Tag Archives: Billy Preston

Ray Charles: Sweet & Sour Tears

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In March 1964, “ABC” label released “Sweet & Sour Tears”, the 20th Ray Charles album. It was recorded in 1964, and was produced by Sid Feller and Ray Charles.

Personnel:

  • Ray Charles – vocals, keyboards
  • Billy Preston – electric organ
  • Gene Lowell Singers – backing vocals
  • Calvin Jackson, Sid Feller – arrangements
  • Bill Putnam, Phil Macy – engineer
  • Joe Lebow – design
  • Howard Morehead – photography

Track listing:

  1. Cry – Churchill Kohlman
  2. Guess I’ll Hang My Tears Out to Dry – Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne
  3. A Tear Fell – Eugene Randolph, Dorian Burton
  4. No One to Cry To – Sid Robin, Foy Glenn Willing
  5. You’ve Got Me Crying Again – Isham Jones, Charles Newman
  6. After My Laughter Came Tears – Charles Tobias, Roy Turk
  7. Teardrops from My Eyes – Rudolph Toombs
  8. Don’t Cry Baby – Saul Bernie, James P. Johnson, Stella Unger
  9. Cry Me a River – Arthur Hamilton
  10. Baby, Don’t You Cry – Buddy Johnson, Ned Washington
  11. Willow, Weep for Me – Ann Ronell
  12. I Cried for You – Arthur Freed, Abe Lyman, Gus Arnheim

Ringo Starr: Goodnight Vienna

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On November 15, 1974, “Apple” label released “Goodnight Vienna”, the fourth Ringo Starr studio album. It was recorded in August 1974, at “Sunset Sound” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Richard Perry.

Personnel:

  • Ringo Starr – lead vocals, drums, percussion
  • John Lennon – piano, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
  • Vini Poncia – acoustic guitar, backing vocals
  • Richard Bennett – electric guitar
  • Dennis Coffey – guitars
  • Steve Cropper – electric guitar
  • Jesse Ed Davis – electric guitar
  • Robbie Robertson – guitars
  • Alvin Robinson – guitar
  • Lon Van Eaton – guitars
  • Dr. John – piano, backing vocals
  • Elton John – piano
  • David Foster – piano
  • Tom Hensley – electric piano
  • Nicky Hopkins – electric piano
  • Lincoln Mayorga – piano
  • Billy Preston – electric piano, clavinet
  • James Newton Howard – synthesizer
  • Gary Wright – keyboards
  • Carl Fortina – accordion
  • Klaus Voormann – bass guitar
  • Richard Perry – bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Jim Keltner – drums
  • Chuck Findley – horns
  • Bobby Keys – horns
  • Trevor Lawrence – horns
  • Lew McCreary – horns
  • Steve Madaio – trumpet
  • Madeline Bell – backing vocals
  • Lesley Duncan – backing vocals
  • Jean Gilbert – backing vocals
  • Jimmy Gilstrap – backing vocals
  • Joe Greene – backing vocals
  • Ira Hawkins – backing vocals
  • Clydie King – backing vocals
  • Linda Lawrence – backing vocals
  • Harry Nilsson – backing vocals
  • May Pang – backing vocals
  • Masst Alberts – backing vocals
  • Derrek Van Eaton – backing vocals
  • Cynthia Webb – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. (It’s All Down to) Goodnight Vienna – John Lennon
  2. Occapella – Allen Toussaint
  3. Oo-Wee – Vini Poncia, Richard Starkey
  4. Husbands and Wives – Roger Miller
  5. Snookeroo – Elton John, Bernie Taupin
  6. All by Myself – Vini Poncia, Richard Starkey
  7. Call Me – Richard Starkey
  8. No No Song – Hoyt Axton, David Jackson
  9. Only You – Buck Ram
  10. Easy for Me – Harry Nilsson
  11. Goodnight Vienna (reprise) – John Lennon

George Harrison

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On November 29, 2001, George Harrison died aged 58. He was musician (guitar), singer, songwriter, and music and movie producer, lead guitarist and occasional lead vocalist of The Beatles. His interest in folk music and especially in Indian music had serious influence on the band’s Hindu-aligned spirituality in the later years. Some of his songs composed for the band include “Here Comes the Sun”, “Something”, “Taxman”, “Within You Without You”, and “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”. After The Beatles broke-up in 1970, Harrison released the album “All Things Must Pass” which included the track “My Sweet Lord”, his most successful single, and the first solo single by any member of The Beatles that sold over million copies. In 1971, together with Ravi Shankar he organized “Concert for Bangladesh”, the first big benefit concert in the music history. In 1974, Harrison founded the music label “Dark Horse Records”, and co-founded movie label “Hand Made Films” in 1978. In 1988, with Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, and Roy Orbison, he co-founded the supergroup The Travelling Wilburys. As a guitarist he recorded for Badfinger, Billy Preston, Bob Dylan, Duane Eddy, Randy Newman, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Ronnie Wood, and Tom Petty. “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked Harrison at number 11 in their list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”. In 1988, as a member of The Beatles he was inducted in the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”, and in 2004, posthumously for his solo career. As leader, Harrison released twelve studio and two live albums.

Billy Preston: I Wrote a Simple Song

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On November 8, 1971, “A&M” label released “I Wrote a Simple Song”, the sixth Billy Preston studio album. It was recorded February, August and September 1971, at “A&M Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Billy Preston.

Personnel:

  • Billy Preston – vocals, piano, Hammond organ, keyboards
  • David T. Walker – electric guitar
  • George Harrison – guitar, dobro
  • Manuel Kellough – drums
  • King Errisson – congas, percussion
  • Rocky Peoples – tenor saxophone
  • Carlos Garnette – trumpet
  • Quincy Jones – string and horn arrangements
  • Clydie King, Douglas Gibbs, Duane Rogers, Eugene Bryant, Jesse Kirkland, Merry Clayton, Myrna Matthews, Patrice Holloway, Sherrell Atwood, Venetta Fields – backing vocals,
  • Tommy Vicari – engineer
  • Roland Young – art direction
  • Jim McCrary – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Billy Preston and Joe Green, except where noted.

  1. Should Have Known Better
  2. I Wrote a Simple Song
  3. John Henry – Billy Preston, Robert Sam
  4. Without a Song – William Rose, Edward Eliscu, Vincent Youmans
  5. The Bus
  6. Outa-Space
  7. The Looner Tune – Billy Preston, Joe Greene, Jesse Kirkland
  8. You Done Got Older – Billy Preston, Bruce Fisher
  9. Swing Down Chariot – traditional; arranged by Billy Preston, Joe Greene
  10. God Is Great
  11. My Country, ‘Tis of Thee – traditional

Ike Turner: A Black Man’s Soul

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In May 1969, “Pompeii Records” released “A Black Man’s Soul”, the third Ike Turner & the Kings of Rhythm album. It was recorded in 1969,  and was produced by Ike Turner and Tina Turner.

Personnel:

  • Ike Turner – guitar, piano
  • Tina Turner – vocals
  • Jesse Knight – guitar
  • Fred Sample, Billy Preston – piano
  • Mack Johnson – drums
  • Tommy “Teasky” Tribble – percussion
  • Washee – saxophone
  • Jesse Heron – trombone
  • Loring Eutemey – design

Track listing:

All tracks by Ike Turner; except where noted.

  1. Thinking Black
  2. Black Beauty
  3. Ghetto Funk
  4. Blacks’ Alley – Oliver Sain
  5. Black Angel – Oliver Sain
  6. Getting Nasty
  7. Funky Mule – Marvin Holmes
  8. Philly Dog – Rufus Thomas
  9. Scotty Souling
  10. Up Hard – Art Miller
  11. Nuttin’ Up
  12. Freedom Sound

Aretha Franklin: Hey Now Hey

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On June 25, 1973, “Atlantic” label released “Hey Now Hey (The Other Side of the Sky)”, the nineteenth Aretha Franklin studio album. It was recorded April – August 1972, at “Record Plant” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Quincy Jones and Aretha Franklin.

Personnel:

  • Aretha Franklin – lead vocals, acoustic piano solo
  • Spooner Oldham– keyboards
  • Billy Preston– acoustic piano solo
  • Jimmy Johnson– guitar
  • Tommy Cogbill– bass guitar
  • Jerry Jemmott– bass guitar
  • Roger Hawkins– drums
  • Richie Pratt– drums
  • Phil Woods– alto saxophone
  • Joe Farrell– tenor sax solo, flute solo
  • Willie Bridges – saxophone
  • Charles Chalmers– saxophone
  • Andrew Love– saxophone
  • Floyd Newman– saxophone
  • Wayne Jackson– trumpet
  • Phil Schier – recording
  • Gene Paul, Quincy Jones, Phil Schier – remixing
  • Ken Cunningham – design
  • Jim Dunn – design, cover illustration

Track listing:

  1. Hey Now Hey (The Other Side of the Sky) – Aretha Franklin
  2. Somewhere – Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim
  3. So Swell When You’re Well – James Booker, Aretha Franklin
  4. Angel – Carolyn Franklin, Sonny Sanders
  5. Sister from Texas – Aretha Franklin
  6. Mister Spain – Carolyn Plummer
  7. That’s The Way I Feel About Cha – Bobby Womack, Jim Grisby, Joe Hicks
  8. Moody’s Mood – James Moody, Jimmy McHugh, Dorothy Fields
  9. Just Right Tonight – Aretha Franklin, Avery Parrish, Buddy Feyne, Quincy Jones, Robert Bruce

Joni Mitchell: Travelogue

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On November 19, 2002, “Nonesuch” label released “Travelogue”, the 18th Joni Mitchell studio album. It was recorded in 2002, and was produced by Joni Mitchell and Larry Klein. The album features orchestral recordings of songs from throughout her career. The composer of the orchestral arrangements Vince Mendoza, won a 2004 “Grammy Award” for “Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist” for the arrangement of the track “Woodstock”.

Personnel:

  • Joni Mitchell – vocals
  • Herbie Hancock– piano
  • Billy Preston– Hammond B3 organ
  • Larry Klein– bass, musical direction
  • Chuck Berghofer– double bass
  • Brian Blade– drums
  • Paulinho da Costa– percussion
  • Wayne Shorter– soprano saxophone
  • Plas Johnson– tenor saxophone
  • Kenny Wheeler– flugelhorn
  • Gavyn Wright– orchestra leader
  • Vince Mendoza– conductor, arrangement

Track listing:

All tracks by Joni Mitchell, except where noted.

  1. Otis and Marlena
  2. Amelia
  3. You Dream Flat Tires
  4. Love
  5. Woodstock
  6. Slouching Toward Bethlehem – based on a poem by  B. Yeats
  7. Judgement of the Moon and Stars (Ludwig’s Tune)
  8. The Sire of Sorrow (Job’s Sad Song)
  9. For the Roses
  10. Trouble Child
  11. God Must Be a Boogie Man
  12. Be Cool
  13. Just Like This Train
  14. Sex Kills
  15. Refuge of the Roads
  16. Hejira
  17. Chinese Café / Unchained Melody – Alex North, Hy Zaret
  18. Cherokee Louise
  19. The Dawntreader
  20. The Last Time I Saw Richard
  21. Borderline
  22. The Circle Game

Ringo Starr: Choose Love

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On June 7, 2005, “Koch” label released “Choose Love”, the fourteenth Ringo Starr studio album. It was recorded 2004 – 2005, and was produced by Ringo Starr and Mark Hudson.

Personnel:

  • Ringo Starr – vocals, drums, percussion, intro/outro demo tape , organ, loop, additional photos
  • Ringo Starr, Mark Hudson, Gary Burr – uboo drum band
  • Chrissie Hynde– lead vocals
  • Barbara Starkey– devil voice
  • Robert Randolph– lead guitar
  • Steve Dudas – electric guitar, acoustic guitar
  • Gary Burr– acoustic, alide and electric guitar, bass, backing vocals
  • Mark Mirando – electric guitar, backing vocals
  • Billy Preston– piano, B3 organ, backing vocals
  • Mark Hudson– bass, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, backing vocals,  keyboards, sax arrangement, harmonica
  • Dan Higgins– horns, saxes, woodwinds
  • Gary Grant– horns
  • Jim Cox – horn arrangement, piano, sax arrangement, woodwind arrangement
  • Rose Stone – choirarrangement
  • John Amato– saxes
  • Dean Grakal – backing vocals
  • The Rose Stone Choir – backing vocals
  • Bruce Sugar – recording
  • Kevin Churko, Gary Burr, Steve Dudas – additional recording
  • Lior Goldenberg, Ghian Wright, Andy Brohard – engineer assistant
  • Dave Way– mixing
  • George Marino – mastering
  • Tyrone Drake – art direction, design
  • Barbara Starkey – cover photo
  • Barbara Starkey, Mark Hudson, Gary Burr, Edward AJAJ, Teness Herman – additional photos

Track listing:

  1. Fading In Fading Out – Richard Starkey, Mark Hudson, Gary Burr
  2. Give Me Back the Beat – Richard Starkey, Mark Hudson, Gary Burr, Steve Dudas, Dean Grakal
  3. Oh My Lord – Richard Starkey, Mark Hudson, Gary Burr, Steve Dudas, Dean Grakal
  4. Hard to Be True – Richard Starkey, Mark Hudson, Gary Burr
  5. Some People – Richard Starkey, Mark Hudson, Gary Burr, Steve Dudas, Dean Grakal
  6. Wrong All the Time – Richard Starkey, Mark Hudson, Gary Burr
  7. Don’t Hang Up – Richard Starkey, Mark Hudson, Gary Burr
  8. Choose Love – Richard Starkey, Mark Hudson, Gary Burr
  9. Me and You – Richard Starkey, Mark Hudson, Steve Dudas
  10. Satisfied – Richard Starkey, Mark Hudson, Gary Nicholson
  11. The Turnaround – Richard Starkey, Mark Hudson, Gary Burr, Steve Dudas, Dean Grakal
  12. Free Drinks – Richard Starkey, Mark Hudson, Gary Burr, Steve Dudas, Dean Grakal

Eric Clapton: Me And Mr. Johnson

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On March 23, 2004, “Reprise” label released “Me and Mr. Johnson”, album by Eric Clapton consisting of covers of songs written and originally recorded by Robert Johnson. It was recorded in 2004, at “The Town House” in London, and was produced by Simon Climie and Eric Clapton.

Personnel:

  • Eric Clapton– vocals, guitar, slide guitar
  • Andy Fairweather-Low– guitar
  • Doyle Bramhall II– guitar, slide guitar
  • Jerry Portnoy– harmonica
  • Billy Preston– organ
  • Chris Stainton– piano
  • Nathan East– bass
  • Steve Gadd– drums
  • Pino Palladino– bass
  • Jim Keltner– drums
  • Alan Douglas – recording

Track listing:

All tracks by Robert Johnson.

  1. When You Got a Good Friend
  2. Little Queen of Spades
  3. They’re Red Hot
  4. Me and the Devil Blues
  5. Traveling Riverside Blues
  6. Last Fair Deal Gone Down
  7. Stop Breakin’ Down Blues
  8. Milkcow’s Calf Blues
  9. Kind Hearted Woman Blues
  10. Come on in My Kitchen
  11. If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day
  12. Love in Vain
  13. 32-20 Blues
  14. Hell Hound on My Trail

Joe Cocker: I Can Stand A Little Rain

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In August 1974, “A&M” label released “I Can Stand a Little Rain”, the fourth Joe Cocker studio album. It was recorded 1973 – 1974, at “The Village Recorder” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Jim Price.

Personnel:

  • Joe Cocker – lead vocals
  • Henry McCullough, Cornell Dupree, Jay Graydon, Ralph Hammer, Ray Palmer, Ray Parker, Jr.– guitar
  • Chuck Rainey, Clydie King, Dave McDaniel, Chris Stewart – bass
  • Bernard “Pretty” Purdie, Ollie E. Brown, Jeff Porcaro, Denny Seiwell, Jimmy Karstein – drums
  • Randy Newman, Nicky Hopkins, Greg Mathieson, Jimmy Webb, Jim Price, David Paich, Richard Tee, Peggy Sandvig – keyboards
  • Jim Horn, Trevor Lawrence – saxophone
  • Stuart Blumberg, Steve Madaio – trumpet
  • Mayo Tiana, Jim Price– trombone
  • Merry Clayton, Venetta Fields, Sherlie Matthews, Daniel Moore- backing vocals
  • Jim Price, Jimmy Webb– arrangements
  • Rob Fraboniand Nat Jeffrey, Joe Tuzen, Mario Aglietti, Rick Heenan, J.J. Jansen, Carlton Lee, Ken Klinger, Zak Zenor – recording, engineer, mixing
  • Kent Duncan – mastering
  • Steve Vaughan – photography

Track listing:

  1. Put Out the Light – Daniel Moore
  2. I Can Stand a Little Rain – Jim Price
  3. I Get Mad – Joe Cocker, Jim Price
  4. Sing Me a Song – Henry McCullough
  5. The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress – Jimmy Webb
  6. Don’t Forget Me – Harry Nilsson
  7. You Are So Beautiful – Billy Preston, Bruce Fisher
  8. It’s a Sin (When You Love Somebody) – Jimmy Webb
  9. Performance – Allen Toussaint
  10. Guilty – Randy Newman