Pickin' Up the Pieces: The Best of Average White Band (1974-1980)

Average White Band

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 1, 1992)
• Original Release Date: September 1, 1992
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Atlantic / Wea
• ASIN: B0000032VE
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,636 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #9 in	Music > World Music > Europe > British Isles > Scotland
  #90 in	Music > R&B > Funk
  #99 in	Music > World Music > Europe > British Isles > Britain

Editorial Reviews

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

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pick Up These Rock and Soul Pieces On Rhino AWB Hits Set, December 13, 2000

By	Anthony G Pizza "trivialtony" (FL) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The Average White Band hit in the right place, at the right time (the pre and early-disco mid-70s) with the right on the right label (Ahmet Ertegun's Atlantic Records, which understood a decade before with the Young Rascals how potent rock and soul combined could be). Rhino's generous, well-remastered "Pickin' Up The Pieces" is a first-rate, career spanning collection from one of music's tightest, funkiest bands in either genre.

The album is full of rumbling bass lines courtesy of Hamish Stuart, who with drummer Steve Ferrone lays the bottom on the indescribably funky "Cut The Cake," and "School Boy Crush"(featuring stop-time horn lines only hinted at in the group's #1 hit "Pick Up The Pieces.") Alan Gorrie and Hamish Stuart's soulful harmonies recall the Isley Brothers at their smoothest, swirling around the melodies of "If I Ever Lose This Heaven," "Queen Of My Soul" and the Isleys' own "Work To Do." Then you get the Latin-flavored "Queen of My Soul" and the shimmering Quiet Storm favorite, "A Love Of Your Own" from 1976's "Soul Searching." The group acknowledged its influences directly with Ben E. King's vocals on "Give It Up" from 1977's "Benny And Us."

Things quieted down for AWB as the 80s began; disco polarized the funk audience while its minimalist successors, rap and new wave, had little connection to the group's sophisticated big-band funk. (MOR Production from adult contemporary aces Bill Champlin and David Foster on a mostly unsupportive Arista label didn't help, although rap sampling of earlier hits eventually restored some of AWB's cache'.) Nonetheless, those huge early hits on its first half make "Pickin' Up The Pieces" a recommended collection from a band anything but average. It's worth picking up for 70s rock and soul fans alike, but also check out the 1974 Atlantic debut and 1977's live "Person To Person."

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Be Careful Loaning This One Out, May 26, 2003

By	J. Harley (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I originally bought this CD a few years ago, back in '99. Loved it. I found myself yearning for the good old days again, when they actually made real music. Rarely do you find a greatest hits compilation that actually is packed full of hits. This CD does not disappoint. If the funky "School Boy Crush" doesn't bring back memories, the silky smooth "A Love of Your Own" or the straight jammin' "Queen of My Soul" will. There are so many more hits on this CD, it's a bonafide keeper. At least it was until my brother "borrowed" it (for 5 months). Every time I asked for it, he gave me another excuse about not being able to stop listening to it. Knowing how awesome this CD is, I just didn't have the heart to take it back, so I kicked out the dough for a new copy. Believe me when I say "It's worth it!" Long live '70's soul and funk!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Scot That's Funky!, November 18, 2005

By	El Lagarto (Ambler, PA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

How a group of white boys from Scotland could produce 100% pure American funk, rhythm and blues, and soul is anybody's guess. If you've heard Pick Up The Pieces and you want more, this is definitely the AWB CD to get. There are other AWB samplers out there, but this one has the best blend of tracks you must have (Work To Do, Got The Love, and of course, Pick Up The Pieces), and lesser known gems like Schoolboy Crush, Cloudy, and the stellar A Love Of Your Own which is worth the price of admission by itself. What you'll notice about AWB is their restraint, they don't play a lot of notes, they only play exactly the right amount of notes. The other thing is that whether they're playing loud or soft, slow or fast, they never, never, never lose the groove. Plus, excellent singing.