Well Above Average

I'm a sucker for horns! It probably goes back to me buying big band 78 records at jumble sales in South London with my Dad in the 50s. I loved Blood Sweat & Tears, Chicago, If, and all those other jazz/rock bands. When the Average White Band came along they combined two of my big loves - horns and soul.

This album, known to their fans as the white album was their second and was released in 1974; it made No.1 in the US album charts. Produced by Arif Marden it has three of the best opening tracks of any album I know. The superbly uplifting 'You Got It', followed by the more subtle, yet beguiling, tones of 'Got To Love' and rounded out by 'Pick Up The Pieces' - this went to No.1 on the US Hot 100. For a bunch of white boys from Scotland this is real soul music. Tragically their drummer, Robbie McIntosh, died from a heroin overdose just as they broke through and he was replaced by Steve Ferrone who became the band's only black member. Other standout tracks include 'Work To Do' and the soft soul of 'Just Wanna Love You Tonight'.

After this a couple of more good albums followed, which yielded some great singles, including, 'Queen of My Soul', 'Let's Go Round Again' and 'If I Ever Lose This Heaven'. However, they never really scaled the heights of the AWB album, but none the less they should be both remembered and revered for giving us some of the best blue-eyed soul there's ever been