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Average White Band

Profile:
Original Members:
Alan Gorrie (b. 19th July 1946, Perth, Scotland; bass, vocals); Mike Rosen (trumpet, guitar); replaced by Hamish Stuart (b. 8th October 1949, Glasgow, Scotland; guitar, vocals); Owen 'Ormie' McIntyre (b. 25th September 1945, Lennoxtown, Scotland; guitar); Malcolm 'Mollie' Duncan (b. 24th August 1945, Montrose, Scotland; saxophone); Roger Ball (b. 4th June 1944, Broughty Ferry, Scotland; saxophone, keyboards); Robbie McIntosh (b. 6th May 1950, Dundee, Scotland, d. 23 September 1974, Hollywood, U.S.A; drums).

History:
This unique act, an R'n'B/ soul group from Scotland with only two black musicians became one of the best selling and sounding funk bands in the world. The horn section started out as "The Dundee Horns". They can be heard on Johnny Nash's reggae hit "I Can See Clearly Now".
Eric Clapton and Bonnie Bramlett (of Delaney & Bonnie) helped them on their way to becoming a household name. But it wasn't until they reached the US and were signed to Atlantic Records that the Average White Band really took off (Jerry Wexler signed them on the spot, after they hit him at home on one of his parties, where they played him the basic tracks for what would become the White Album: "AWB").
Arif Mardin became their producer and together they couldn't do wrong. All of their seventies albums reached gold or even platinum status and hits such as the timeless "Pick Up The Pieces" and "Cut The Cake" were number 1 hits on the U.S. Billboard Charts.
Tragedy hit the young group in 1974 when their drummer, Robbie McIntosh died at a Hollywood party in a drug-related incident, but their act only became stronger.
The Double album "Person To Person", recorded during their American 1975 Tour, is among the best selling live funk albums ever.
They reached the white market with their unique sound without losing respect from the core Soul/ R'n'B lover in the black communities.
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Variations:
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Discography

Releases:
Show Your Hand (Album) (3 versions)   MCA Records 1973
AWB (Album) (9 versions)   Atlantic ... 1974
How Can You Go Home (7")   MCA Records 1974
Nothing You Can Do (7", Single, Promo, Mono)   Atlantic 1974
Pick Up The Pieces / Work To Do (8 versions)   Atlantic 1974
Cut The Cake (7")   Atlantic 1975
Cut The Cake (Album) (7 versions)   Atlantic ... 1975
Cut The Cake / Person To Person (Single) (4 versions)   Atlantic 1975
Groovin' The Night Away / School Boy Crush (3 versions)   Atlantic 1975
If I Ever Lose This Heaven / High Flyin' Woman (7")   Atlantic 1975
Put It Where You Want It (Album) (5 versions)   MCA Records ... 1975
Cloudy (7", Promo)   Atlantic 1976
Person To Person (Album) (6 versions)   Atlantic ... 1976
Queen Of My Soul / Would You Stay (3 versions)   Atlantic 1976
Soul Searching (Album) (6 versions)   Atlantic ... 1976
A Star In The Ghetto / What Is Soul (2 versions)   Atlantic 1977
Benny And Us (5 versions)   Atlantic ... 1977
Get It Up / Keepin' It To Myself (7")   Atlantic 1977
Goin' Home (7")   Atlantic 1977
Big City Lights / Sweet & Sour (12", Promo)   Atlantic 1978
Warmer Communications (Album) (3 versions)   Atlantic ... 1978
Atlantic Avenue / She's A Dream (3 versions)   RCA Victor 1979
Feel No Fret (Album) (4 versions)   RCA ... 1979
Feel No Fret / Walk On By (Maxi) (2 versions)   RCA ... 1979
The Best Of (2 versions)   RCA ... 1979
Walk On By (12")   RCA 1979
Walk On By (12")   RCA, RCA Nederland BV 1979
Walk On By (7")   Atlantic 1979
Walk On By (12")   RCA 1979
Walk On By / Too Late To Cry (7")   RCA 1979
When Will You Be Mine (7")   RCA Victor 1979
When Will You Be Mine (7", Cle)   RCA 1979
When Will You Be Mine (7", Single)   RCA Victor 1979
When Will You Be Mine (Re-Mixed Version) (12", Ltd, Cle)   RCA, RCA 1979
For You For Love / Help Is On The Way (12", Promo)   RCA 1980
For You, For Love (7", Single, Promo, Mono)   Arista 1980
Let's Go Round Again (7")   RCA 1980
Let's Go Round Again (12")   RCA 1980
Let's Go Round Again (7")   RCA 1980
Let's Go Round Again (7")   Arista 1980
Shine (Album) (4 versions)   RCA ... 1980
Volume VIII (LP)   Atlantic 1980
Cupid's In Fashion (Album) (3 versions)   RCA ... 1982
I Believe (12")   RCA 1982
You're My Number One (12")   RCA 1982
You're My Number One / Theater Of Excess (7")   RCA 1982
Aftershock (Album) (2 versions)   Track Record Company ... 1988
The Spirit Of Love (Maxi) (3 versions)   Track Record Company ... 1988
The Spirit Of Love (7", Single)   JAWS Records (2) 1989
Pickin' Up The Pieces : The Best Of Average White Band (CD, Comp)   Rhino Records (2) 1992
Best Of The Average White Band (CD, Comp)   Repertoire Records 1994
Let's Go Round Again (Maxi) (2 versions)   The Hit Label 1994
Pick Up The Pieces (Remix) (Vinyl, W/L + 12")   The Hit Label 1994
The Best Of The Average White Band - Let's Go Round Again (CD)   Red Bullet 1994
Above Average (CD)   Castle Communications, Essential 1996
Soul Tattoo (Album) (2 versions)   SPV Recordings ... 1996
The Very Best Of The Average White Band (CD, Album)   Music Club 1996
Classic Cuts (2xCD, Comp)   Recall 2cd 1997
Pick Up The Pieces (CD, Maxi)   Sound And Media Ltd 1997
Face To Face Live (CD, Album)   EMI-Capitol Special Markets 1999
Dance Panic Presents Dance Classics Remixes 2000/2 Promotional 12 Inch Vinyl Part 2 (12" + Vinyl, W/Lbl + Vinyl, Promo)   Victor Entertainment Japan 2000
Let's Go Round Again (12")   Past & Present Records 2000
The Ultimate Collection (2xCD)   Sony Music Entertainment (UK) 2003
Nicky Holloway Presents Disco Edits Vol. 1 (12")   Playable Music 2004
School Boy Crush / Do The Funky Penguin (12")   Strictly Breaks Records 2005
AWB (LP, Hal)   Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab  
Pick Up The Pieces / Person To Person (7")   Atlantic  
Pick Up The Pieces / Work To Do (7")   Atlantic  
Production:
Dance Trax (CD, Comp) Let's Go Round Again (... Telstar 1989
Classic Funk Mastercuts Volume 3 (Comp) (2 versions) Stop The Rain Mastercuts 1995
Appears On:
Discotheque (Album) (2 versions) Pick Up The Pieces Atlantic 1975
The Atlantic Family Live At Montreux (2xLP, Album) Pick Up The Pieces Atlantic 1978
The Disco Kid (LP) Pick Up The Pieces H & L Records 1979
Anthems Volume 4 (LP, Comp) Pick Up The Pieces Street Sounds 1987
Life Is A Dance - The Remix Project (2xLP) Life Is A Dance (David... Warner Bros. Records, Warner Bros. Records 1989
Pick Up The Pieces / Enouch (12") Pick Up The Pieces Out 1991
One Track Mind (12")   Cold Chillin' 1993
Maximum Funk 12" (CD) Pick Up The Pieces Disky 2000
Can You Dig It? The '70s Soul Experience (Box + 6xCD, Comp, RM) Pick Up The Pieces Rhino Entertainment Company 2001
Funkin' The Classics (LP) Cut The Cake Funky Delicacies 2001
AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted (CD, Album, RM, RE) What They Hittin' Foe? Priority Records 2003
Funkallisto (CDr) Pick Up The Pieces Not On Label (Funkallisto Self-released) 2004
Timeless - I Più Grandi Artisti Le Più Belle Canzoni Di Tutti I Tempi (2xCD, Comp) Pick Up The Pieces BMG Ricordi S.p.A. 2004
Atlantiquity (CD) Pick Up Te Pieces (Cha... Atlantic, Rhino Entertainment Company 2005
Tracks Appear On:
The Best Of British (7") Work To Do Atlantic 1974
Superstars Of The 70's - Volume 4 - Silver Bullets (2xLP, Comp) Pick Up The Pieces Warner Special Products 1975
The Rock Revelation (3xLP) Pick Up The Pieces Atlantic 1975
Block Buster (LP) Pick Up The Pieces K-Tel 1976
Star Trackin' '76 (LP, Comp) Cut The Cake Ronco 1976
Golden Superstars (Comp) (2 versions) Pick Up The Pieces WEA Records Ltd. ... 1977
Super Gold Hits (LP, Comp) Pick Up The Pieces K-Tel International (USA), Inc. 1977
4 Track Promo E.P. (12", EP, Promo) Let's Go 'Round Again Arista 1980
Mounting Excitement (LP, Comp) Let's Go Round Again K-Tel 1980
The Dance Decade 1973-1983 (Comp) (2 versions) Pick Up The Pieces Street Sounds 1983
The Marquee Collection Vol. 3 (LP, Smplr) Pick Up The Pieces England Records 1983
Anthems Volume 4 (Comp) (3 versions) Pick Up The Pieces Street Sounds 1987
Dance Classics - Volume 14 (CD, Comp) Pick Up The Pieces Arcade 1989
Dance Classics - Volume 7 (2xLP, Comp) Pick Up The Pieces Arcade 1989
Dance Trax (CD, Comp) Let's Go Round Again (... Telstar 1989
January 89 - Mixes 1 (12") Pick Up The Pieces DMC 1989
Music Factory Mastermix - Issue 36 (2x12") Let's Go Round Again (... Music Factory 1989
Sounds Of The Seventies - 1975 (CD) Pick Up The Pieces Time Life Music, Warner Special Products 1990
Soul Hits Of The '70s - Didn't It Blow Your Mind Vol. 15 (CD, Comp) Cut The Cake Rhino Records (2) 1991
Sounds Of The Seventies - 1975: Take Two (CD) Cut The Cake Time Life Music, Warner Special Products 1991
Classic Funk Mastercuts Volume 1 (Comp) (2 versions) Pick Up The Pieces Mastercuts 1992
Kenwood HI-Fi Mastercuts (CD, Promo, Comp) Pick Up The Pieces Mastercuts 1992
In Yo' Face! The History Of Funk, Vol. 2 (CD) Person To Person, Pick... Rhino Entertainment Company 1993
In Yo' Face! The History Of Funk, Vol. 3 (CD) Cut The Cake Rhino Entertainment Company 1993
In Yo' Face! The History Of Funk, Vol. 4 (CD) School Boy Crush Rhino Entertainment Company 1993
'Cause You Are Young - Amazing 80's Hits (CD, Smplr) Let's Go Round Again [... It's Music 1994
Monster Funk (CD, Comp) Your Love Is A Miracle Warner Special Products, Essex Entertainment, Inc. 1994
The Boyz Who Souled The World (2xCD, Comp) Pick Up The Pieces The Hit Label 1994
Classic Funk Mastercuts Volume 3 (Comp) (2 versions) Stop The Rain Mastercuts 1995
Dance Classics (3xCD, Comp) Pick Up The Pieces Arcade 1995
Disco Top 100 (4xCD) Pick Up The Pieces, Le... Arcade 1995
Funky Funky (2xCD, Comp) Pick Up The Pieces EMI Electrola 1995
Greatest Hits Of The 90's (2xCD, Comp) Let's Go Round Again Arcade 1995
Mega Disco Mix (CD, Comp, Mixed) Pick Up The Pieces Arcade 1995
Mega Funk (4xCD, Comp) Pick Up The Pieces Arcade 1995
Overpowered By Funk (CD) Pick Up The Pieces Renaissance (2) 1995
Smooth Grooves: A Sensual Collection Volume 1 (CD, Comp) A Love Of Your Own Rhino Entertainment Company, Sony Music Special Products 1995
Soul Train - 25th Anniversary Hall Of Fame (3xCD, Comp) Cut The Cake MCA Records 1995
Get Funkey (2xCD) Pick Up The Pieces Control 1996
Street Jams : Back 2 The Old Skool Part Three (CD) Pick Up The Pieces Rhino Entertainment Company 1996
Swingers (Music From The Miramax Motion Picture) (CD, Album, Comp) Pick Up The Pieces Miramax Records, Hollywood Records 1996
The Best Of Mastercuts (3xCD, Comp) Pick Up The Pieces Circa Records Ltd., Virgin, Virgin 1996
The World Of Disco Fever (2xCD) Pick Up That Pieces ZYX Music 1996
Disco Classics Party (2xCD) Pick Up The Pieces ABCD 1997
Disco Fever (2xCD) Pick Up The Pieces Disky 1997
Disco Train Vol. 2 - The Funk Express (CD) Pick Up The Pieces Movin' Novelties 1997
In Flux: Drum 'N' Bass In Movement (CD, Comp) Livin' On Borrowed Tim... Irma 1997
In Flux: Drum 'N' Bass In Movement (Vinyl) Livin' On Borrowed Tim... IRMAmerica 1997
Licht Aus Spot An (2xCD, Album) Pick Up The Pieces Disky 1997
The Best Disco Album In The Universe Volume 4 (CD, Comp) Pick Up The Pieces Essex Entertainment, Inc. 1997
Ultimate Jazz Funk (2xCD, Comp) Pick Up The Pieces Beechwood Music 1997
You Had To Be There! (CD, Album + CD, Comp) Pick Up The Pieces Oglio Records, Oglio Records 1997
Lo Mas Funky 2 (2xCD, Comp) Cut The Cake, Pick Up ... Max Music (Spain) 1998
Pure Funk (Comp) (3 versions) Pick Up The Pieces PolyGram ... 1998
Soul Weekender (CD, Comp) Pick Up The Pieces Crimson 1998
Soul Weekender 2 (CD, Album) Let's Go Round Again Crimson 1998
The Very Best Of Jazz Moods (2xCass) Pick Up The Pieces Telstar TV 1998
Tribe Vibes Volume 2 (2xLP, Comp) Love Your Life Strictly Breaks Records 1998
Celebrate! Feel-Good Party Tracks (CD) Pick Up The Pieces Warner Special Products 1999
Wow That Was The 70's (8xCD, Comp) Pick Up The Pieces, Cu... Disky 1999
Dance Panic Presents ~Dance Classics Remixes 2000/2~ (2xCD, Comp) Let's Go Round Again [... Victor Entertainment Japan 2000
Disco @ Planet Earth (2xCD, Mixed) Pick Up The Pieces Disky 2000
Entertainment Weekly - Greatest Hits 1975 (CD, Comp) Pick Up The Pieces Buddha Records (2) 2000
Funkin' On The 1 (5xCD, Comp) School Boy Crush, Pick... Disky 2000
Greatest Hits Of Soul And R&B (8xCD, Comp + Box) Walk On By, Cut The Ca... Disky 2000
Greatest Hits Of The 70's (8xCD, Comp + Box) Pick Up The Pieces Disky 2000
Maximum Funk 12" (CD) Pick Up The Pieces Disky 2000
Step Back & Boogie (4xCD) Pick Up The Pieces L&D Records 2000
That '70s Show Presents: That '70s Jammin' Album (Comp) (2 versions) Pick Up The Pieces Volcano (2) 2000
The Funk Box (Box + 4xCD, Comp) School Boy Crush Hip-O Records 2000
The Funky End (2xCD, Comp) Pick Up The Pieces Universal Music Classics & Jazz, Universal Music Classics & Jazz, Universal Music Classics & Jazz 2000
Can You Dig It? The '70s Soul Experience (Box + 6xCD, Comp, RM) Pick Up The Pieces, Cu... Rhino Entertainment Company 2001
Dance Classics Volume 13&14 (2xCD, RM) Pick Up The Pieces Universal TV 2001
Disco Generation (3xCD) Pick Up The Pieces Disky 2001
Eimsbush Tapes Vol. 9 - Connections One (Cass, Mixed) Get It Up For Love Eimsbush 2001
Funk Sessions (2xCD) Pick Up The Pieces Sessions 2001
Sampled 2: Digging Deeper (2xCD) Stop The Rain Virgin, Circa Records Ltd. 2001
Spirit Of Funk 2 (2xCD, Comp) Pick Up The Pieces Wagram 2001
Disco Super Stars - CD6 (CD) Pick Up The Pieces Disky 2002
Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: Undercover Brother (CD) Pick Up The Pieces Hollywood Records 2002
Pure Groove The Classics (2xCD) Let's Go Round Again (... Telstar TV 2002
Slow Music Style: Brazilian Love Affairs (CD, Comp) Queen Of My Soul Aosis Records 2003
We Got The Funk (3xCD, Comp) Stop The Rain Decadance Recordings 2003
SOUL Vol. 1 Dancefloor Classics (CD) Work To Do Amigo 2004
Soul Source - Remixed Boogies (CD, Comp, Album, Dig) School Boy Crush (DJ M... Victor Entertainment Japan 2004
The Very Best Of Euphoric Disco Breakdown (2xCD, Comp) Let's Go Round Again Telstar TV 2004
All The Breaks (CD, Comp) School Boy Crush (Pann... All The Breaks 2005
Atlantiquity (3 versions) Pick Up Te Pieces (Cha... Atlantic ... 2005
Bluey From Incognito Presents - Brothers On The Slide - The Story Of UK Funk (2 versions) Person To Person (Clov... Discotheque (2) 2005
Classic Cuts Remastered 39 - Disco (CD, Comp, RM) Let's Go Round Again (7") Music Factory 2005
Club Classix Vol. 2 (2xLP) Pick Up The Pieces Not On Label 2005
Soul Source - Remixed Fevers (CD) Work To Do (Soul Sourc... Victor Entertainment Japan 2005
Soul Source REMIXED FEVERS EP pt. 1 (12") Work To Do (Soul Sourc... Face The Music Records 2005
Sound Citizens Vol. No.1 (CD, Mixed) Got The Love Foul Play 2005
The Breaks (2nd Edition) (LP) T.L.C. Bronx River 2005
?uestlove Presents Babies Makin Babies 2: Misery Strikes Back...... No More Babies (CD, Comp) One Look Over My Shoul... BBE 2006
A To Z (2xCD) Pick Up The Pieces Sunday Best Recordings 2006
Ferry Maat's Soulshow "Soul Show 4 Ever" (3xCD, Comp) Let's Go Round Again Disky 2006
100 Hits Disco (5xCD, Comp) Pick Up The Pieces Demon Music Group 2007
The Original Masters Vol. 2 (CD, Comp) Pick Up The Pieces Milestone Records Ltd 2007
Vintage Grooves - Funk Volume 1 (2xCD, Comp) Pick Up The Pieces (Or... Seamless Recordings 2007
100 Hits 80s Pop (5xCD, Comp) Let's Go Round Again Demon Music Group 2008
80's Disco Hits (CD, Comp, RE) What'cha Gonna Do For ... Victor Entertainment Japan 2008
Commercial Collection 304 (2xCD, Comp) Pick Up The Pieces DMC 2008
Commercial Collection 309 (2xCD, Comp) Two Tracker, Pick Up T... DMC 2008
100 Hits 80s Dance (5xCD, Comp + Box) Let's Go Round Again Demon Music Group 2009
Motyla Noga Mixtape (CDr, Mixed, Ltd) #1 Not On Label 2009
Ultimate 80s - 60 Classic Tracks Of The Decade (3xCD, Album, Comp) For You For Love Demon Music Group 2009
A Sack Of Gems (2xLP) Person To Person From The Basement Records  
Chill Town 2 (LP, Promo) School Boy Crush Chill Town  
Classic Cuts 39 - Disco (CD, Comp) Let's Go Round Again (7") Music Factory  
Summer Breeze (CD) Let's Go Round Again Sony Music Special Markets  
The Love Box Vol II (4xLP, Comp, Box) If I Ever Lose This He... Innovative Music Productions  
Unofficial Releases:
Bandit II (12", Mixed, Unofficial) Pick Up The Pieces Manhattan 1981
100 Jahre Rheinbahn (CD, Smplr) Let's Go Round Again Not On Label 1996
All The Original Artists Volume 2 (CD) Cut The Cake Not On Label 1999
Breaks, Beats & Grooves (LP) Love Your Life Chill Town 1999
Untitled (12") School Boy Crush (Re-e... The Power Of Funk & Soul 2002
Paul Nice - Soul On The Grill (CD) School Boy Crush Not On Label 2003
Blockparty Recreation (CD) Same Feeling, Differen... Dusted Records (2) 2004
Old School Funk Vol. 6 (12") School Boy Crush Old School Funk 2004
Diggin' 1 (LP) School Boy Crush Diggin Breaks Records  
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Average White Band - Pick up the pieces
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Reviews & Discussion

Review by jussumen Sep 05, 2007
This unique act, a R'nB/Soul Group from Scotland with only 2 black musicians became one of the best selling and sounding Funk Bands in the world. If this reminds you of UB 40 in Reggae, you do them wrong. Their Sound is 100 % REAL.
The Horn Section started out as "The Dundee Horns" and can be heard on Johnny Nash's Mega Reggae Hit "I Can See Clearly Now" among others.
Eric Clapton and Bonny Bramlet (of Delaney & Bonnie) are other Mega Stars to help them on their way of becoming a household name. But it wasn't until they reached the US and got signed by Jerry Wexler on the spot to Atlantic Records, after they hit him at home on of his Partys and played them the basic tracks for what would become the "White" album "AWB", that the Average White Band really took of.
Arif Marden became their producer and together they couldn't do wrong. All of their 70ies Albums reached Gold or even Platinum Status and Hits as the timeless "Pick Up The Pieces" or "Cut The Cake" were No 1 Hits. Tragic hit the young group when their drummer died at a Hollywood party in a drug-related accident.
But their act only became stronger. The Double album "Person To Person" recorded
during their american Tour is (besides Earth, Wind & Fire's - "Gratitude") the most important and widely sold Funk Live Album in the world. They reached the white market with their unique Sound without losing credit with the core Soul / R'nB Lover in the black communities.
Review by jussumen Feb 27, 2004
agree with jairinho . This was the 'realest' Funk Band of the 70ies , reminding me of Earth,Wind & Fire. Both had very good and sucessful Live Do-albums out from their fantastic 1974 Live-tours . 'Pick up The Pieces', their biggest Hit and arguably best song will remain a classic . Tragedy hit the black + white band-members when their drummer died at a posh Hollywod Party , where he sniffed a huge white line , thinking it be Charly , but was indeed Thai-No4 , the purest Heroin . Even attempts by such famous celebrities as CHER taking him around for a walk , so he wouldn't fall aslepp for good ,were fruitless. The band did play on for a while with a different drummer , but never recovered from this shock and disappeared from the scene.
Review by Jairinho May 22, 2003
Looking at that picture above, you may think that's another average "rock" band but think again. I strongly recommend your hear songs like "The One", "Tell Me Something Good" or "School Boy Crush". You'll see these guys aren't another 'average white band'.

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