original guys who invented rock n’ roll.

    Andre Williams’ Life will be released October 2nd through Alive Naturalsound Records in the following formats: CD, Digital and Black Vinyl, as well as Purple Vinyl (limited to 100) exclusive to mailorders.

    FEEL FREE TO DOWNLOAD & POST ANDRE WILLIAMS’ TRACK “BLAME IT ON OBAMA”
    http://soundcloud.com/pavement-pr/andre-williams-blame-it-on

    [photo credit: Robert Matheu / www.robertmatheu.com]

    LIFE TRACK LIST:

    1. Stuck In The Middle

    2. But’n

    3. Don’t Kick My Dog

    4. Blame It On Obama

    5. Heels

    6. Beep Beep Beep

    7. It’s Only You That I Love

    8. Money Ain’t Got No Loyalty

    9. Shake A Tail Feather 10. Ty The Fly

    CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON ANDRE WILLIAMS

    FOR MORE INFO ON ALIVE RECORDS:
    http://www.alive-totalenergy.com

    FOR MEDIA AND INTERVIEW REQUESTS:
    Tony Bonyata Pavement PR p: 262.903.7775 e: tony@pavementpr.com https://pavementpr.com

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  • REVIEWS

    • “Andre Williams’ new album Life is a triumph from start to finish, and one of the year’s best records.” - THE RECORD CHANGER
    • ”’But’n’ is the latest single off his new album Life… frankly, if our libido is anywhere near as healthy at 76 as the evergreen and perma-randy Andre Williams, we’ll be very happy indeed.” – FLAVORWIRE
    • “Andre Williams' compositions on Life linger on the cusp of the avant-garde, but they’re still firmly classicist.” - AMERICAN SONGWRITER
    • “The gravel & consternation that comes with age is present in spades in Andre Williams’ latest album ‘Life’, a combination of Dap soul & garage grit. ” - LEO WEEKLY
    • “Andre Williams’ new LP "Life" is one more notch in the bedpost for modern soul’s sexiest crooner.” – James Bennett / SLUG MAGAZINE
    • " Andre Williams’ new album, Life is absolutely stunning. It really doesn’t matter how old this guy gets, he will always sing about the glory of the beautiful woman (“Heels”, “Shake a Tail Feather”), being down on his luck (“Don’t Kick My Dog”, “Money Ain’t Got No Loyalty”) and, best of all on this record, current affairs (“Blame it on Obama”). A backing band featuring Matt Smith, Jim Diamond and Dave Shettler only helps enhance Williams’ dry, witty, deadpan delivery. Just wow.” - DETROIT METRO TIMES
    • “A magnificent album from a remarkable man who at seventy six is rocking louder and harder than most people half his age.” – WHISPERIN & HOLLERIN
    • “Backed by a Detroit crew led by Matthew Smith of Outrageous Cherry, the 76-year-old R&B reprobate shows no signs of mellowing on his umpteenth LP. The satirical “Blame It On Obama” will get the most attention, but it’s the tougher, bluesier cuts like “Shake a Tail Feather,” which Williams wrote in the 50s, that stick out.” - THE BIG TAKEOVER
    • "A fascinating new Andre Williams tune. It's called 'Blame It on Obama,' and it's a peach. _A rotten, sticky peach, perhaps—but peachy nonetheless." – PORTLAND MERCURY
    • Firmly ensconced in sobriety and in his 70s. Chicago-born R&B legend of the underground (and of indie rockers and rappers alike) Andre Williams’ is true to his lowdown self with his latest disc, Life.” - MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL
    • “The music legend opens right up with an album that recalls the sound of Norman Whitfield's Motown productions, '70s Rolling Stones, Can, Bill Withers, Serge Gainsbourg, as well as Andre's own doo-wop and funk history. Andre Williams reminds us that you're never to old to be cool.” – UNDERCOVER
    • “Andre Williams is still a tough, funky, jive talker who can draw some potent, guitar-based funk from the band of Detroit indie stalwarts who back him up. Life is a solid and entertaining set of R&B that shows this man has more than his share of tales to tell, and can still hold the audience in his hand when he steps up to the mike.” – ALL MUSIC
    • “Originally written and produced for The Five Du-Tones in 1963, Williams includes a version of his standard “Shake a Tail Feather.” For those only familiar with the tune from Blues Brothers’ movies, be prepared to be amazed and astounded. With his low-fi backing band featuring producer Matthew Smith on guitar, piano, organ, trumpet and synthesizer, Jim Diamond on bass and David Shettler on drums, drum machine and synthesizer. Williams proves that while his liver, brain and lungs may be clean, his intentions on “Shake a Tail Feather” are quite dirty.” – Georgetown Fats / BOSTON BLUES SOCIETY
    • “Andre Williams‘ latest, Life, is stone-cold cool.” - ROCK STAR JOURNALIST
    • “Andre Williams‘ new album Life is packed with funky, old school blues.” - MY OLD KENTUCKY BLOG
    • “Andre Williams’ new single “Blame It On Obama” is just some good ol’ fashioned 14-bar blues. The already legendary Williams, has one of those deep, sturdy voices that can make even politics sound mellow.” - ALAN CROSS – A JOURNAL OF MUSICAL THINGS
    • “The 75-year-old R&B singer is more given to gleefully salacious romps than to political commentary. This morning, he varied from type just a bit with a new video for “Blame it on Obama,” a track that seems, on first listen, to both sarcastically address the legions of Obama haters as well as speak in the cautious voice of the undecided voter. - NEW ORLEANS TIMES PICAYUNNE
    • “Andre Williams’ Life’ is work seeking out and listening to.” - THE FUNK SHOW: WNCU RADIO
    • "A tongue-in-cheek commentary on the tendency of voters (particularly those of a right-wing persuasion) to blame pretty much anything and everything on the president. It’s really rather great." – FLAVORPILL
    • “He’s the best R&B, blues-punk musician you’ve never heard of. He has a solid backup band and a touch of humor (especially "Blame It On Obama"). He even does a version of "Shake a Tail Feather," a song he co-wrote in the ’60s.” – Gerry Galipault / HERALD TRIBUNE
    • “Check out one of the originals, a master blaster, a legend. And the good news he is still going strong on his new album Life.” – BEARLY RAMBLING
    • “The man is nearly 76 years old. You’d think he’d be getting tired. But he sure doesn’t sound like it here.” - THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN