AWB has expanded and altered its line up frequently over the years going through several incarnations, cycling in and out at least 22 members; however, when the band got it’s start in 1972 it consisted of the following: Alan Gorrie, Malcolm Duncan, Onnie McIntyre, Michael Rosen, Roger Ball, and Robbie McIntosh. Prior to the band’s initial formation, horn players Ball and Duncan attended Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and were also involved in the progressive rock band Mogul Thrash. AWB’s principal songwriter/singer Alan Gorrie as well as drummer Robbie McIntosh were also in a progressive rock group, Forever More around the same time.
Though the band hailed from Scotland their sound was almost exclusively inspired by American artists. They took cues from the soul scenes burgeoning in Philadelphia, Detroit, and Memphis, integrating techniques previously explored by artists like Stevie Wonder, Funkadelic, The Isley Brothers, the Temptations, and Marvin Gaye.
AWB had been together for only one year before they were bolstered into the limelight. The group earned the opportunity to open for Eric Clapton in support of his 1973 comeback concert and gained massive exposure from this event. Their studio debut “Show Your Hand” also came out this year, but unfortunately was a commercial flop. Despite this setback the band landed management under Bruce McCaskill (Clapton’s tour manager) and were later signed to Atlantic Records.
The group moved to Los Angeles following their assimilation onto the label and in August 1974 they put out their 2nd studio album “AWB” (also referred to as the White Album). It was the group’s first album to reach No.1 on the charts and featured the classic hit “Pick Up the Pieces”. The band’s sudden rise into fame was eclipsed by the tragic death of McIntosh (via a drug overdose). AWB played a memorial concert for McIntosh in January 1975 and later replaced him with Bloodstone drummer Steve Ferrone.
In June of 1975 the group issued their 3rd studio album “Cut the Cake”, which featured the No.10 hit title track. “Soul Searching” followed a year later, proving to be yet another success, reaching No. 9 on the US charts and No. 2 on the US R&B Charts. Their 5th album “Benny & Us” deviated a bit from their typical style and was actually a collaborative effort with Soul/R&B legend Ben E. King.
Despite the band’s massive success with their first couple albums, their sales started to plummet with their proceeding releases “Warmer Communications” (1978), “Feel No Fret” (1979), “Shine” (1980), and “Cupid’s in Fashion” (1982). The latter of the releases managed to peak at No. 49 on the R&B album charts, but failed to appear on either the US or UK charts. Distraught by their dwindling commercial success the group disbanded a year later.
In 1989 Gorrie, McIntyre, and Ball reformed the group and that same year put out their 10th studio album “Aftershock”. An even longer span of time stood between this album and their next release “Soul Tattoo”, which was issued in 1997. Six years later AWB released their 12th studio album. Their line up has been in continual flux since their disbandment in 1989; however, Gorrie has been a consistent member throughout these mutations and still continues to lead the group on occasional tours and album releases.
Read more
