LP Review: Feel No Fret
Released: 1979
LP Charts: #30 R&B, #32 Pop
The good times finally come to an end for Average White Band. Over the preceding five years they’d released one platinum and four gold albums. Feel No Fret had some poor chart action. Even worse, the band’s music started to sound *gasp* processed. They were veering into LA pop territory, the dreaded sounds of Yacht Rock!
Okay, not a bad thing inherently. I love some LA pop and Yacht Rock! Heck there’s a lot to like about this album, but this was the first AWB album that didn’t quite sound like AWB. Even on previously lower-level albums, AWB sounded like their own bag. Less so on this album.
Well, for all my preemptive griping, the band did at least write most of the material here. And even if the music isn’t what I’ve come to know and love from AWB, it doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy the sounds on their own terms.
Perhaps aware little curmudgeons like me were lying in wait to playfully trash the rest of the LP, “When Will You Be Mine” leads off the Feel No Fret and is the most classically Average White Band funk song here. It’s a solid dance groove with a killer “ah ah ah ah ah” hook. I can’t properly type it out. You just gotta listen to it.
Other funk(y) songs include “Feel No Fret” with its intriguing marching band beat; and the slow funky groove of “Stop the Rain”.
A cover of “Walk On By” is actually pretty interesting. AWB decided to process the song through early ‘70s Sly & the Family Stone sludge funk, so that means a rudimentary drum machine and liquid bass licks. Hey, it works for the most part.
Alright, dispensing with the funk, it’s time for the LA pop. “Please Don't Fall In Love”, “Fire Burning”, and “Ace of Hearts” all are performed competently, but somewhat facelessly. So, perfect LA pop! I kid, I kid. But you could have given these tunes to any number of sessions musicians and gotten similar results.
“Too Late To Cry” puts AWB back in their familiar soft soul territory, but they’ve had better attempts at this fare.
And can’t forget “Atlantic Avenue”, which is an easy strollin’ song/ode to Atlantic Records. Shoulda saved the tribute. This album would be the band’s last for Atlantic.
ALBUM GRADE: C+
Feel No Fret isn’t winning any new fans for the band, but it’s a pleasant outing for the devoted despite lacking any true standout songs, except for “Stop the Rain” and “When Will You Be Mine”. And I doubt any casual listeners would be offended by what they hear on any particular track.
Song Scores
When Will You Be Mine: 7.5/10
Please Don't Fall In Love: 6.5/10
Walk On By: 6.5/10
Feel No Fret: 6.5/10
Stop the Rain: 7.5/10
Atlantic Avenue: 6/10
Ace of Hearts: 7/10
Too Late To Cry: 6.5/10
Fire Burning: 6/10