The Essential Selection

Description

Widely and rightly regarded as one of the best ever soul and funk bands, the now legendary Average White Band tore-up the rule book and conquered the US, UK & International charts with a series of soul and disco hits between 1974 and 1980. Although probably best known for their global hit, the US #1 signature single ‘Pick Up the Pieces’, which reached #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Chart, this superb collection features 34 classic recordings from ‘Show Your Hand’/’Put It Where You Want It’ (1973) to ‘Cupid’s In Fashion’ (1982). ‘The Essential Selection’ also includes their other UK and US hits, ‘Cut the Cake’, ‘Queen of My Soul’, ‘Walk On By’, ‘For You, For Love’, the much sampled ‘School Boy Crush’, ‘When Will You Be Mine’, ‘If I Ever Lose This Heaven’, the track that Chaka Khan demoed for AWB and recorded in 1981 ‘Whatcha’ Gonna Do for Me’ and the floorfiller ‘Let’s Go Round Again’. ‘The Essential Selection’ features all of the band’s international hits, including collaborations with Ben E. King, album favourites, as well as the 2021 Dimitri From Paris Remix ‘Let’s Go Round Again’. AWB’s repertoire has been a source of inspiration and influence for many R&B acts and they are one of the most sampled bands in history, remaining relevant today, continuing to reach new generations of younger audiences. Snoop Dogg, Fatboy Slim, Ice Cube, Puff Daddy, TLC, Rick Ross, will.i.am and Mark Ronson amongst countless others, have all borrowed sections of their grooves. ‘The Essential Selection’ has been overseen by Alan Gorrie, Hamish Stuart and Onnie McIntyre.

Tracklisting

Disc 1
1. Pick Up the Pieces – Average White Band
2. Cut the Cake – Average White Band
3. School Boy Crush – Average White Band
4. Get It Up for Love (With Ben E. King) – Average White Band
5. Walk On By – Average White Band
6. For You, for Love – Average White Band
7. Soul Searching – Average White Band
8. Atlantic Avenue – Average White Band
9. Kiss Me – Average White Band
10. Sweet & Sour – Average White Band
11. You Got It – Average White Band
12. Shine – Average White Band
13. Whatcha’ Gonna Do for Me – Average White Band
14. If I Ever Lose This Heaven – Average White Band
15. A Star in the Ghetto (With Ben E. King) – Average White Band
16. A Love of Your Own (‘Volume VIII’ Edit) – Average White Band
17. Let’s Go Round Again (Dimitri from Paris Remix) – Average White Band
Disc 2
1. When Will You Be Mine – Average White Band
2. Work to Do – Average White Band
3. Queen of My Soul (‘Volume VIII’ Edit) – Average White Band
4. Put It Where You Want It – Average White Band
5. I’m the One – Average White Band
6. Person to Person – Average White Band
7. Stop the Rain – Average White Band
8. Your Love Is a Miracle – Average White Band
9. The Jugglers – Average White Band
10. Got the Love – Average White Band
11. Love Won’t Get in the Way – Average White Band
12. Keepin’ It to Myself (With Ben E. King) – Average White Band
13. Ace of Hearts – Average White Band
14. Miss Sun – Average White Band
15. Love’s a Heartache – Average White Band
16. I’m Gonna Make You Love Me [live] (Recorded 1976) – Average White Band
17. Let’s Go Round Again – Average White Band