Pimp (sic) and circumstance.
Stephen Caratzas | Brooklyn, New York | 07/19/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Andre Williams, known as Mr. Rhythm and the Father of Rap, does it again! Following on the heels of last year's 'The Black Godfather', Williams has unleashed yet another brilliant disc of tough, authentic r&b - the likes of which were thought to be extinct - in 'Bait and Switch'. The formula is deceptively simple: big greasy riffs plus loud, crude vocals equals another inspired Andre Williams masterpiece.Perhaps best known as the co-author of the r&b classic "Shake a Tailfeather", Williams has penned several standouts for 'Bait and Switch'. Songs like "Sling It Bang It And Give It Cab Fare Home", "Put That Skillet Away", and "Your Stuff Ain't The Same" incorporate the telltale swagger and ethos of Williams' earlier work ("Jail Bait", "The Greasy Chicken", "Bacon Fat,"), and make good on the promise of their outrageous titles, to boot.Beautifully produced by Billy Miller and Williams' guitarist Matt Verta-Ray, this disc features a pair of amazing vocal cameos: Rudy Ray Moore duets with Williams on the classic courtroom drama for the ears 'I Ain't Guilty', and Ronnie Spector adds her still fine-sounding pipes on Ike Turner's "It's Gonna Work Out Fine". Also on hand is the inimitable Robert Quine (Richard Hell & the Voidoids, Lou Reed) who contributes his unique guitar stylings to "Head First" and "Bigger Than Greed or Need". Said Quine of the sessions: "Now I've worked with two geniuses: Lou Reed and Andre Williams.""