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

AVERAGE WHITE BAND OFFICIAL SITE

LOOK	ALBUM	YEAR
	SHOW YOUR HAND	1973
	AVERAGE WHITE BAND	1974
	CUT THE CAKE	1975
	SOUL SEARCHING	1976
	SHINE	1976
	PERSON TO PERSON [Live album]	1976
	BENNY & US (with Ben E. King)	1977
	WARMER COMMUNICATIONS	1978
	FEEL NO FRET	1979
	VOLUME 8	1980
	CUPID'S IN FASHION	1982
	AFTERSHOCK	1989
	SOUL TATTOO	1996
	LIVE - FACE TO FACE	1999

1973 SHOW YOUR HAND

01. The Jugglers 02. This World Has Music 03. Twilight Zone 04. Put It Where You Want It

05. Show Your Hand 06. Back In '67 07. Reach Out 08. T. L. C.

1974 AVERAGE WHITE BAND

01. You Got It 02. Got The Love 03. Pick Up The Pieces 04. Person To Person 05. Work To Do

06. Nothing You Can Do 07. Just Wanna Love You Tonight 08. Keepin' It To Myself 09. I Just Can't Give You Up 10. There's Always Someone Waiting

1975 CUT THE CAKE

01. Cut The Cake 02. School Boy Crush 03. It's A Mystery 04. If I Ever Lose This Heaven 05. Why

06. High Flyin' Woman 07. Cloudy 08. How Sweet Can You Get 09. When They Bring Down The Curtain

1976 SOUL SEARCHING

01. Overture 02. Love Your Life 03. I'm The One 04. A Love Of Your Own 05. Queen Of My Soul 06. Soul Searching

07. Goin' Home 08. Everybody's Darling 09. Would You Stay 10. Sunny Days (Make Me Think Of You) 11. Digging Deeper

1976 SHINE

01. Catch Me (Before I Have To Testify) 02. Help Is On The Way 03. Whatcha Gonna Do For Me 04. Let's Go Round Again 05. Into The Night

06. Our Time Has Come 07. For You, For Love 08. If Love Only Lasts For One Night 09. Shine

1976 PERSON TO PERSON [Live album]

01. Person To Person 02. Cut The Cake 03. If I Ever Lose This Heaven 04. Cloudy 05. T.L.C.

06. I'm The One 07. Pick Up The Pieces 08. Love Your Life 09. School Boy Crush 10. I Heard It Through The Grapevine

1977 BENNY & US (with Ben E. King)

01. Get It Up For Love 02. Fool For You Anyway 03. Someday We'll All Be Free 04. Imagine 05. Keepin' It To Myself

06. Fire Burning 07. What Is Soul 08. A Star In The Ghetto 09. The Message

1978 WARMER COMMUNICATIONS

01. Your Love Is A Miracle 02. Same Feeling, Different Song 03. Daddy's All Gone 04. Big City Lights 05. She's A Dream

06. Warmer Communications 07. The Price Of A Dream 08. Sweet & Sour 09. One Look Over My Shoulder

1979 FEEL NO FRET

01. When Will You Be Mine 02. Please Don't Fall In Love 03. Walk On By 04. Feel No Fret 05. Stop The Rain

06. Atlantic Avenue 07. Ace Of Hearts 08. Too Late To Cry 09. Fire Burning

1980 VOLUME 8

01. Kiss Me 02. Love Won't Get In The Way 03. Love Gives, Love Takes Away 04. Growing Pains 05. Pick Up The Pieces

06. Person To Person 07. Cut The Cake 08. A Love Of Your Own 09. Queen Of My Soul

1982 CUPID'S IN FASHION

01. You're My Number One 02. Easier Said Than Done 03. You Wanna Belong 04. Cupid's In Fashion 05. Theatre Of Excess

06. I Believe 07. Is It Love That You're Running From 08. Reach Out I'll Be There 09. Isn't It Strange 10. Love's A Heartache

1989 AFTERSHOCK

1996 SOUL TATTOO

01. Soul Mine 02. Back To Basics 03. Livin' On Borrowed Time 04. Every Beat Of My Heart 05. When We Get Down To It 06. Oh, Maceo

07. Do Ya Really 08. I Wanna Be Loved 09. No Easy Way To Say Goodbye 10. Love Is The Bottom Line 11. Welcome To The Real World 12. Window To Your Soul

1999 LIVE - FACE TO FACE

01. Soul Mine 02. Got The Love 03. A Love Of Your Own 04. Oh, Maceo

05. Back To Basics 06. Work To Do 07. Every Beat Of My Heart 08. Pick Up The Pieces