Average White Band

Average White Band - Cupid's In Fashion - 1982 - Arista & RCA

One of the great soul funk groups, The Average White Band made some brilliant albums. Check out "Cut the Cake," and "Person to Person." This is not one of their best albums, but is still well worth listening to for the AWB's unique sound. Apologies for the 128 kbps.

TRACKS

A1.You're My Number One (3:21) - (Hartman)
A2.Easier Said Than Done (4:08) - (Kashif)
A3.You Wanna Belong (4:25) - (Ball/Cherry)
A4.Cupid's In Fashion (4:21) - (Stuart/Gorrie/Ball/AWB)
A5.Theatre Of Excess (4:31) - ( Gorrie/AWB)

B1.I Believe (4:32) - (Falsey/Faltermeyer)
B2.Is It Love That You're Running From (4:13) - (Gorrie)
B3.Reach Out I'll Be There (3:53) - (Holland/Dozier/Holland)
B4.Isn't It Strange (3:23) - (Stuart/Doheny)
B5.Love's A Heartache (4:49) - (Doheny)

PERSONNEL

Arranged By [Horns & Synthesizer] - Roger Ball
Arranged By [Vocals] - Alan Gorrie , Hamish Stuart
Backing Vocals - Joe Melotti (tracks: A4)
Drums - Steve Ferrone
Engineer - Michael R. Hutchinson*
Engineer [Additional] - Jay Mark
Engineer [Assistant] - Glenn Rosenstein
Guitar - Richie Stotts (tracks: A5)
Guitar, Vocals - Onnie McIntyre
Keyboards, Saxophone [Alto] - Roger Ball
Lead Vocals, Bass, Guitar, Keyboards - Alan Gorrie
Lead Vocals, Guitar, Bass - Hamish Stuart
Percussion - Sammy Figueroa
Piano, Backing Vocals - Dan Hartman
Producer - Dan Hartman
Saxophone [Tenor], Flute - Malcolm Duncan
Synthesizer - Jeff Bova , Mark Gray (2) (tracks: B4)
Trumpet, Flugelhorn - Randy Brecker

BIO

The Average White Band had their name jokingly bestowed on them by Bonnie Bramlett of Delanie & Bonnie; during their prime, AWB's solid grooves and overall chemistry were anything but average. But the name did reflect their paradoxical position: they were an American-style soul band made up of native Scots. The group was formed in Glasgow, Scotland, in early 1972 by Alan Gorrie (b. Jul. 19, 1946, Perth, Scotland) on bass, vocals, Michael Rosen; (soon replaced by Hamish Stuart; [b. Oct. 8, 1949, Glasgow, Scotland] [guitar, vocals]), Onnie McIntyre, (b. Sep. 25, 1945, Lennox Town, Scotland) on vocals, guitar, Robbie McIntosh (b. 1950, Scotland - d. Sep. 23, 1974, Los Angeles), Roger Ball, (b. Jun. 4, 1944, Dundee, Scotland) on keyboards, saxophone, and Malcolm Duncan, (b. Aug. 24, 1945, Montrose, Scotland) on saxophone. After their 1973 debut album, Show Your Hand, went unnoticed, they hooked up with producer Arif Mardin to record Average White Band (frequently called AWB because of the initials on the cover). Released in August 1974, the album topped the charts and spawned the near-instrumental dance hit "Pick Up the Pieces," which also went to number one. Meanwhile, tragedy struck the band, when drummer Robbie McIntosh died of a drug overdose; he was replaced by Steve Ferrone (b. Apr. 25, 1950, Brighton, England). AWB nearly replicated its success with the third album, Cut the Cake, and its title single, both of which reached the Top Ten. But the sameness of the group's approach and such side projects as an album with Ben E. King broke its momentum. Also, the rise of disco left its funky soul style sounding dated. AWB managed a couple more gold albums in Person to Person (January 1977) and Warmer Communications (March 1978), and its popularity lasted longer in the UK than in the US, but by the start of the '80s the band was permanently out of fashion. The band members have worked as session sidemen for artists ranging from Chaka Khan to Paul McCartney and Badfinger. © Rick Clark & William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide