rockofallages81-tvgda

Stop me if you’ve heard this one. There was a funk and R&B band, but they were from Scotland. And they called themselves the “Average White Band.” No, this was not a comedy band. They were actually pretty successful for a time. They had a #1 song on the Hot 100 called “Pick Up The Pieces.” They are also one of the most frequently-sampled acts in hip-hop. For example, their 1975 single “School Boy Crush” has been sampled in over 180 songs. Legacy established, let’s talk about their album, Soul Searching, released in June 1976. One of the singles, “A Love Of Your Own,” has also been frequently sampled. In fact, most of the songs on the album have been sampled. But let’s stay in 1976.
Soul Searching features contributions from saxophonist Michael Brecker. He also appeared on Waking And Dreaming, but unlike that album, Soul Searching does not get all weird in the second half. The first half has more upbeat funky tracks while the second half has slower, more soulful material. Although the second half feels a little bit longer than it is, I still recommend Soul Searching.