Cut the Cake (album)

Untitled

Cut the Cake is the third album released by Average White Band, released in 1975. This album included the hit single "Cut the Cake", which reached #10 on the Billboard pop singles chart.

The album would be considered soul/disco in genre, as opposed to the funk sound of their first two albums.

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 relented and oversaw its completion.

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic

Track listing

1. "Cut the Cake" (White, Gorrie, McIntosh) – 4:07
2. "School Boy Crush" (White, Stuart, Ferrone, Gorrie) – 4:58
3. "It's A Mystery" (Stuart, White, McIntosh) – 3:34
4. "Groovin' the Night Away" (White, Stuart) – 3:42
5. "If I Ever Lose This Heaven" (Ware, Sawyer) – 5:00
6. "Why" (Ball, Stuart, Gorrie) – 3:57
7. "High Flyin' Woman" (White, McIntyre, Gorrie) – 3:47
8. "Cloudy" (Stuart, Gorrie) – 4:18
9. "How Sweet Can You Get" (Ball, Stuart, Gorrie) – 3:57
10. "When They Bring Down the Curtain" (Gorrie, Ball) – 4:42

Personnel

The 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 & baritone saxophones, arranger (Dundee horns)
• Malcolm Duncan – tenor saxophone
• Onnie McIntyre – guitar
• Stephen Ferrone – drums, percussion

Additional

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

Appearances in popular culture

Eric B. & Rakim sampled a riff from the song "Schoolboy Crush" on the song "Microphone Fiend" for their 1988 album "Follow the Leader".

The Beastie Boys sampled a riff from the single "Cut the Cake" on the song "Shake Your Rump" for their 1989 album, "Paul's Boutique".

The song "Cut the Cake" is also featured in the Starsky and Hutch movie soundtrack, as it was used in the movie during the end party scene where Snoop Doggy Dogg's character and 'Hutch' celebrate the downfall of Vince Vaughn's character.

Father MC sampled the song "School Boy Crush" on his song "One Night Stand" on Close to You (1992).

Charts

Year	Album	Chart positions
		US	US R&B
1975	Cut The Cake	4	1

Singles

Year	Single	Chart positions
		US	US R&B	US Dance
1975	"Cut The Cake"	10	7	13
	"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