Song Of The Day 2/13/2015: Andre Williams & the Goldstars - "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Want To Rock and Roll)"

Quarterly Covers Report: The first time I heard Andre Williams I had no idea how long he’d been around, nor how much he’d massively contributed to R&B by co-writing the ’60s standard “Shake a Tail Feather,” presented here in the popular version from James & Bobby Purify. My entry point to Mr. Williams was Silky, a 1997 album he made with Detroit garage rock kingpins Mick Collins and Dan Korha, one of the filthiest (in many ways) albums to come out of the nu-metal/daddy-problem ’90s.

A few years later right before Metallica put Napster in its crosshairs I found some of Williams’ oldest, more primal, even slightly more unsettling work. Well, in truth, the only unsettling track of his was “Jail Bait,” which incredibly came out in 1957. Housewives barely had time to take the scarves off their head. “Bacon Fat” was a little less scandalous, unless you were of the porcine persuasion.

Williams collaborated with Parliament-Funkadelic in the ’70s and allegedly appeared on the only Red Hot Chili Peppers album I’m even remotely fond of, Freaky Styley. Then he was lost in the Chicago wilderness for awhile before picking up steam for his second wind in the ’90s. His cover of AC/DC’s “It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Want to Rock and Roll)” with Chicago’s Goldstars came out in 2006. It’s… well, I’ll be honest, it’s a little rough. And the organ doesn’t replace the bagpipes at all. But there’s still no other 70-year-old (now 79) man without access to a red button I’m this intimidated by. And lovin’ it!

The single this is from also features a cover of the Beastie Boys' "(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party!)," so take comfort in knowing there's a septuagenarian standing up for you and your best porno mag.