Billy Preston - 16 Yr. Old Soul (1963)

Billy Preston was an American singer-songwriter and keyboard player, best known for his talents on the Hammond organ.

Billy Preston was born in Houston, Texas in 1946, and moved with his family to L.A. when still young. He began to play piano, and became something of a child prodigy, playing organ onstage backing well-known gospel singers such as Mahalia Jackson. Aged eleven, he appeared on Nat King Cole's national TV show, singing and playing Fats Domino's hit "Blueberry Hill" alongside Cole. In 1962 he became part of Little Richard's band, and met The Beatles for the first time. In 1963 he played on Same Cooke's Night Beat album, and was offered the chance to record his own solo album on Cooke's SAR Records label. 

16 Yr. Old Soul saw release that same year, a lively little album that saw the young Preston's dazzling keyboard skills (on both piano and Hammond organ) take on a set on instrumentals that included covers of "I Can't Stop Loving You" (as done by Ray Charles), Sam Cooke's "Bring It On Home To Me" and Billie Holiday's "God Bless The Child". A very good (and early) start to what would be a great recording career.

|> The Most Exciting Organ Ever (1965)
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Billy Preston - The Kids & Me (1974)

Billy Preston was an American singer-songwriter and keyboard player, best known for his talents on the Hammond organ.

Coming home from his two-month tour of Europe as opening act and guest keyboard player for The Rolling Stones, Billy Preston quickly got to work on his next solo album, mostly recorded with his own band (keyboardists Hubert Heard and Kenneth Lupper, and drummer Manuel Kellough). He also found time to play on the Stones' It's Only Rock & Roll album shortly afterwards.

The Kids & Me came out later in 1974, showcasing more upbeat, finely polished R&B full of great keyboard playing. Several of the songs were notable for the prominent use of synthesizers. One song, "You Are So Beautiful", was co-written with Dennis Wilson of The Beach Boys. Guitarist Joe Walsh also made an appearance.

The album was one of his most successful, charting at #17 on the Billboard Top 200. It also generated another #1 hit single, with the brilliant "Nothing From Nothing". The instrumental "Struttin'" also got to #11 on the R&B chart. In 1975 Preston was a musical guest on the first ever episode of Saturday Night Live, performing "Nothing From Nothing".

Later in 1974 Joe Cocker covered "You Are So Beautiful", and it gave him a huge hit at #5.

Live European Tour (1974) <|> It's My Pleasure (1975)
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Billy Preston - Live European Tour (1974)

Billy Preston was an American singer-songwriter and keyboard player, best known for his talents on the Hammond organ.

In 1973 Billy Preston went on tour through Europe with The Rolling Stones as their guest keyboard player. At the same time he also served as their opening act with his own band (consisting of fellow keyboard men Hubert Heard and Kenneth Lupper and drummer Manuel Kellough, plus Rolling Stone Mick Taylor on guitar). His set was recorded, and a live album was produced - Live European Tour came out in 1974. On it he performed a selection of his own songs (including both instrumentals "Outa-Space" and "Space Race"), a number of Beatles tunes ("Day Tripper", "Let It Be" and "Get Back"), and the Ray Charles hit "Let's Go Get Stoned". In fact three of these covers ("Let It Be", "Get Back" and "Let's Go Get Stoned") he knew well as had appeared on the original recordings as a session musician.

The album came together perfectly to showcase the high energy and character of Billy Preston's music - to have such brilliant, funky music before the Stones even hit the stage, these must have been some amazing concerts!

In 2003 a new version of the album was released on CD. It featured a slightly different track list (including his own "That's The Way God Planned It" and a Hammond organ arrangement of "Amazing Grace"), and in fact all the songs were different versions to those on the original LP. Rather than try to decide which edition is better, I have put them both together as one double album.

Everybody Likes Some Kind Of Music (1973) <|> The Kids & Me (1974)
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Billy Preston - Everybody Likes Some Kind Of Music (1973)

Billy Preston was an American singer-songwriter and keyboard player, best known for his talents on the Hammond organ.

Everybody Likes Some Kind Of Music was Billy Preston's second self-produced album, and featured eleven fantasic original songs (most written in collaboration with Bruce Fisher), plus a funky cover of Bob Dylan's "It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)". For the most part consisting of his usual soul/rock/gospel mix, it was also notable for the closing classical piano instrumental "Minuet For Me". It yielded two successful singles - "You're So Unique" was a #11 R&B hit, and the synthesizer-driven instrumental "Space Race" followed in the footsteps of 1972's "Outa-Space", topping the R&B chart and getting to #4 on the pop chart. Overall, it turned out to be one of his most successful albums, and can be looked back on as one of his most interesting and diverse.
Around this time he was also working with The Rolling Stones - he had played Hammond organ, piano and clavient on Sticky Fingers, Exile On Main Street and Goats Head Soup. After the album's release, he joined them for their European Tour of September and October 1973, as both the opening act and their guest keyboardist.

Music Is My Life (1972) <|> Live European Tour (1974)
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Billy Preston - Music Is My Life (1972)

Billy Preston was an American singer-songwriter and keyboard player, best known for his talents on the Hammond organ.

By late 1972, Billy Preston was riding high on the success of his instrumental "Outa-Space", and his next album took it one step further. Music Is My Life contained his most famous song, "Will It Go Round In Circles", an irrestistably danceable number that became his first #1 hit when it was later released as a single in 1973. It raised his public profile like any chart-topping hit would, and remained his signature song for the rest of his life.
The rest of the album was in his by now familiar soul/funk/gospel/rock style, and included an upbeat cover of The Beatles' "Blackbird". He's backed throughout by an excellent band consisting of the Johnson brothers George (guitar) and Louis (bass), Hubert Heard (keyboards) and Manuel Kellough (drums). It was the first album he produced himself.

I Wrote A Simple Song (1971) <|> Everybody Likes Some Kind Of Music (1973)
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Billy Preston - I Wrote A Simple Song (1971)

Billy Preston was an American singer-songwriter and keyboard player, best known for his talents on the Hammond organ.

By 1971 Billy Preston had parted ways with Apple Records and signed with A&M. I Wrote A Simple Song, his third vocal album, was produced by Quincy Jones and took his gospel-rock into funkier territories. Its sound is all virtuoso piano and organ, soulful vocals, funky horns and gospel backing singers, and is generally seen as one of his greatest albums. It includes two of his best-known songs, the title track (which features his old friend George Harrison on slide guitar) and the Grammy-winning instrumental "Outa-Space", which made it to #2 on the pop charts (and all the way to #1 on the R&B charts). Also features versions of "My Country 'Tis Of Thee" and "Swing Down Chariot".

Encouraging Words (1970) <|> Music Is My Life (1972)
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Billy Preston - Encouraging Words (1970)

Billy Preston was an American singer-songwriter and keyboard player, best known for his talents on the Hammond organ.

Encouraging Words was Preston's second vocal album, showcasing his unique gospel/soul/rock sound. It was released on the Beatles' Apple Records, and he worked closely with George Harrison in making it. It features two Harrison songs ("My Sweet Lord" and "All Things Must Pass") which at the time had not been released by Harrison himself - they would be ten months later on his triple-album All Things Must Pass, and become some of his best-loved songs, so its very interesting to hear Preston's early versions here, which differ considerably in their arrangements. Harrison also co-wrote another song with Preston and contributed guitar. There's also a Beatles cover in "I've Got A Feeling". As on That's The Way God Planned It, Preston's rhythm section consisted of Cream drummer Ginger Baker and Rolling Stone Keith Richards on bass. There's also some guitar from Eric Clapton. And again, it's Preston's energetic vocals, piano and hammond organ which dominate the record (backed in places by strings, horns and backing singers).

That's The Way God Planned It (1969) <|> I Wrote A Simple Song (1971)
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Billy Preston - That's The Way God Planned It (1969)

Billy Preston was an American singer-songwriter and keyboard player, best known for his talents on the Hammond organ.

Preston was a child prodigy, and had several instrumental albums released in the 60s, all showcasing his dazzling gospel organ skills. He also had the chance to work alongside Nat King Cole, Little Richard, Sam Cooke and Ray Charles. His first major role in the field of rock music was as keyboard player to the Beatles in their later days, appearing all over the albums Abbey Road and Let It Be. That’s The Way God Planned It was his first album on the Beatles’ Apple Records label, and also his vocal debut. It’s a brilliant fusion of rock, soul and gospel, driven by his funky organ and piano playing. Backing him are drummer Ginger Baker, and Keith Richards on bass. Guitar is provided by Eric Clapton and George Harrison. Harrison also produced the album. Despite such high-calibre band members, they never manage to steal the show from Preston himself. It features a few covers, but most of the songs are originals, and include the title track, one of his best-loved songs.

Club Meeting (1967) <|> Encouraging Words (1970)
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