Milan Williams (March 28, 1948 – July 9, 2006) – Better Never Than Forever (1975)
Commodores keyboardist Williams co-wrote this powerful message song for their Caught In The Act LP, with socially conscious lyrics about the struggles of daily life.
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Keyboardist and songwriter Milan Williams of the Commodores (aka Captain Quick Draw) was best known for writing their early hit “Machine Gun.”
The Commodores formed in 1967 out of two student bands who met as freshmen at Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) in Alabama. Williams, who was from Mississippi, was a member of The Jays, while Lionel Richie, William King, and guitarist Thomas McClary were part of the Mystics. Their new name was randomly picked from a dictionary by King, a stroke of luck that narrowly avoided the band being called “The Commodes.”
For their 1974 debut LP on Motown Records, Williams wrote the classic title track “Machine Gun.” The song was given its name by Berry Gordy, who thought Williams' astoundingly fast Hohner D6 clavinet work reminded him of gunfire.
He also wrote many of their other songs including another ultra-funky instrumental, “Rapid Fire,” which was also on their debut album and again featured him on the clavinet. Williams' playing earned him the nickname Captain Quick Draw, immortalized in his song “Quick Draw” from their 1976 Hot On The Tracks LP.
Williams co-wrote the powerful message song “Better Never Than Forever” which was released in 1975 as the B-side to “Sweet Love.” It was also included on their Caught In The Act LP, issued later that same year.
The track’s socially conscious lyrics about the struggles of daily life and trying to keep one's family fed in a nation where the rich get richer and poor get poorer still speak to us today.
“During these times of turmoil and strife, I got to make sure I save my family’s life. Hard times are here, for sure it seems. What ever happened to America’s Dream?”
Williams left the band in 1989, supposedly after refusing to perform with them at a gig scheduled to take place in apartheid-era South Africa.
Rest in Power, Milan Williams on what would have been his 75th birthday (March 28, 1948 – July 9, 2006).
#funk #soul #Motown #Commodores #MilanWilliams