Andre Williams (Mr. Rhythm) With The Don Juans, "Bobby Jean" c/w "It's All Over," Fortune 828 (rel. 8/1956)

A good way to get my attention in a crowded place is to say, "Is that an Andre Williams record?" I will come running (or hobbling) in that direction. For Friday fun, here's a lesser-known but charming-one's-pants-off 1956 platter by this Detroit dynamo of droll dysfunction.
     "Bobby Jean" would make a good introduction to the Fortune Records experience. It's a joyous blast of greasy ear-candy decorated with the sonic quiddities that are part and parcel of Fortune's rickety studio. With its dirt floor and cinder-block construction, this sound-shack blasted out some of the wildest sounds in Motor City history. Many of Fortune's greatest moments have Andre Williams attached to them. With his buddies The Five Dollars AKA The Don Juans in tow, the results are spectacular.
        This record had me from the git-go. On the day it arrived in the mail, I was in a funk. I'd forgotten what records were in the little box as I opened it. This one was on top. I smiled. Funktime was over!
        "Bobby Jean" has Fortune's wonky reverb unit in overdrive as the Don Juans' gritty guitarist does his best job of twangin' and noodlin'. To an Afro-Cuban beat, Williams sings an up-tempo positive love song that uses hand claps in place of expected lyrics--a clever touch!

        We hear The Don Juans as the sax man takes a verse-long solo. The DJs wail along with Andre for its duration. If the results don't make you jump for joy, go to your nearest walk-in clinic; you may need medical attention. And the B-side's even better!

Cash Box never distinguished Fortune Records from all the other Black music product of its day. Their reviewers HAD to know this wasn't The Platters or Nat "King" Cole, but they treated it on equal terms with those smooth mainstream hitmakers. Bless 'em for that!

"It's All Over" starts with a funky, off-kilter riff featuring an electric guitar. Within two seconds, you're sucked into its quirky exaltation. The off-beat rhythm is intoxicating. Then Andre Williams and The Don Juans (or Five Dollars, take your pick) come onto the scene. Their vocal interplay is rock-solid, and Williams plays it straighter than normal on this sardonic put-down song.
        The guitarist takes a wailing solo, swathed in the cruddy-but-golden Fortune Records ambience. Williams returns for a second, snarkier round as he bids his ex to catch a late train with The Turbans' Sister Sookie. Then there's a sax solo, and, alas, a fade out before that musician gets cookin'. Said saxist got plenty of room to blow on the A side, so I hope he wasn't chuffed when the fader pulled the curtain down on his world-class honkin'! This is a masterpiece of rough 'n' ready r&b in my book.

My collection currently has 14 Fortune Records 45s. I hope to double that number in 2026. That'll give me something constructive to do!

Tomorrow: The Carlisles deliver one of their typical zany double-doses of country comedy, with red-hot Chet Atkins on lead guitar and a wonderful song by Nashville's cleffer couple, The Bryants! Loopy joy from 1956-a very good year for music!