AWB the Lost Songs
G. E. Williams | California | 07/17/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"My first exposure to the Average White Band came in 1973, on the way to compete in my first Big Track Meet, the East Bakersfield Invitational Relays. I was offered a ride with the two coolest guys in our school Marcus Daniels and Joel Andrews. Once we were on out way, they put in a tape that had the female form in a green tee-shirt that had the letters AWB printed on the front. The funky sound hooked me that day and never let go.
Forward to 1975, and on a Saturday morning watching "Soul Train" when "Pick Up the Pieces" was played. Forward again 1977, I started spending my Saturday Nights (until August of '79) spinning records for dances, and every week I would play several AWB songs, largely from the live set "Person to Person" but I also would go to the studio stuff, and of that, one of my all time favorites was "Twilight Zone" from the first album. Forward again to the late 80's and my Yamaha turntable got "dropped" by a person who will go nameless. At the time you couldn't find turntables anywhere as the world was going to CD, and I gave away all my LPs, including of course all my AWB.
Forward again to the new millennium, I wanted my "Green Tee-Shirt" album on CD. No one knew what I was talking about. I even contacted the band, and found out that the CD had been released as "Show Your Hand", and again as "The Jugglers" but both versions were out of print. They suggested I try contacting a fan site and see if I could buy one. No such luck. I finally found a copy of "Show Your Hand" it cost me about $ 75, and was used and not in perfect shape, but I had my song. At least I did until my car got burglarized and I lost it again. I tired for years to find it again. NO luck finding it a second time, I resorted to begging the group again, "If you aren't going to have the Album in print can you at least put out the MP3 of "Twilight Zone"? I could live with my "best of" collections if I could have that one.
Once again, no luck, until this week when finally "Show Your Hand" is re-released including alternate versions of the songs and including the previously unreleased "How Sweet Can You Get?" along with the "White Album". I'm very happy at the moment, hearing these songs again.
I am also educated, reading the liner notes, it talks at some length about the original drummer Robbie McIntosh, who was considered a child prodigy, (not something you usually connect with a drummer) whom I remembered as dying around the time the AWB started being successful, but listening carefully to the drumming on these first albums, it was genius. For a great example, just listen to the Cut "I just can't give you up",or "I Got the Love" it sounds like he has four hands and four feet! And along with Bassist Allan Gorrie, you can see how and why these two wanted to work together and how they laid down such "Funky" beats.
So what about the bonus songs? They are definitely not the polished sound I am used to listening to from AWB, but my, oh my, this is some raw funky stuff. More like James Brown kind of "Funk" than the smooth AWB I am used to, but very good work.
If you are new to AWB, the Average White Band were (and are still) a group at the fore front of what was called in the UK when I lived there "Northern Soul". They are originally a group of Scots who loved Jazz/Soul/R&B music, and were able to to it as well as (or better) than any group around. The line up has changed back and forth over the years, but they remain great, and this set is the beginning of that greatness.
If you are going to explore, I'd go with Pickin' Up the Pieces: The Best of Average White Band (1974-1980), but if you are a fan already, this is a set you should own!
5*
"
"...You Don't Have To Worry...Any Way You Want It...You Got
Mark Barry at Reckless Records, Lon | UK | 06/23/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is the first of four UK-only 2CD sets covering the entire Average White Band catalogue from their UK MCA debut in 1973 right through to their wicked RCA period in 1980/1981. Reissued by Britain's rated and respected EDSEL label (this is Edsel EDSD 2030), it doesn't take a particular genius to work out from the crammed CDs that there's an awful lot of goodies on offer here - gems from a hugely under-appreciated Scottish soul band.
Here's a detailed breakdown...
Disc 1 (56: 45 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 8 are their debut album "Show Your Hands" originally issued in June 1973 on MCA Records MUPS 486 in the UK and on MCA MAPS 6694 in the USA.
[Note: on the back of their second album's success (the "Pick Up The Pieces" "Average White Band" album), "Hands" was then given a different name and reissued in the USA in April 1975 as "Put It Where You Want It" with the opening song "The Jugglers" replaced by "How Can You Go Home"].
Tracks 9 to 16 are bonus tracks, most new to CD. "Reach Out", "The Jugglers" and "Back In '67" are "First Versions" recorded in London in 1971 and 1972. "How Can You Go Home" was issued as a NON-LP 7" single on MCA Records MCA 102 in the UK in January 1974 with 1973's "Twilight Zone" on the B-side (it was in itself reissued as MCA 186 in 1975 with the same tracks).
Disc 2 (79:50 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 10 are their 2nd and most famous album "Average White Band" (also known as The White Album because of its distinctive plain artwork) issued on Atlantic K 50058 in July 1974 in the UK and as "AWB" in the USA on Atlantic SD-7308 in September 1974 (it reached number 1 in the USA, and number 6 in the UK in early 1975)
Tracks 11 to 20 are "The Clovis Sessions" CD on the Deluxe Edition of "Average White Band" from 2003 renamed here as a 'missing' album, "How Sweet Can You Get?"
There's a card wrap on the outside (all four card spines combined make up the famous AWB logo), a 20-page booklet on the inside with liner notes by noted soul expert and writer TONY ROUNCE with contributions from key band members - Alan Gorrie, Onnie McIntyre and Hamish Stuart. The mastering was done by ALCHEMY in London and the sound is similar to the superb Rhino remasters of 1993 - warm, ballsy and in your face for all the right reasons. There's also a huge and noticeable difference between the very airy production values of their UK debut and the glossy but beautiful polish on the second album by famed American producer ARIF MARDIN. But the truth is - it all sounds spiffing...
It's worth pointing out that if you already own the Deluxe of AWB from 2003, there is only Disc 1 to be interested in - but the music is still great.
That the Scottish are as funky as f**k should surprise no one (John Martyn, Cado Belle, Love And Money, even The Blue Nile funk with the best of them), but they all have one common thread - SOUL - it may be white boy's soul - but it's soul - par excellence.
Retailing at ten pounds in a UK megastore, I've seen this 2CD set online for as little as a fiver (eleven/twelve dollars), which is ludicrously great value for money.
The Average White Band were always the business - and even possess what is arguably the coolest name ever given to a rock group in the history of the world.
Don't be a wee timorous beastie and get this into your life...recommended big time.
PS: the other titles in this import series are:
1. The Collection Volume Two
Features "Cut The Cake" (1975), "Soul Searching" (1976) and "Benny & Us" (1977), 3 full albums on 2CDs - Edsel EDSD 2031
2. The Collection Volume Three
Features "Person To Person" (1977 2LP Live Set) and "Warmer Communications" (1978), 3 full albums with 2 Bonus Tracks on 2CDs - Edsel EDSD 2032
3. The Collection Volume Four
Features "Feel No Fret" (1979), "Volume VIII" (1980 4-track mini-LP with 1 added bonus track), "Shine" (1980) and "Cupid's In Fashion" (1982), Near 4 Albums Worth Across 2CDs - Edsel EDSD 2033"
AT LAST IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT!
Rickey Stevens | MEADVILLE PA USA | 09/09/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"WOW THESE BALLSY SCOTS REALLY KNOW HOW TO MAKE ME AN AMERICAN ROM ( GYPSY) HAPPY AND JOYFUL THEY CALL ME CORK HI TO ALL THE ROMS WORLDWIDE THIS MUSIC IS GREAT IT TOOK ARIF MARDIN TO POLISH UP THERESOUND BUT ALAN AND HAMISH AND THE LATE GREAT ROBBIE MCINTOSH AND THE REST HAVE THE IT FACTOR MY YOUNGER BROTHER GOT TO SEE THEM LIVE IN YOUNGSTOWN OHIO ITS A GREAT PACKAGE I REALLY LIKE SOME OF SONGS ON THE CLOVER SESSIONS BETTER THAN THE WHITE ALBUM BUT I JUST THINK ITS ALL GOOD I WAITED FOR THE SONG HOW CAN YOU GO HOME WAY BACKWHEN I WAS JUST A 21 YEAR OLD GUY I STILL HOPE I CAN SEE THESE WONDERFUL GUYS IN CONCERT! GET THIS WHILE YOU CAN IT WILL REALLY MOVE YOUR HEART MIND BODY AND SOUL!......IN CLOSING GOD BLESS THESE GUYS ANCESTORS WITHOUT THEM THE WORLD WOULD HAVE BEEN ROBBED OF THIS WONDERFUL GOD GIVEN TALENT! AWB FOREVER THANK YOU GUYS FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART AND GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU SAFE!!!.....A NUMBER ONE FAN FOREVER!....CORK THE AMERICAN ROM."
Track Listings (18) - Disc #1