If they'd never cut another track after their monster-grooving, No. 1 R&B instrumental, "Pick Up the Pieces," the Average White Band still would have earned an enduring place in the music pantheon--and the Irony Hall of Fame, the latter due to their improbable Scottish roots. After all, they were six soul-smitten musical journeymen hailing from quarters much nearer the Mull of Kintyre than Motown.
But lest anyone mistake that quirk for a marketing shuck, the funk-drenched love of early '70s black music driving every cut on this well-chosen anthology will set matters straight. Indeed, AWB proves imitation isn't just the sincerest form of flattery. In the hands of seasoned and talented musicians, it can be the sweetest form of inspiration, too. The members' early work in cover bands informs songs like the sweaty workout "Cut the Cake" and tuneful, Marvin Gaye-inspired "Queen of My Soul" and "A Love of Your Own." This album is convincing argument that soul has little to do with the color of one's skin. --Jerry McCulley
Pickin' Up the Pieces: The Best of Average White Band (1974-1980),The Average White Band,Atlantic / Wea,Funk,Pop,R&B,Rock/Pop,Scotland,Soul,Soul/Reggae/Rhythm & Blues
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Pickin' Up the Pieces: The Best of Average White Band (1974-1980)
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ASIN: B0000032VE Release Date: 1992-09-01 |
Tracks:
- Pick Up The Pieces
- Person To Person
- Got The Love
- You Got It
- Work To Do
- Cut The Cake
- If I Ever Lose This Heaven
- School Boy Crush
- Queen Of My Soul
- Cloudy (Live Version)
- A Love Of Your Own
- Soul Searching
- I'm The One (Live Version)
- Get It Up
- Your Love Is A Miracle
- When Will You Be Mine
- Let's Go 'Round Again
- For You, For Love
Amazon.com
If they'd never cut another track after their monster-grooving, No. 1 R&B instrumental, "Pick Up the Pieces," the Average White Band still would have earned an enduring place in the music pantheon--and the Irony Hall of Fame, the latter due to their improbable Scottish roots. After all, they were six soul-smitten musical journeymen hailing from quarters much nearer the Mull of Kintyre than Motown.But lest anyone mistake that quirk for a marketing shuck, the funk-drenched love of early '70s black music driving every cut on this well-chosen anthology will set matters straight. Indeed, AWB proves imitation isn't just the sincerest form of flattery. In the hands of seasoned and talented musicians, it can be the sweetest form of inspiration, too. The members' early work in cover bands informs songs like the sweaty workout "Cut the Cake" and tuneful, Marvin Gaye-inspired "Queen of My Soul" and "A Love of Your Own." This album is convincing argument that soul has little to do with the color of one's skin. --Jerry McCulley
Customer Reviews:
AWB: Pickin' Up the Pieces: The Best of Average White Band (1974-1980).......2007-07-08
Some of their tunes are more complex than others in terms of guitar rhythms, but that is what makes the CD sparkle, both for the tight and intricate bass and guitar, but the well-versed horns that continually pop out at you from the horn section in rhythm.
There are times when the sax player takes solos, but listen to the backing rhythm and it makes more sense.
Personally, I favor the high-charged funk rhythms instead of the ballads, but the ballads just show another side of AWB's versatility.
If you want to take a trip down memory lane and visit some of the 70's best funk and R&B music that even guitarists like me who grew up in that era can enjoy, give the AWB a listen with your media player on "Pickin Up the Pieces" and "Cut the Cake". Two exceptionally organized, well-arranged, and tight guitar, bass, vocals, and horns.
Your answer will be the same as mine if not more appreciative of AWB.
Great Deal.......2007-03-09
Funk In The Trunk.......2007-01-08
This excellent remastered collection breathes new life in the classic R&B sound during an era when musicians really mattered. And that is heard in the first cut; the horns and percussion in Pick Up The Pieces groove so hard.
But the band demonstrates their skills on cuts like Person To Person, Work To Do, Cut The Cake and School Boy Crush. Though AWB is still on the road, the live cuts Cloudy & I'm The One gives the listener a taste of how the group sounded on stage back in the day.
The group had such a clean studio sound, which is really brought out in this collection. Though the AWB has several signature songs, there was a lot of quality material recorded from 1974-1980. I cannot recommend a better "best of" package from a group than Pickin' Up The Pieces.
Excellent Old school.......2007-01-03
Oh! My! God!.......2006-07-13
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