Andre Williams & The New Orleans Hellhounds

Andre Williams has been on the scene for more than 50 years, shocking, rocking and hard-living his way to cult hero status. After a few years in limbo (detailed in the new Agile, Mobile And Hostile documentary), Williams headed south from Chicago to New Orleans to record this disc with The New Orleans Hellhounds and organ-playing nut-job, Quintron. The title track is raw and raunchy, and the female backing vocals in the chorus nicely counterbalance Williams' growls. "Pray For Your Daughter" is the most joyous-sounding song you'll ever hear about a cocaine-addicted hooker. While Williams says he'll cry if abandoned in "If You Leave Me," he decides that threatening to kill his woman is a good way to keep her around. "Don't take 'em off, just pull 'em down" is repeated by backing singers throughout the five-and-a-half-minute "Can't Take 'Em Off" while Williams adlibs and does his thing. There are lots of guitars and horns on "Never Had A Problem" and "Rosalie" is more of a skiffle tune, while there are a couple of slower songs as well. Hopefully Williams is well enough to perform these songs live, where they'll take on a whole other dimension.