Cut the Cake (album) explained

Cut the Cake
Type:	Album
Artist:	Average White Band
Cover:	AverageWhiteBand_CutTheCake.jpg
Released:	June 10, 1975
Recorded:	1974–1975
Genre:	Funk, soul
Length:	42:02
Label:	Atlantic
Producer:	Arif Mardin
Prev Title:	AWB
Prev Year:	1974
Next Title:	Soul Searching
Next Year:	1976

Cut the Cake is the third album released by Average White Band, released in 1975. This album's hit title track reached #10 on the Billboard pop singles chart. It was dedicated to "our friend and brother Robbie McIntosh."

Recording notes

The follow-up album to the immensely successful AWB in 1974, recording was plagued by creative and artistic differences, with several members of the band walking out of the studio on three occasions. One point of conflict was the band's mourning for original drummer Robbie McIntosh, who died of a heroin overdose in 1974. Producer Arif Mardin considered pulling the plug on the project due to this tension but ultimately persevered and oversaw its completion.

Track listing

Side A:

1. "Cut the Cake" (Average White Band, Gorrie, McIntosh) – 4:07
2. "School Boy Crush" (Average White Band, Stuart, Ferrone, Gorrie) – 4:58
3. "It's A Mystery" (Stuart, Average White Band, McIntosh) – 3:34
4. "Groovin' the Night Away" (Average White Band, Stuart) – 3:42
5. "If I Ever Lose This Heaven" (Leon Ware, Pam Sawyer) – 5:00

Side B:

1. "Why" (Ball, Stuart, Gorrie) – 3:57
2. "High Flyin' Woman" (Average White Band, McIntyre, Gorrie) – 3:47
3. "Cloudy" (Stuart, Gorrie) – 4:18
4. "How Sweet Can You Get" (Ball, Stuart, Gorrie) – 3:57
5. "When They Bring Down the Curtain" (Gorrie, Ball) – 4:42

Personnel

Average White Band

• Alan Gorrie – vocals, bass, guitar on "Cut the Cake" and "School Boy Crush"
• Hamish Stuart – vocals, guitar, bass on "Cut the Cake" and "School Boy Crush"
• Roger Ball – keyboards, synthesizer, alto and baritone saxophones, arranger (Dundee horns)
• Malcolm Duncan – tenor saxophone
• Onnie McIntyre – guitar, backing vocals
• Steve Ferrone – drums, percussion

with:

• Ray Barretto – congas on "It's a Mystery" and "When They Bring Down the Curtain"

Technical

• Gene Paul - engineer, recording
• Neal Schwartz, Peter Granet - additional recording
• Bob Defrin - art direction
• Vincent Topazio - cover illustration

Charts

Singles

Year	Single	Chart positions^[3]
		US	US R&B	US Dance	UK
1975	"Cut the Cake"	10	7	13	31
	"If I Ever Lose This Heaven"	39	25	-	-
	"School Boy Crush"	33	22	-	-

See also

• List of number-one R&B albums of 1975 (U.S.)

External links

• Average White Band-Cut The Cake at Discogs

Notes and References

1. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p3591/charts-awards/billboard-albums|pure_url=yes}} Average White Band US albums chart history]. allmusic.com. 2011-07-14.
2. Web site: RPM Top 100 Albums - September 6, 1975.
3. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p3591/charts-awards/billboard-singles|pure_url=yes}} Average White Band US singles chart history]. allmusic.com. 2011-07-14.