Warmer Communications [Clear Vinyl]

by Average White Band

Overview

Like Earth, Wind & Fire and the Ohio Players, the Average White Band demonstrated that even the mightiest of funk bands can experience a creative and commercial decline. 1978's Warmer Communications was the last AWB album that went gold; by the time they came out with 1979's uneven Feel No Fret, AWB's popularity had decreased. That isn't to say that nothing they recorded after the '70s has merit; 1997's Soul Tattoo found AWB providing a decent and satisfying, if less than essential, CD 17 years after the '70s ended. Nonetheless, many AWB fans agree that Warmer Communications was the Scottish band's last truly excellent album. This 1978 LP didn't have a blockbuster single like "Cut the Cake" or "Pick Up the Pieces"; the funky single "Your Love Is a Miracle" only made it to number 33 on Billboard's R&B singles chart. But Warmer Communications (which Arif Mardin produced) didn't need a major single to sell at least half a million copies in the United States, where fans were willing the buy the record regardless of how much radio airplay it received. In fact, fans found that they could easily play this album from start to finish without ever feeling disappointed -- and you can't say that about Feel No Fret, AWB's next album. Warmer Communications gets off to an impressive start with "Your Love Is a Miracle," and AWB keeps the creative momentum going whether they're getting funky on "Same Feeling, Different Song" and "Big City Lights" or chilling out on slow jams that include "One Look Over My Shoulder (Is This Really Goodbye?)," the ethereal "She's a Dream," and a memorable cover of James Taylor's "Daddy's All Gone." There are no dull moments on Warmer Communications, which was a welcome addition to AWB's catalog. ~ Alex Henderson

Product Details

Release Date:	07/17/2020
Label:	Demon Records
UPC:	5014797901391

Tracks

1. Your Love Is A Miracle
2. Same Feeling, Different Song
3. Daddy's All Gone
4. Big City Lights
5. She's A Dream
6. Warmer Communications
7. The Price Of The Dream
8. Sweet & Sour
9. One Look Over My Shoulder (Is This Really Goodbye?)

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Average White Band   Primary Artist
Lew Soloff   Guest Artist,Trumpet
Marvin Stamm   Guest Artist,Trumpet
Joe Farrell   Guest Artist,Sax (Alto)
David "Fathead" Newman   Guest Artist,Sax (Alto)
Sonny Fortune   Guest Artist,Saxophone
The Brecker Brothers   Guest Artist
Herbie Mann   Guest Artist,Flute
Cornell Dupree   Guest Artist
Steve Ferrone   Drums,Percussion
Onnie McIntyre   Guitar,Vocals (Background)
Alan Kaplan   Trombone
Glenn Ferris   Trombone
Sammy Figueroa   Percussion
Ralph MacDonald   Congas
Hamish Stuart   Guitar,Vocals,Guitar (Bass),Vocals (Background)
Jaroslav Jakubovic   Saxophone
Malcolm Duncan   Flute,Sax (Tenor)
Ken Bichel   Piano
Robbie McIntosh   Drums,Percussion
Gilman Rathel   Trumpet
Roger Ball   Keyboards,Saxophone,Sax (Alto),Synthesizer
Randy Brecker   Trumpet
Jim Mullen   Guitar
Richard Tee   Piano (Electric)
Michael Brecker   Saxophone
Mel Davis   Trumpet
Alan Gorrie   Vocals,Guitar (Bass),Vocals (Background)
Barry Rogers   Trombone
Don Ellis   Trumpet
Raphael Cruz   Percussion
Dick Morrissey   Sax (Tenor)

Technical Credits

Molly Duncan   Composer
Arif Mardin   Producer
Steve Ferrone   Composer
Average White Band   Composer
Onnie McIntyre   Composer
Bob Fisher   Mastering
Hamish Stuart   Composer
Gordon Anderson   Executive Producer
Malcolm Duncan   Composer
Robbie McIntosh   Composer
Roger Ball   Composer
Owen McIntyre   Composer
Gene Sculatti   Liner Notes
Gene Paul   Engineer
James Taylor   Composer
Alan Gorrie   Composer