Average White Band
| Average White Band | |
|---|---|
|
Average White Band in 2013 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | AWB |
| Origin | Dundee, Scotland |
| Genres | Blue-eyed soul, funk, rock, soul, disco |
| Years active |
1972–1983 1989–present |
| Labels | Atlantic, RCA, MCA, Rhino, Arista |
| Associated acts | Arif Mardin, Ned Doheny, Tower of Power |
| Members |
Alan Gorrie Onnie McIntyre Fred Vigdor Rocky Bryant Brent Carter Rob Aries |
| Past members |
Roger Ball Malcolm "Molly" Duncan Robbie McIntosh Michael Rosen Hamish Stuart Steve Ferrone Eliot Lewis Alex Ligertwood Tiger McNeil Peter Abbott Fred "Catfish" Alias Adam Deitch Brian Dunne Klyde Jones Morris Pleasure Monte Croft |
Average White Band (also AWB) are a Scottish funk and R&B band that had a series of soul and disco hits between 1974 and 1980. They are best known for their million-selling instrumental track "Pick Up the Pieces", and their albums AWB and Cut the Cake. The band name was initially proposed by Bonnie Bramlett. They have influenced others such as the Brand New Heavies, and been sampled by various musicians including the Beastie Boys, TLC, The Beatnuts, Too Short, Ice Cube, Eric B. & Rakim, Nas, and A Tribe Called Quest, as well as Arrested Development[1] – making them the fifteenth most sampled act in history.[2] As of 2016, forty years after their formation, they continue to perform.
Career
AWB was formed in early 1972[3] by Alan Gorrie,[4] and Malcolm "Molly" Duncan, with Onnie McIntyre,[5] Michael Rosen (trumpet), Roger Ball, and Robbie McIntosh[6] joining them in the original line-up. Hamish Stuart[7] quickly replaced Rosen. Duncan and Ball, affectionately known as the Dundee Horns, studied at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art (now part of the University of Dundee, but which at the time was part of the Dundee Institute of Art and Technology, now known as Abertay University), and were previously members of Mogul Thrash. Gorrie and McIntyre had been members of Forever More. McIntyre and McIntosh were used as session musicians on Chuck Berry's recording of "My Ding-a-Ling".[3]
The band's breakthrough was a support slot at Eric Clapton's comeback concert in 1973. MCA Records released their debut album, Show Your Hand (1973), which sold poorly.[8] Bruce McCaskill, who was Clapton's tour manager, liked the band's music and agreed to manage them. He borrowed money to take them to the US and to promote them. McCaskill had many contacts from his days with Clapton and managed to get Atlantic Records to sign them. The band relocated to Los Angeles and released the follow-up, AWB, better known as The White Album. It reached #1 and was the first of many with renowned producer Arif Mardin.[8]
McIntosh died of a heroin overdose at a Los Angeles party on 23 September 1974.[1][8] Gorrie also overdosed, but Cher kept him conscious until medical help arrived.[9] The NME reported in January 1975 that AWB played a benefit show for McIntosh's widow at the Marquee Club in London.[10] McIntosh was replaced by Steve Ferrone (previously of Bloodstone), and, like McIntosh, previously with Brian Auger's Oblivion Express.[1]
In 1975, the single "Pick Up the Pieces" – taken from the No. 1 AWB album – reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song knocked Linda Ronstadt's "You're No Good" out of No. 1 and sold over one million copies. It was awarded a gold disc by the R.I.A.A. in March 1975.[11] It also prompted The J.B.'s, the backup band of the "Godfather of Soul", James Brown, to record and release a song in reply, "Pick Up the Pieces, One by One", under the name AABB (Above Average Black Band). It was both a tribute to AWB's knowledge of funk and a tongue-in-cheek play on the Scottish band's name.
AWB followed up with the LPs Cut the Cake (1975) and Soul Searching (1976), both big sellers and yielding further Top 40 singles. Cut the Cake was dedicated by the surviving band members to McIntosh's memory. Their next LP, Benny & Us, was a collaboration with Ben E. King.[8]
After several more albums, AWB's audience and sales dwindled. Their 1980 disco hit "Let's Go Round Again" (UK #12),[12] was covered in the late 1990s by Louise. The group initially disbanded by 1983.
Ferrone went on to work with Duran Duran whilst Hamish Stuart joined Paul McCartney's touring group.[8] In 1985 Gorrie released a solo album, Sleepless Nights.
Gorrie, McIntyre, and Ball reunited in 1989 to record Aftershock. Alex Ligertwood (ex-Santana , Jeff Beck Group and another veteran of Brian Auger's Oblivion Express) also appeared on this album replacing lead singer Hamish Stuart, along with Eliot Lewis who co-wrote with Gorrie and joined the band as well. Ligertwood left after the album's recording and drummer Tiger McNeil joined for the reunited band's live shows. McNeil was with the group until 1994. He was then succeeded by Peter Abbott (ex-Blood Sweat and Tears), who in turn was replaced by Fred "Catfish" Alias in September 1998. Drummer Adam Deitch did a two-year stint with AWB from 1999 to 2001.
Average White Band has continued recording (1997's Soul Tattoo, 1999's Face to Face) and touring since. Ball worked on Soul Tattoo with the group but was replaced by Fred Vigdor (aka Freddy V.) in 1996.
Brian Dunne took over the drum chair in 2001 and when Eliot Lewis left the band in September 2002 to pursue other musical opportunities (including a stint with Hall and Oates), he was replaced by Klyde Jones.[13]
Their line-up as of 2002 became Alan Gorrie (bass guitar, guitar, lead and backing vocals), Klyde Jones (keyboards, bass guitar, guitar, lead and backing vocals), Onnie McIntyre (guitar, vocals), Freddy V (sax, keyboards, vocals), and Brian Dunne (drums).
Dunne was replaced by Rocky Bryant as drummer as of the 2006 tour. And after Jones left in 2011 to join Hall and Oates, Monte Croft (keyboards, bass, guitar) and former Earth Wind and Fire member Morris Pleasure (keyboards, bass, guitar) came in to do brief stints before Rob Aries arrived in 2013.
Brent Carter (ex-Tower of Power) has been singing with AWB since 2011.
Gorrie and McIntyre are the only remaining original members of the band.
Members
- Current members
- Alan Gorrie – guitars, vocals, bass (1972–1983, 1989–present)
- Onnie McIntyre – guitars, vocals (1972–1983, 1989–present)
- Fred Vigdor – keyboards, saxophone (1996–present)
- Rocky Bryant – drums (2006–present)
- Brent Carter – vocals (2011–present)
- Rob Aries – bass, keyboards (2013–present)
- Former members
- Roger Ball – keyboards, saxophone (1972–1983, 1989–1996)
- Malcolm "Molly" Duncan – tenor saxophone (1972–1983)
- Robbie McIntosh – drums (1972–1974; died 1974)
- Michael Rosen – trumpet (1972)
- Hamish Stuart – guitar, bass, vocals (1972–1983)
- Steve Ferrone – drummer (1974–1983)
- Eliot Lewis – keyboards, guitar, bass, percussion, vocals (1989–2002)
- Alex Ligertwood – vocals (1989)
- Tiger McNeil – drums (1989–1994)
- Peter Abbott – drums (1994–1998)
- Fred "Catfish" Alias – drums (1998–1999)
- Peter Ramsey – Keyboard (1989–1999)
- Adam Deitch – drums (1999–2001)
- Brian Dunne – drums (2001–2006)
- Klyde Jones – guitar, keyboards, vocals (2002–2011)
- Morris Pleasure – keyboard, bass, guitar (2011, 2013)
- Monte Croft – keyboard, bass, guitar (2011–2013)
Discography
Studio albums
| Year | Album | UK | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Show Your Hand | – | 391 |
| 1974 | AWB | 6 | 1 |
| 1975 | Cut the Cake | 28 | 4 |
| 1976 | Soul Searching | 60 | 9 |
| 1977 | Benny & Us | – | 33 |
| 1978 | Warmer Communications | – | 28 |
| 1979 | Feel No Fret | 15 | 32 |
| 1980 | Shine | 14 | 116 |
| 1982 | Cupid's in Fashion | – | – |
| 1989 | Aftershock | – | – |
| 1997 | Soul Tattoo | – | – |
| 2003 | Living in Colour | – | – |
Notes
- 1 Charted in 1975 when re-issued as Put It Where You Want It.
Live albums
| Year | Album | UK | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Person To Person | – | 28 |
| 1999 | Face To Face | – | – |
| 2006 | Soul & The City | – | – |
| 2009 | Times Squared | – | – |
| 2016 | AWB R&B | – | – |
Compilation albums
| Year | Album | UK | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Volume VIII | – | 182 |
| 1994 | Let's Go Round Again | 38 | – |
| 1997 | Pick Up the Pieces and Other Hits | - | – |
| 2005 | Greatest & Latest | – | – |
Singles
| Year | Single (a-side b/w b-side) | UK | US | R&B | AUS | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | "Put It Where You Want It" b/w "Reach Out" | – | – | – | – | MCA Records MUS 1187 (UK) |
| "Show Your Hand" b/w "The Jugglers" | – | – | – | – | MCA Records MUS 1208 (UK) | |
| "This World Has Music" b/w "The Jugglers" | – | – | – | – | MCA Records MCA-40168 (US) | |
| 1974 | "How Can You Go Home" b/w "Twilight Zone" | – | – | – | – | MCA Records MCA 102 (UK) |
| "Pick Up The Pieces" b/w "You Got It" (US b-side: "Work to Do") | 6 | 1 | 5 | 38 | Atlantic Records K 10489 (UK) / 45-3229 (US, as AWB) | |
| "Nothing You Can Do" b/w "I Just Can't Give You Up" | – | – | – | – | Atlantic Records K 10498 (UK) / 45-3044 (US, as AWB) | |
| 1975 | "Cut The Cake" b/w "Person to Person" | 31 | 10 | 7 | – | Atlantic Records K 10605 (UK) / 45-3261 (US, as AWB) |
| "How Can You Go Home" b/w "Twilight Zone" | – | – | – | – | MCA Records MCA 186 (UK, re-issue) | |
| "Twilight Zone" b/w "How Can You Go Home" | – | – | – | – | MCA Records MCA-40196 (US) | |
| "If I Ever Lose This Heaven" b/w "High Flyin' Woman" | – | 39 | 25 | – | Atlantic Records K 10655 (UK) / 45-3285 (US, as AWB) | |
| "School Boy Crush" b/w "Groovin' the Night Away" | – | 33 | 22 | – | Atlantic Records K 10701 (UK) / 45-3304 (US, as AWB) | |
| 1976 | "Everybody's Darling" b/w "Why?" | – | – | – | – | Atlantic Records K 10778 (UK) |
| "Queen of My Soul" b/w "Would You Stay" | 23 | 40 | 21 | – | Atlantic Records K 10825 (UK) / 45-3354 (US, as AWB) | |
| "A Love of Your Own" b/w "Soul Searching" | – | – | 35 | – | Atlantic Records K 10880 (UK) / 45-3363 (US, as AWB) | |
| 1977 | "Cloudy" b/w "Love Your Life" | – | – | 55 | – | Atlantic Records 45-3388 (US, as AWB) |
| "Goin' Home" b/w "I'm the One | – | – | – | – | Atlantic Records K 10912 (UK) | |
| "Get It Up" b/w "Keepin' It to Myself" | – | – | 21 | – | Atlantic Records 3402 (US, as AWB and Ben E. King) | |
| "A Star In the Ghetto" b/w "Keepin' It to Myself" (US b-side: "What Is Soul") |
– | – | 25 | – | Atlantic Records K 10977 (UK, as Average White Band and Ben E. King) Atlantic Records 3427 (US, as AWB and Ben E. King) | |
| "The Message" b/w "Fool for You Anyway | – | – | – | – | Atlantic Records 3444 (US, as AWB and Ben E. King) | |
| "Imagine" b/w "What Is Soul" | – | – | – | – | Atlantic Records K 11019 (UK, as AWB and Ben E. King) | |
| 1978 | "One Look Over My Shoulder (Is This Really Goodbye?)" b/w "Big City Lights" |
– | – | – | – | RCA Records XB 9270 (UK) |
| "Your Love Is A Miracle" b/w "One Look Over My Shoulder" | – | – | 33 | – | Atlantic Records 3481 (US, as AWB) | |
| "Big City Lights" b/w "She's a Dream" | – | – | – | – | Atlantic Records 3500 (US, as AWB) | |
| 1979 | "Atlantic Avenue" b/w "She's a Dream" | – | – | – | – | RCA Records XB 1061 (UK) |
| "Walk on By" b/w "Too Late to Cry" | 46 | 92 | – | – | RCA Records XB 1087 (UK) / Atlantic Records 3563 (US, as AWB) | |
| "Feel No Fret" b/w "Fire Burning" | – | – | – | – | Atlantic Records 3581 (US, as AWB) | |
| "When Will You Be Mine" b/w "Ace of Hearts" | 49 | – | 33 | – | RCA Records XB 1096 (UK) / Atlantic Records 3614 (US, as AWB) | |
| 1980 | "Let's Go Round Again" Part I b/w "Let's Go Round Again" Part II (US b-side: "Help Is on the Way") |
12 | 53 | 33 | – | RCA Records AWB-1 (UK) / Arista Records AS 0515 (US) |
| "For You, for Love" b/w "Help Is on the Way" (US b-side: "Whatcha Gonna Do for Me") |
46 | – | 60 | – | RCA Records AWB-2 (UK) / Arista Records AS 0553 (US) | |
| "Into the Night" b/w "Catch Me (Before I Have to Testify)" | – | – | – | – | Arista Records AS 0580 (US) | |
| 1982 | "Easier Said Than Done" b/w "Isn't It Strange" | – | – | – | – | Arista Records AS 0679 (US) |
| "Cupid's in Fashion" b/w "Theatre of Excess" | – | – | – | – | Arista Records AS 1022 (US) | |
| 1988 | "The Spirit of Love" (12" single): Radio Short Version / Beat Mix / Long Beat Mix b/w Dance Mix / New York Mix |
– | – | – | – | Polydor PZ 56 (UK) / Track Record Company 58831 (US) featuring Chaka Khan and Ronnie Laws |
| 1994 | "Let's Go Round Again" (12" single): 12" CCN Remix / 7" CCN Remix b/w 12" CCN Alternative Mix / Original Mix |
56 | – | – | – | The Hit Label HLC 5 (UK) |
Other contributions
- Up (1976) – Morrissey–Mullen
- The Atlantic Family Live at Montreux (1977)
- Wish You Were Here (1974) – Average White Horns on "Just a Chance" and "Should I Smoke" – arranged by Roger Ball[14]
Bibliography
- The New Musical Express Book of Rock, 1975, Star Books, ISBN 0-352-30074-4
References
- 1 2 3 Roberts, David (1998). Guinness Rockopedia (1st ed.). London: Guinness Publishing Ltd. p. 24. ISBN 0-85112-072-5.
- ↑ "Average White Band interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' August 2011". Bluesandsoul.com. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
- 1 2 Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. pp. 36–37. ISBN 1-84195-017-3.
- ↑ "Alan Gorrie". Scottish-places.info. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
- ↑ "Owen (Onnie) McIntyre". Scottish-places.info. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
- ↑ "Robert (Robbie) McIntosh 1950 – 1974". Scottish-places.info. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
- ↑ "Hamish Stuart". Scottish-places.info. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Ankeny, Jason. "Average White Band". AllMusic. Retrieved 8 April 2010.
- ↑ "Gorrie Overdose". Time.com. 17 March 1975. Archived from the original on 30 December 2010. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
- ↑ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 272. CN 5585.
- ↑ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 341. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
- ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 34. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ↑ "Averagewhiteband.com". Averagewhiteband.com. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
- ↑ "Wish You Were Here – Badfinger : Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
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