Average White Band Celebrate Later Career Era on New 4CD Box Set Renaissance 1988–2003

Legendary funk and soul outfit Average White Band are set to be reissued in expansive form with Renaissance 1988–2003, a new 4CD box set arriving September 18, 2026 via Edsel Records.

Long recognised as one of the most influential groove bands of the 1970s, AWB made a lasting mark on global music through hits like “Pick Up the Pieces” and “Work to Do,” while their tight rhythm section and horn-driven arrangements became foundational touchstones for modern funk, R&B, and hip-hop sampling culture.

This new collection focuses on the band’s later-era resurgence, beginning with 1988’s Aftershock and continuing through Soul Tattoo (1996), the live recording Face to Face (1999), and 2003’s Living in Colour. Across these releases, the group’s evolving lineup—anchored by founding members Alan Gorrie and Onnie McIntyre—demonstrates how AWB adapted to changing production styles while retaining their unmistakable musical identity.

The set features collaborations with major artists including Chaka Khan and Ronnie Laws on “The Spirit of Love,” appearances from The Ohio Players, and contributions from Daryl Hall and Hall & Oates collaborator Klyde Jones, reflecting the band’s continued deep connections across the R&B and soul landscape.

Beyond studio material, Renaissance 1988–2003 also captures AWB’s live evolution, including recordings from their San Francisco Fillmore performance alongside Tower of Power, highlighting the enduring chemistry between two of the most respected horn-driven groups in modern funk history.

Spanning reinterpretations, guest-heavy studio sessions, and live recordings, the box set documents a period often overshadowed by AWB’s 1970s peak but essential to understanding their long-term legacy. It showcases a band continuing to evolve—experimenting with production, embracing new collaborators, and maintaining the rhythmic sophistication that made them one of the most sampled acts in music history, influencing artists from Snoop Dogg to Mark Ronson.

More than a retrospective, Renaissance 1988–2003 reframes this era as a creative rebirth—proof that AWB’s groove language remained vital across decades, lineups, and shifting musical landscapes.