Average White Band, a Scottish band formed in the early stage of the ’70s, began their professional trek across the charts with their 1973 debut on MCA Records. But by 1974, the stock of the band rose considerably with their second album, titled AWB (which soon became the band’s alternate moniker). Newly signed to Atlantic for their second, AWB ascended boosted by the strength of the single, “Pick Up The Pieces”. MCA, who released their first album, jumped back into the line with a revamp of the first album changing the title to Put It Where You Want It, and with provocative new cover art. AWB rose to greater heights with five subsequent albums including Cut The Cake (1975) with four singles, and the million-selling hit, Soul Searching (1976). The band released 13 albums throughout their years and a popular live set, Person To Person (1976).
On July 4, Edsel Records (Demon Music Group UK) will provide a 2 disc collection of the best racks from those years. The set will be called The Essential Collection containing 34 songs. It will even dip into the Person To Person live set featuring a track from it. The 2021 Dimitri From Paris remix of “Let’s Go Round Again” will also be included.
The Essential Collection will be issued on 2CD, DD, and a drastically truncated 1LP offering with 12 of the most popular of AWB tracks from the 2CD release.
The Essential Collection – Average White Band (AWB)
CD1
01 Pick Up The Pieces
02 Cut The Cake
03 School Boy Crush
04 Get It Up For Love – and Ben E. King
05 Walk On By
06 For You, For Love
07 Soul Searching
08 Atlantic Avenue
09 Kiss Me
10 Sweet & Sour
11 You Got It
12 Shine
13 Whatcha’ Gonna Do For Me
14 If I Ever Lose This Heaven
15 A Star In The Ghetto – and Ben E. King
16 A Love Of Your Own (“Volume VIII” Edit)
17 Let’s Go Round Again [Dimitri From Paris Remix]
CD2
01 When Will You Be Mine
02 Work To Do
03 Queen Of My Soul (“Volume VIII” Edit)
04 Put It Where You Want It
05 I’m The One
06 Person To Person
07 Stop The Rain
08 Your Love Is A Miracle
09 The Jugglers
10 Got The Love
11 Love Won’t Get In The Way
12 Keepin’ It To Myself – and Ben E. King
13 Ace Of Hearts
14 Miss Sun
15 Love’s A Heartache
16 I’m Gonna Make You Love Me [Live] (Recorded 1976)
17 Let’s Go Round Again
LP
01 Pick Up The Pieces
02 Cut The Cake
03 Work To Do
04 School Boy Crush
05 Person To Person
06 Keepin’ It To Myself – and Ben E. King
07 Let’s Go Round Again
08 Whatcha’ Gonna Do For Me
09 A Love Of Your Own (“Volume VIII” Edit)
10 Atlantic Avenue
11 Walk On By
12 Queen Of My Soul (“Volume VIII” Edit)