Track Listing

1. Spirit of Love (with Chaka Khan & Ronnie Laws)
2. Pick Up the Pieces
3. In The Beginning (live at the Mt. Fuji Festival, Japan)
4. Let's Go All the Way (with Chaka Khan)
5. I'll Get Over You
6. Love at First Sight (with Alex Ligertwood)
7. Every Beat of My Heart (with Klyde Jones)
8. When We Get Down To It
9. Oh, Maceo (live at the Fillmore Auditorium)
10. Do Ya Really
11. I Wanna Be Loved (featuring Daryl Hall)
12. Window to Your Soul
13. Living in Colour
14. Work to Do (Nu-Jazz Mix)
15. Love Won't Let Me Wait
16. Let's Go Round Again (live at The London Empire)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #50818 in Music
• Released on: 2005-04-19
• Number of discs: 1

Album Details
A Collection that Spans 16 Years of Awb at Its Best, and is Culled from their Last Four Albums. Also Includes Two Brand New Tracks and Two Rare Live Performances.

Amazon.com
Besides an excellent name, what Average White Band has going for it is timeless, grown-up funk. The trouble with Latest & Greatest, though, is that it cinches together a myopic sample. While the disc doesn't lack for length (16 tracks) or talent (in addition to the usual lineup, Chaka Khan and Daryl Hall step in for a couple of groovy joints) or special features (a bonus DVD is included), it's limited by the era it culls, 1989 to 2003. The AWB calling card "Pick Up the Pieces," presented in a "NuJazz" but still deeply satisfying mix, perks ears as early as track two, but by the time we reach "Do Ya Really" —does anybody remember "Do Ya Really?" —we can't help wishing the door to this best-of had been propped open wider, allowing entry to such earlier AWB staples as "Cut the Cake" and "Queen of My Soul." That said, somebody involved in this disc's sequencing was onto something: Midway through, when mild dissatisfaction is about to set in, the powerful grooviness of "Oh Maceo" —lookout —comes along to save the day. There's a track to prove that when you fortify the funk, all is forgiven. --Tammy La Gorce

Customer Reviews

The Latest & Greatest?
Overall Review

I have to admit that while I am a avid R & B, soul and especially funk fanatic there is always a special place in my musical tastes for this type of music. So, Average White Band, the guys responsible for the CLASSIC funk song "Pick Up The Pieces" fit well within that range. Their newest release, due April 19th, is Greatest and Latest. Well titled, the album is a collection of prime moments in their 16 year history along with a couple new tracks and a few unreleased live recordings. Honestly, it may be the funk leanings of my tastes, but they really seem to shine the best on the faster paced funk numbers. Still, even when the music doesn't gel as well as other times, it still works. The collection includes a bonus DVD (although my review copy did not - so I can't comment on that) and should make a great addition to the collection of AWB fans and fans of R & B and soulful funk in general.

Track by Track Review

Spirit of Love (with Chaka Khan & Ronnie Laws): With an acapella intro, this funky cut is a cool one that feels a little like The Doobie Brothers at times. It's poppy, but still has some meat to it. It has a very cool bridge and a rather electronic texture at time. This has a nice sax solo.


Pick Up the Pieces: This classic funk cut should be recognizable to everyone, and it still has it. The sax solo on this jazz inspired funk piece is exceptionally tasty.


In The Beginning (live at the Mt. Fuji Festival, Japan): A killer funk bass line starts this fast paced live jam. It includes a nice scat with the sax and the vocals following each other.


Let's Go All the Way (with Chaka Khan): This is a sultry jazzy ballad with a very cool vocal arrangement.


I'll Get Over You: This cut is rather generic with an '80's rock style. It has its moments, but is just a little too cliched.


Love at First Sight (with Alex Ligertwood): Another slower cut, this is a rather cool balladic groove.


Every Beat of My Heart (with Klyde Jones): This slow one is solid, but doesn't do much for me. Still the vocal arrangement is powerful.


When We Get Down To It: A mid tempo piece, this one has a cool groove, and is pretty potent.


Oh, Maceo (live at the Fillmore Auditorium): Another live one, horn starts this and the band join in for a killer funk grind. This jam is one of the strongest on the album.


Do Ya Really: Another killer funk groove; this also is a highlight of the collection. The horn section really smokes.


I Wanna Be Loved (featuring Daryl Hall): This is another slower cut, and quite soulful. It is better than some of the slower pieces on the album, and has a nice sax solo.


Window to Your Soul: Another slow one, this has a classic '70's R & B sound, funky and sultry. This one is very cool.


Living in Colour: With a rather Latin rhythm, this one is somewhat jazzy. It's not bad, but not the strongest material on show. The vocals are truly its saving grace.


Work to Do (Nu-Jazz Mix): Back into faster territory, this is another jazz-oriented cut. It is a fairly smooth and entertaining piece, although not a real standout.


Love Won't Let Me Wait: The slowest piece on the disc; this ballad is a bit weak.


Let's Go Round Again (live at The London Empire): Another live one, the funk lives again on this fast paced romp. This killer jam has a great arrangement, and while there are better choices for album closer, this works pretty well.

Highlights Of The Later Years
What the Amazon reviewer apparently didn't recognize is that this compilation isn't meant to be a career-ranging overview. Rather, it focuses on AWB II, the years when the band re-formed after breaking up. AWB I has been the focus of at least 7 different compilations at my last count. So, that compilation has been done to death. AWB II material has been released on a variety of labels (much of it hard to find), so its helpful to have the best of that material compiled onto a single disc. For the "average" fan that isn't interested in having it all, buy the two disc "In The Beginning" and "The Greatest & Latest" and you'll have everything that you need, other than "You're My Number One" from "Cupid's In Fashion".

It's cooool! A little bit of everything...check it out!
I love work to do & pick up the pieces...it's got a Jazzy new sound! Let's go aroung again live! among the other tunes...it's a real treat!