Top 10 Average White Band Songs

Average White Band Songs

Photo: De-fexxx666 / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

Our Top 10 Top 10 Average White Band Songs list looks at a band widely known for their 1974 smash hit single “Pick Up The Pieces.” However, the band has released a deep catalog of soulful funk tunes over a forty five year period. The band was formed in the early 1970s in London, England. The group captured their first break when they got a gig opening up for Eric Clapton. The legendary guitarist’s manager took a liking to the band and got them a record deal with Atlantic Records. The Average White Band’s first album did very little regarding commercial sales. However, it was their second album, titled AWB, that turned the group into an instant household name.

The Average White Band have released thirteen studio albums between 1973 and 2018. Interestingly, their record companies have also released eight greatest hits albums. The group has gone through many personal changes over the years, as most bands that have been together for a long time traditionally have. The group continued to tour throughout the 2000s and 2010s.

Our top 10 Average White Band songs list presents ten of their best songs, at least in our opinion, from their 1970s period.

# 10 – Work To Do

We open our top 10 Average White Band songs list with a track from their 1975 sophomore album, AWB. The song “Work To Do” was a cover version of The Isley Brothers song that had only been released two years earlier. It seems everyone was trying to have a hit with this song because the Main Ingredient also covered it in 1973. We love the Average White Band version as it grooves to the max with the band’s soulful funk arrangement that will force you to put on your dancing shoes. The song closed out side one of the great AWB album.

# 9 – You Got It

It’s no secret that the Average White Band’s second album, AWB, was the group’s masterpiece. We could quickly fill this entire list with songs from the album. But to be fair, the groups released many other outstanding records and have an extensive catalog of fantastic songs. So, we must be picky with the songs we choose from the AWB album. Nonetheless, we couldn’t leave this one out. “You Got It” was the album’s opening track. The band knew they had a great album on their hands and wanted to open up the record with a killer track. This one was perfect. The song was written by Average White Band members Roger Ball, Hamish Stuart, and Alan Gorrie.

# 8 -The Jugglers

Continuing with our top 10 Average White Band songs list, we return to the band’s first album, Show Your Hands. When the album was originally released, it failed to sell well. However, after the success of the group’s second LP titled AWB, the Show Your Hands album was reissued under a different title called Put It Where You Want It. The reissued album also presented fans with a different opening track. That killer song is presented here on this Average White Band Songs list.

# 7 – For You, My Love

We jump ahead in time with this one. The sound of 1980s R&B dance music is present on this great mid-tempo track called “Let’s Go Round Again.” The song was released on the album Shine. The song became a top 20 hit on the UK music charts 1989. Alan Gorrie wrote the song.

# 6 – If I Ever Lose This Heaven

The title to the Average White Band’s great tune, “If I Ever Lose This Heaven,” sounds like it’s probably a ballad. This is one slick grooving song with a chorus to die and go to Heaven for. The song was released on the fantastic Cut The Cake album. “If I Ever Lose This Heaven” was released as the second single from the album. The song closed out side one of the album. “If I Ever Lose This Heaven” was written by Leon Ware and Pam Sawyer.

# 5 – Queen Of My Soul

As we enter the second half of our top 10 Average White Band songs list, we turn to the great track “Queen of My Soul.” The song was released on the Soul Searching LP. That great album was released in 1976. The album featured legendary musicians such as Michael and Randy Brecker, also known as The Brecker Brothers. The LP also featured another famous pair of brothers, Eddie and David Brigati of the Young Rascals. “Queen of My Soul” was released as a single from the record. It did fairly well, just making the Billboard Top 40, peaking at number 40. It hit number 23 on the UK music charts.

# 4 – Soul Searching

Well, since we are on the topic of the Soul Searching LP, we just had to throw this one on the list of great Average White Band songs. “Soul Searching” was the album’s great title track. It was also the band’s fourth album release. The musicians in the band at the time included Alan Gorrie, Hamish Stuart, Roger Ball, Malcolm Duncan, Onnie McIntyre, and Steve Ferrone.

# 3 – Cut The Cake

As we start to wind down this Average White Band songs list, we turn to the title track of the band’s fabulous third album, Cut The Cake. There were high expectations for the Average White Band to follow up their grand second album after the mega success of the single “Pick Up The Pieces.” The band surely stepped up to the plate with this one. It wasn’t easy because the group’s drummer and founding member, Robbie McIntosh, died of a heroin overdose in 1974.  The song “Cut The Cake” was released as the first single from the record. The song reached the top 10 n the Billboard Hot 100 peaking at number 10. It was also a top 20 hit in the UK. The album went to number four on the Billboard Top 20 Album charts.

# 2 – A Love of Your Own

The Average White Band’s single “A Love Of Your Own is the third song from the great 1976 Soul Searching album to be placed on this Average White Band songs list. The band sounds like Earth, Wind & Fire on this track. The song did not put much of a dent into the pop charts, but so what? This is a great soulful mid-tempo ballad that stands as one of our all-time favorite Average White Band Songs.

# 1 – Pick Up The Pieces

Not many people living on Planet Earth have not heard this one, regardless of age. The Average White Band’s classic song “Pick Up The Pieces” was released in 1975 on their second album titled AWB. Songwriting credits for the song were given to the entire band, which included Alan Gorrie, Hamish Stuart, Roger Ball, Molly Duncan, Onnie McIntyre, and Robbie McIntosh. The writers have often stated that the song was about not giving up, picking up the pieces, and moving on when things weren’t going well, which was usually the case for most musicians.

“Pick Up The Pieces” was a number one hit for the Average White Band. In 1975, it knocked Linda Ronstadt’s mega-selling hit “Your No Good” out of the top spot. Many other artists have covered the song over the years, but none compare to the original by the Average White Band.

Updated August 12, 2024

Top 10 Average White Band Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2024

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