Average White Band - Pick Up The Pieces Reaction! Funky Instrumental With a Top Ten Band Logo!

"Pick Up the Pieces" is a famous instrumental track by the Average White Band (AWB). The song was released in 1974 as a single and is one of the band's signature songs. It's known for its catchy and funky melody, featuring prominent saxophone and horn sections. "Pick Up the Pieces" was a major hit for AWB and remains a classic in the funk and soul music genres.

[@827dusty]

Not only are these guys a white "Funk" Band, but they're from Scottland! They aren't even American. But they are Funky! I remember hearing them way back in the early 1970s. Great stuff.

[@RonHerring5300]

Bring back FUNK music!

[@Eric4471066]

This song was the Average White Band's debut hit in America. The song not only peaked at the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song also peaked at the #1 spot on the Billboard Soul chart as well during the early spring of 1975. They became the very first music act from Scotland to have a song to hit the #1 spot on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard Soul charts. This song is a definitely banger indeed!!!

[@sp1midholm]

Hamish Stuart on guitar later played in Paul McCartney's band and now plays with Ringo Starr's all star band

[@botticellirejectbotticelli2668]

Best Scottish funk band.

[@paulself8698]

One of the best funk bands ever, never mind Scottish!

[@itchyandred4131]

They be layin the funk down ✌️

[@earlonaweary9155]

They laid it down, and we picked up the pieces😏 lol

[@donnagonatas3155]

We used to do the bump a to this and cut the cake at house parties. This was the 70's. Such a blast! Not a damm care in the world! Just who was having the party Friday night and who was bringing the pot. ✌️✌️❤️❤️

[@deantait8326]

Well, not a care, after 1975 and the end of the draft and Vietnam war

[@rogerwelsh2335]

Love how Steve Ferrone just lays down that solid beat.

[@Kang2112]

Dude that bass part is so in the pocket love this.

[@jamesrennie-xk1gn]

Scottish guy here, AWB bring da funk!!!!

[@Barnes466]

I wish we could all get back to times like these where we could all just groove and jam all together. This is so cool!

[@user-mo6tz6oh9i]

We played this at my wedding!

[@danielwalker1538]

School boy crush by AWB

[@donhathaway3234]

One of their best!

[@pammickle3935]

Guess what! I just saw Hamish do this with Ringo's All-Starr Band in New Mexico! FANTASTIC show. (We were in the 3rd row.)

[@BGinRS]

I saw him with Ringo Star's All- Star Band last year in St. Augustine. Great concert !!!

[@longago-igo]

AWB (1974), Cute the Cake (1975) and Soul Searching (1976) are the 3 albums that made their reputation and took this Scottish band international - so many great cuts.

[@sandyshoenberger2697]

Great band with so many great songs, If I Ever Lose this Heaven, A Love of Your Own & School Boy Crush are just a few. In high school I listened to them all the time. Thanks for reminding me!

[@California8-ms2wk]

React to the live performance of A Love Of Your Own by Average White Band (AWB) and you’ll hear some outstanding vocals and some great instruments, etc. as well. Awesome song and AWB is amazing.

[@alpetrocelli4465]

I saw them play in Chicago at the Auditorium Theater in August, 1976. Many in the crowd were surprised to find they were a Scottish band. What a funky sound! Great album & reaction.✌️❤️🎶

[@ljsites]

Great band!….speaking of Chicago

[@TheDivayenta]

“ Schoolboy Crush” is their sexiest funk jam!!!❤The tenor sax player was “Molly “Duncan.

[@WilliamTheMovieFan]

That bass is so fat, you will gain weight!

[@jamestickle3070]

Best song . Nasty.

[@958298bordeaux]

Yes the ORIGINAL not live versions. The don't do them justice. The live sound in the 70's wasn't as perfect as it is now

[@WilliamTheMovieFan]

@@958298bordeaux listen to their live Person to Person album. That one is fantastic! Their songs Person to Person, Cut the Cake, and Cloudy sound way better than their studio cuts. Trust me on this!

[@duncanchristie5456]

"Mollie" Duncan on sax but vocalists are Hamish Stuart and Alan Gorrie, from a Dundee (Scotland) boy, the same city as the band.

[@ericreep5341]

Growing up With the blue-eyed soul, I had a hard time judging a color by the voice. Singing was singing, didn't matter to me as an influence. One of my first impressions was Charlie Pride! I'm 60 now. So many influences, from my parents and 3 older siblings. It was the greatest age? Love y'all! Peace

[@HBFTimmahh]

Indeed it was. Hit 58 this yr and was the last in the pack of 5. You said it all.

[@mikerichards67]

Soul has no color,soul is a feeling.I would love to see you guys react to the J.Giels Band Give It to Me. I promise you will Love it. Early J.Giels was funky soul. Please give it a try.

[@lisarainbow9703]

Saxophonist Candy Dulfer does a FANTASTIC version of this, I can't recommend it enough...

[@michaelhearn3831]

The Funky Scott’s men 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿..Braveheart….

[@Triggerhippie70]

Listen, this is when music was music! I grew up listening to this song. I’m a 70s baby.

[@crsounddoctor4937]

They've had a lot of success after "Pick Up The Pieces" they were killing it in the 70's and the 80's with many sold-out concerts too and here is a true fun fact: Average White Band (AWB) music has been one of the most "Sampled" by modern musicians today, especially by "Hip-Hop" Artists!!!

[@genaseidenschwarz1014]

Thank y'all for being good company. It's fun to listen to music with you. Live Allman Brothers, live Grand Funk Railroad, Edgar Winter would all be really fabulous to do together.

[@waynepike4337]

Awesome, the drummer is amazing, whole band is amazing

[@timdore1131]

The legend goes, when Tom Petty was auditioning for a new drummer around '94 ... when Steve Ferrone walked into the waiting room about half the drummers grabbed their gear and left. It's probably morphed into a tall tale, but I would 100% believe it if it were true. That dude is amazing.

[@NoCanDu]

They are one of the most sampled bands ever, FYI. ❤

[@cindyp1033]

Great Scottish band~Hamish didn’t wear his kilt this time 😢🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿❤

[@komoleeray687]

You guys need to react to the live version of "Love of Your Own" by this amazing band..the soulful vocals and playing are awesome ..great reaction , more AWB please

[@958298bordeaux]

I LOVE that song but the live version?

[@komoleeray687]

@@958298bordeaux Check out the Montreux festival performance ( 76-77 ? same concert as this video)..the vocals and playing are phenomenal

[@TheCornishCockney]

AWB,as funky as it gets. Check out Schoolboy Crush and absorb the soul and funk. Also,Queen of my Soul by them.

[@melhall17]

AWB had a boat load of hits, probably more hits than the law allowed back then. like "cut the cake", "school boy crush" which was one of the most sampled songs ever, " if i ever lose this heaven" , " work to do", "i'm the one" , " person to person, and the list goes on and on.

[@thomasfranco5997]

I remember when they first came out on a Soul Station in Los Angeles, Cali. Everyone was calling and thought it was James Brown and the JB's. The DJ was saying they were called AWB, Pick Up Pieces. I have seen them in concert at the Hollywood Palladium back in the day. They got a standing ovation after they sang A Love of Your Own, I remember they were Awesome!!! Great Memories. You heard everybody on Whittier Blvd. in ELA playing AWB in their LOW-RIDERS.

[@958298bordeaux]

They had and still have PLENTY of success

[@wendyw4487]

Another great Montreux classic is Simply Red's cover of 'Money's Too Tight to Mention.' Check it out!

[@freebirdtony]

I remember at 12 years of age when this song was released, and it got a ton of airtime.

[@martinking4181]

Band from Scotland :)...don't need bagpipes

[@Zebred2001]

Gotta check out AWB's - A Love of Your Own - also Live from Montreux 1977. Also to partially answer your question -T.S.O.P. (The Sound of Philadelphia) by American soul group MFSB - featuring The Three Degrees a British vocal group was released in 1973 as a single and became a hit in the US, reaching number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 4 on the R&B chart. It was also a popular dance song, especially at the Philadelphia International Records’ annual Soul Train Music Awards show. The song is considered one of the most influential disco songs of all time and has been sampled by many artists, such as Daft. It was released on a 1975 Three Degrees album, International. "TSOP" hit number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in the spring of 1974 and remained there for two weeks, the first television theme song to do so in the history of that chart.

[@pcraig1383]

This band is from Scotland, the drummer is Steve Ferrone from London and I don't know who's on congas. Great reaction.

[@1bigrowdy]

Schoolboy Crush is a killer tune that didn't get much air time. Straight up funk..and it has lyrics lol

[@jamestickle3070]

Dope as hell song

[@Triggerhippie70]

Listen, funk is everything!

[@joaquinruiz293]

It s real sweet what u felles are doing listen to whole Album pick up pieces could be last on my list your really going to be surprised keep up good work God Bless

[@johnpressey5900]

“A Touch of Honey” Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass recorded the most popular instrumental version of the song with a cover on their 1965 album, Whipped Cream & Other Delights. This recording won four awards including Record of the Year at the Grammy Awards of 1966. The instrumental spent five weeks at number one on the easy listening chart, reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100,[2] and number 4 in Canada.[3] This version is noted for the eight drum beats before the tempo increased, intended as an editing cue to be removed in the final version, but Alpert decided to keep it in.

[@pommie5093]

This song is funky AF! One of my favorite tunes ever. I heard in a documentary that their name came from some exec talking to another saying, "they're just another average white band" or something very close to that. What they are is a funky band from Scotland. Epic tunes!

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

Check out their other classic cut the Cake 🤠👍🏻

[@glynnborders762]

This was back when you could have number one instrumental hit. I would love to see that return.

[@johnpressey5900]

Herb Alpert’s “Rise” "Rise" is an instrumental written by Andy Armer and Randy 'Badazz' Alpert, first recorded in 1979 by trumpeter Herb Alpert. Released as a single from Alpert's solo album Rise, the song reached #1 on the Billboard charts. It is the instrumental sample for The Notorious B.I.G. hit "Hypnotize".

[@1stsharkb8]

This was our trip music. The kind of trip where yiur mind goes without your body. Lol

[@ericj166]

circa 1973 Hudson-Ford had a UK chart hit with "Pick Up The Pieces " - same title, different number.

[@212x3]

Their song "School boy crush" is out of this world.

[@loisrogers9042]

"A Love of My Own" must have been on the charts.?😮

[@4444mbutler]

Please listen to Snarky Puppy - Lingus!!! This is a masterclass in funk and musicianship during a live recording. I can't stress enough how much this will blow you guys away. And please know that the drummer learned the entire album on the flight over to Europe where it was recorded. You guys are fantastic and please keep up the great reactions!

[@NoCanDu]

School Boy Crush is super funky! The guy on bass and vocal riffing is Alan Gorrie. He sings lower harmony and solo. The guy on his right is Hamish Stuart, falsetto harmonies and solo vocals. Hamish left to be in McCartney’s band and is still with him.

[@RaynorBear]

... actually, there were a lot of instrumental hits in the 1970s that made the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100.... such as Van McCoy's "The Hustle", Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra's "Love's Theme", Meco's "Star Wars Theme / Cantina Band, " Silver Convention's "Fly Robin Fly", Herb Alpert's "Rise", Chuck Mangione's "Feels So Good".

[@gothic8]

You guys should look at all of the AWB songs! They are one of the most sampled bands of the last 50 years. Wow!

[@lydmarl.475]

Love these guys, just saw them September 2022, they were a blast and surely they performed this song!!! If you want to see and hear another amazing funky band; Please do Tower of Power with this track “Boys of the Bay” those more horns and groove, you would have a blast!!!

[@lareoke5685]

Do a live version of, "A love of your own". It will blow you away. Live in Montruex 1977.

[@kierstenridgway4634]

I was losing my breath during that sax solo!! Really good!!

[@deepfriedscotsman2860]

Another great Scottish band

[@jacqueline4514]

YES!!! My parents had this album in the early 70’s; excellent funk!!!!!! Was blessed to grow up listening to great music with very young parents ❤

[@tinacingrani5128]

From Chicago here went to see AWB Concert and they were Great!....❤💯

[@suesmith7968]

A great groove!! The AWB album cover art is one of the best too!!!! ☮️❤️

[@jimwilcox2964]

Going back about 50 years. Tubular Bells by Mile Oldfield made it way up the charts after being used in the movie The Exorcist

[@WilliamTheMovieFan]

Check out their Person to Person live album. That album has some songs on it that are better than their studio cuts. Check out their live versions of Cut the Cake, Cloudy(Hamish, pronounced Hey-mish, can hit those high notes!) and the title track, Person to Person.

[@lisae9958]

They can also sing. ALL of their songs are amazing. I still have their albums. Don't miss out🤗🤗💃💃😍

[@seanamcgee3427]

Just on the Edge !!!

[@johnpressey5900]

"Axel F" is an electronic instrumental by German musician Harold Faltermeyer. It served as the theme for the 1984 film Beverly Hills Cop, starring Eddie Murphy, and became an international number one hit in 1985. The track reached number one in Ireland as well as on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. Additionally, it was a number-two hit in Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the UK, and West Germany.

[@indestarbright9646]

"Queen of My Soul" and "A Love of Your Own" were two of my favorite songs from this far from Average White Band, and worth checking out especially because they are not primarily an instrumental song like "Pick Up the Pieces". This group was always welcome on "Soul Train" back in the day.

[@dawnessoe9206]

And the drummer - so talented!

[@johnpressey5900]

"Feels So Good,” by Chuck Mangione, was released as a single in early 1978, which reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in June of that year[3] after spending a week atop the Billboard easy listening chart in May.[4] The recording was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Record of the Year at the ceremony held in 1979, losing out to Billy Joel's "Just the Way You Are".[4] Mangione re-recorded the tune (as a slow ballad, and with lyrics sung by Don Potter) for his 1982 album 70 Miles Young.

[@surpriseitsus9622]

O remember grooving to this song while at the roller skating rink. 😁

[@lynnewhitman2717]

It’s never too late to learn an instrument, there’s no age limit!

[@baniconeocleous5837]

This tune would make a blind man smile.

[@kurtadams3021]

Pure uncut Funk 🤘🏾

[@Debcatawba]

Great reaction! If you ever get the chance go see them in concert. They are still out there performing. I’m lucky enough to have seen them twice.

[@CDM1971]

Kids growing up the day they don't know what real music is like listen to the stuff that we listen to growing up in the 70s and you'll find out what real music is like

[@monicamad1285]

Let's Go Round Again and Work To Do 🔥🔥

[@johnpressey5900]

Frankenstein by Edgar Winter Group The song topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart for one week in May 1973, being replaced by Paul McCartney's "My Love". Frankenstein sold over one million copies. It fared equally well in Canada reaching number 1 on the RPM 100 Top Singles Chart the following month.[1] That same month, the song peaked at number 18 in the UK Singles Chart.[2] The following month, the song peaked at number 10 in Mexico. The song also peaked at number 39 in West Germany, remaining on the chart for one week. The single was certified gold on June 19, 1973, by the RIAA.[3]

[@Laudon1228]

I remember this on the radio when I was a kid. (I turned 58 earlier this year) Anybody who doesn’t start moving even just with the rhythm laid down by the guitars at the beginning needs to have their vitals checked. Greetings to the gentleman in the Nats cap! I’ve lived in the mountains in the Southwest for over a quarter century now, but I grew up in NoVA. I mentioned hearing the song on the radio. I was probably the only preteen white girl the in north part of Arlington with my radio tuned to WKYS. 😁 BTW, what about some TSOP? Blessings.

[@rogerwelsh2335]

This is seriously funky.

[@mariaportengen2959]

A real, timeless, funky number. I love it. 🎶🎶🎶❤️👍

[@user-rp1vc7jc6d]

I love their live versions with the bongos.

[@iamden3914]

"A Love of Your Own" another classic by AWB

[@deborahpaley21]

I graduated college in '75 so this was a "hit" then. Went to school in Providence RI which had some good bars and clubs for that time and a good size gay population, so the music was fire. Early mid 70s was such a good blend of soul, disco, R & B, Philly soul etal. GOOD TIMES, no shit.

[@jgp9508]

AWB is from Scotland. A lot of American rappers sampled them on their records. They came out prior to Chuck Brown. I do hear what you were saying with that DC sound. They have great vocals on ... Cloudy, A Love of Your Own, Soul Searching, etc. Too bad a lot of the band died early.

[@jamomathews9890]

They really funk it up with Chaka Khan on her song, some love. Her brother Mark is funking the Bass. 😮

[@tannadice1000]

The Dundee Horns. The original drummer,Robbie McIntosh also from Dundee

[@titoclayton7170]

Just can't get hustle man playing this on the kazoo out my head

[@Kang2112]

OMG I Love this song man the 70's was where it's at no joke.

[@winslow551]

Now drop the deep funk with School Boy Crush. Then bring it down with, If I Ever Lose This Heaven. This band has vocals as good as the instruments. I strongly suggest the studio versions. Their live videos are good, but the studio production should not be missed!!!

[@deborahhalbert3372]

There’s nothin average about that funk!

[@SlimDaddy9]

Yall need to listen to Schoolboy Crush by AWB! Just bc the chart history says one thing doesnt mean that reflected what was going on in the inner cities, discos and roller rinks!

[@komoleeray687]

love your reactions guys..great choices in songs and i love your enthusiasm and understanding of classic funk/rock in particular..i'm a new subscriber and a big fan..keep up the great work..more AWB please ..peace 😃

[@cdfdesantis699]

Absolutely a terrific funk/soul band, very underrated. Thanks for your reaction.

[@sharonchaput9705]

AWB is a Scottish R & B , funk band.

[@beatereich5466]

Amazing😊thank you.

[@Trapper50cal]

Right into the pocket, Damn!

[@crsounddoctor4937]

Hello my Brothers, I'm one of your loyal subscribers and I just wanted to let you know that The Billboard and other Charts don't always get it right...The Average White Band (a.k.a. AWB) is a Soul, Funk and R&B Band out of Scotland who have been doing it since 1972 to this present day in 2023!!! These guys are not pretenders, they are the "REAL-DEAL!!!" And they have a very deep musical catalog to react to with several hits, such as: "Pick Up The Pieces" (which you just reacted to), "Cut The Cake," "School Boy Crush," "A Love Of Your Own," "Cloudy - Live 6:36," "Work To Do," "Person To Person," "Queen Of My Soul," "If I Ever Lose This Heaven," "Would You Stay?," "Atlantic Avenue," "Soul Searching," "Sunny Days Make Me Think Of You," "You Wanna Belong," etc...This is just a taste, and there's still more of where this came from!!! Their name derived from a joke, as they had a friend who traveled to different parts of the world and upon returning from his travels, he would say things like "that place was either "too cold" or "too hot" for the average white man, and one day he cracked a joke about their music being too funky for the average white man, and a couple of the band members thought "hey let's call ourselves the Average White Band!!!" So they agreed on it, the name stuck and the rest is history!!! It has never & was never meant to have any racial connotations, as a matter of fact without ever seeing them first, most people thought they were actually a Black Band because of their soulful & funky sound. AWB was the 1st white group to ever play "LIVE" on SOUL TRAIN back in the day!!! And these guys besides being Grade-A musicians, they can sing their tails off too!!

[@WoodsintheBurg94]

The Ventures theme to Hawaii 5 O made it as high as #11 on the Billboard chart and was an instrumental track.

[@MH-fb5kr]

body parts moving with vigorrrrrrrrr !