Feel No Fret Explained

Feel No Fret
Type:	Studio
Artist:	Average White Band
Cover:	Feel_No_Fret_(AWB).jpg
Released:	1979
Studio:	Compass Point Studios, Nassau, Bahamas
Genre:	Blue-eyed soul, funk, soul, disco
Label:	RCA (UK), Atlantic (US)
Producer:	Average White Band, Gene Paul
Prev Title:	Warmer Communications
Prev Year:	1978
Next Title:	Shine
Next Year:	1980

Feel No Fret is the seventh album by Scottish funk and R&B band Average White Band (also AWB) released in 1979 on the RCA label in the United Kingdom and the Atlantic label in North America.

It reached No. 15 in the UK charts,^[1] with 15 weeks in total on the charts,^[2] and No. 32 in the US charts. In Canada it reached just No. 86.^[3]

The album was rereleased in 1994 on the Atlantic & Atco, Rhino Entertainment Remasters Series as "Feel No Fret... and More," containing 4 Bonus Tracks from the 1980 "Shine" sessions.

Track listing

Source:^[4]

Side 1

"When Will You Be Mine" (Gorrie, Average White Band)
"Please Don't Fall In Love" (Ball, Gorrie)
"Walk On By" (Hal David, Burt Bacharach) - (#91 Hot 100 - # 32 R&B single) # 18 UK chart^[5]
"Feel No Fret" (Stuart, Average White Band, Gorrie, Ferrone)

Side 2

"Stop the Rain" (Gorrie, Stuart)
"Atlantic Avenue" (Ferrone, Gorrie, Average White Band) - # 24 UK chart^[6]
"Ace of Hearts" (Ferrone, Gorrie, Stuart)
"Too Late to Cry" (Stuart)
"Fire Burning" (Gorrie, White)

2002 Japan Reissue as "Feel No Fret... and More"

1-9 Original album tracks (as above)

"Kiss Me"(Hamish Stuart)
"Love Won't Get In The Way" (Alan Gorrie, Gavin Christopher, Hamish Stuart)
"Love Gives, Love Takes Away" (Alan Gorrie)
"Growing Pains" (Alan Gorrie, David Foster, Hamish Stuart)

Personnel

Source:^[7]

Average White Band

Alan Gorrie – Bass, Vocals & Guitar
Hamish Stuart – Guitar, Vocals & Bass
Roger Ball – Keyboards, Synthesizer & Alto Saxophone
Malcolm Duncan – Tenor Saxophone
Steve Ferrone – Drums & Percussion
Onnie McIntyre – Guitar & Vocals

Additional musicians

Luis Carlos Dos Santos - Surdo on "Atlantic Avenue"
Zeca de Cuica - Cuica on "Atlantic Avenue"
Airto Moreira - Percussion on "Atlantic Avenue"
Mike Brecker - Tenor Saxophone on "Stop The Rain" and "Fire Burning"
Randy Brecker - Trumpet on "Stop The Rain" and "Fire Burning"
Lew Delgatto - Baritone Saxophone on "Stop The Rain" and "Fire Burning"
Luther Vandross – Additional background vocals on "Too Late To Cry"

Production

Source:^[8]

Recorded at Compass Point Studios, Nassau, Bahamas
Recording Engineer Gene Paul assisted by Benji Armbrister
Mixed at Soundmixers, New York.
Remix Engineer Gene Paul assisted by Tim Bomba
Mastered at Atlantic Studios, New York
Mastering Engineer: George Piros

Critical reaction

AllMusic rates it 2.5/5, calling it "the most uneven album they recorded in the '70s", with positives including "Atlantic Avenue", "When Will You Be Mine", and their cover of the Bacharach and David song "Walk on By".^[9]

Notes and References

Book: Rees, Dafydd. Rock stars encyclopedia. registration. 1999. DK. 48. Luke Crampton. 9780789446138.
Web site: AVERAGE WHITE BAND. Official Charts Company. 10 December 2013.
Web site: RPM Top 100 Albums - June 2, 1979.
Web site: Average White Band – Feel No Fret (1979, Monarch Pressing, Gatefold, Vinyl). Discogs.
Web site: AWB Bio . 2013-12-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121024093024/http://www.averagewhiteband.com/_news/bio.html#charts . 2012-10-24 . dead .
Web site: AWB Bio . 2013-12-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121024093024/http://www.averagewhiteband.com/_news/bio.html#charts . 2012-10-24 . dead .
Web site: Average White Band – Feel No Fret (1979, Monarch Pressing, Gatefold, Vinyl). Discogs.
Web site: Average White Band – Feel No Fret (1979, Monarch Pressing, Gatefold, Vinyl). Discogs.
Web site: Henderson. Alex. Feel No Fret (review). AllMusic. 10 December 2013.