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AWB (album)

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}

{{Infobox album

| name = AWB

| type = studio

| artist = The Average White Band

| cover = AverageWhiteBandAWB.jpg

| alt =

| released = 23 August 1974

| recorded = December 1973 – May 1974

| venue =

| studio = {{hlist|Atlantic, New York City|Criteria, Miami}}

| genre = Funk, soul

| length = 40:24

| label = Atlantic

| producer = Arif Mardin

| prev_title = Show Your Hand

| prev_year = 1973

| next_title = Cut the Cake

| next_year = 1975

| misc = {{Extra album cover

| header = alternative cover

| type = Album

| cover = AverageWhiteBand_AWB2CD.jpg

| border = yes

| alt =

| caption = Expanded 2CD re-issue cover

}}

}}

{{Album ratings

|rev1 = AllMusic

|rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1023|pure_url=yes}} AllMusic review]

| rev2 = Christgau's Record Guide

| rev2Score = A−[https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_chap.php?k=A&bk=70 CG Book '70s: A]

| rev3 = Tom Hull – on the Web

| rev3Score = B+ ({{Rating-Christgau|hm2}}){{cite web|last=Hull|first=Tom|authorlink=Tom Hull (critic)|date=3 May 2021|url=http://tomhull.com/ocston/blog/archives/2940-Music-Week.html|title=Music Week|website=Tom Hull – on the Web|accessdate=7 May 2021}}

}}

AWB also known as The White Album and also AWB '74 (The White Album) is the second studio album by the Scottish funk and soul band Average White Band, released on 23 August 1974.

AWB topped Billboard's Pop Albums and Black Albums charts. Its million-selling single "Pick Up the Pieces" knocked Linda Ronstadt's "You're No Good" out of #1 on Billboard's Hot 100. In Canada, the album was #2 for 3 weeks to Elton John's Greatest Hits.

A 2004 expanded re-issue from Sony/Columbia in the UK includes a bonus CD with several demo session recordings made before the group joined Atlantic Records – taken from the so-called "Clover Sessions," recorded at Clover Studios, Los Angeles, CA, in 1973.[https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0000SZ5DY 2CD expanded re-issue listing at amazon.uk] This album was eventually released as How Sweet Can You Get?

AWB was the final Average White Band album to feature the band's original drummer Robbie Mcintosh, who died in late September 1974, a month after the album's release. He was replaced by Steve Ferrone after his death.

Track listing

;Side one

  1. "You Got It" (Roger Ball, Hamish Stuart, Alan Gorrie) – 3:38
  2. "Got the Love" (Stuart, Ball, Robbie McIntosh) – 3:52
  3. "Pick Up the Pieces" (Average White Band) – 3:58
  4. "Person to Person" (Average White Band) – 3:38
  5. "Work to Do" (O'Kelly Isley, Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley) – 4:21

;Side two

  1. "Nothing You Can Do" (Gorrie, Stuart, Ball) – 4:06
  2. "Just Wanna Love You Tonight" (Ball, Gorrie) – 3:57
  3. "Keepin' It to Myself" (Gorrie) – 3:52
  4. "I Just Can't Give You Up" (Stuart) – 3:24
  5. "There's Always Someone Waiting" (Gorrie) – 5:38

All songs arranged by Average White Band. All horn parts arranged by Roger Ball.

;Bonus track on 1995 Rhino re-issue (Rhino 71588):

:11. "Pick Up the Pieces" – 21:40 (from The Atlantic Family Live at Montreux)[http://www.rhino.com/store/productdetail.lasso?number=71588 Rhino.com] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090101233439/http://www.rhino.com/store/productdetail.lasso?number=71588 |date=1 January 2009 }}

= Expanded 2CD re-issue (2004) =

;Disc one

Original release

;Disc two – The Clover Sessions / How Sweet Can You Get?

  1. "Person to Person"
  2. "Keepin' It To Myself"
  3. "There's Always Someone Waiting"
  4. "McEwan's Export"
  5. "Got the Love"
  6. "Work to Do"
  7. "Just Want to Love You Tonight"
  8. "Pick Up the Pieces"
  9. "I Just Can't Give You Up"
  10. "How Sweet Can You Get (Mark 1)"

;Bonus tracks on 2005 Columbia-Europe re-issue (Columbia 520204)

:11. "How Sweet Can You Get (Mark 1)"

:12. "McEwan's Export"[http://www.swapacd.com/cd/album/1391350-awb+bonus+tracks swapacd.com link]

Personnel

= Average White Band =

= Additional musicians =

= Other musicians =

(Live at Montreux bonus track)

==Production==

  • Gene Paul – mixing, engineering (NYC)
  • Lewis Hahn – engineering (NYC)
  • Karl Richardson – engineering (Miami)
  • Steve Klein – engineering (Miami)
  • Ron Albert – engineering (Miami)
  • Howard Albert – engineering (Miami)
  • Jimmy Douglass – engineering (additional recording)
  • Bobby Warner – engineering (additional recording)
  • Dennis King – mastering engineer
  • Arif Mardin – production, mixing
  • Alan Pariser – direction
  • Alan Gorrie – logo concept
  • Tim Bruckner – front cover drawing
  • Barry Feinstein – design & photography

=Other Album Notes=

"AWB would like to express their deep appreciation to Jerry Wexler, Alan Pariser and Bruce McCaskill."

Chart positions

Billboard Music Charts (United States)

= Album =

class="wikitable"

!Year

!Chart

!Position

1975

|RPM Canada 100{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.3931a5912.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Albums – March 1, 1975}}

|2

1975

|Billboard 200

|1

= Singles =

class="wikitable"

!Year

!Single

!Chart

!Position

1974"Pick Up The Pieces"rowspan=2|Disco Singles10
1974"Work To Do"10
1975"Pick Up The Pieces"Pop Singles1
1975"Pick Up The Pieces"Black Singles5

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

  • Atlantic SD 7308
  • Average White Band at [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1023|pure_url=yes}} AllMusic]

{{Average White Band}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Average White Band albums

Category:1974 albums

Category:Albums produced by Arif Mardin

Category:Atlantic Records albums