Pick Up the Pieces

The Zoo Crew is grooving at THE ZOO radio station, spinning the funky instrumental "Pick Up the Pieces" by Average White Band from their iconic album AWB. This track, a surprise #1 hit in the US in 1975, was initially met with skepticism by band member Malcolm "Molly" Duncan, who told The Guardian he doubted its potential as a single, calling it a "funk instrumental played by Scotsmen with no lyrics other than a shout." Duncan explained the song’s title, shouted throughout the track, reflects the band’s struggle, noting, "It’s about picking yourself up when things aren’t going well. We’d spent a lot of time making no money, so it felt very relevant." The song’s infectious groove, driven by Hamish Stuart’s guitar line and Roger Ball’s horn melody, caught fire in the US, climbing to the top of the Billboard Hot 100, though it initially flopped in the UK before later reaching #6.

Another layer of trivia comes from the song’s cultural impact. According to Fraze Pavilion, "Pick Up the Pieces" has been featured in films like Superman II, Iron Man 2, and Semi-Pro, and even appeared in video games like Destroy All Humans! Path of the Furon. Its universal appeal led to a playful response from James Brown’s backup band, The J.B.’s, who released "Pick Up the Pieces, One by One" under the name AABB (Above Average Black Band), a cheeky nod to AWB’s success as a Scottish funk outfit. The track’s legacy endures, having been sampled by hip-hop giants like Public Enemy, Nas, and A Tribe Called Quest, cementing AWB as the 15th most sampled act in history, per Wikipedia.

Average White Band formed in 1972 in London, though their roots are firmly Scottish. The band, initially proposed by Bonnie Bramlett, came together when Alan Gorrie and Owen "Onnie" McIntyre, who’d been gigging in Scotland and backing soul artists, joined forces with Malcolm "Molly" Duncan, Roger Ball, Robbie McIntosh, and Hamish Stuart. Their early days were gritty, playing clubs and military bases in Germany, as Gorrie recalled in an interview on their official site. A pivotal moment came in 1973 when they opened for Eric Clapton’s comeback tour, gaining exposure that led to a deal with Atlantic Records. Their second album, AWB, produced by Arif Mardin, launched them to stardom, though tragedy struck when drummer Robbie McIntosh died of a heroin overdose in 1974, just as "Pick Up the Pieces" was rising. Steve Ferrone stepped in, and the band continued their funky reign.

Despite their Scottish origins, AWB’s authentic R&B sound won over Black audiences in the US, with Deadline noting their historic appearance on Soul Train, where host Don Cornelius marveled they "play and sing like they were raised on cornbread and black-eyed peas." The band’s influences—Marvin Gaye, James Brown, and Donny Hathaway—shaped their groove-heavy style, blending soul, funk, and jazz. After a string of hits like "Cut the Cake" and "Let’s Go Round Again," AWB disbanded in 1982 but reunited in 1989, continuing to tour and record. Their final tour, announced in 2023, culminated in a concert film at Harris-Stowe State University in 2024, as reported by Deadline.

You can keep up with Average White Band on their Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts, where they share tour updates and funky throwbacks. Fans, or Zoo Freaks in spirit, gather at places like the Average White Band Fan Group on Facebook, swapping stories and rare tracks. For deeper dives, check out fan-curated sites like Last.fm for discographies and listener stats, or join the funk community on Reddit’s r/funk, where AWB’s legacy sparks lively discussions.