Tag Archives: Billy Preston

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

The Everly Brothers: Beat & Soul

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In August 1965, “Warner Bros” label released “Beat & Soul”, the eleventh Everly Brothers (The) album. It was recorded in June 1965, and was produced by Dick Glasser.

Personnel:

  • Don Everly – vocals, guitar
  • Phil Everly – vocals, guitar
  • James Burton – guitar
  • Glen Campbell = guitar
  • Sonny Curtis– guitar
  • Leon Russell – piano
  • Billy Preston– piano
  • Larry Knechtel– bass
  • Jim Gordon– drums

Track listing:

  1. Love Is Strange – Mickey Baker, Sylvia Robinson, Ellas McDaniel
  2. Money – Janie Bradford, Berry Gordy
  3. What Am I Living For? – Art Harris, Fred Jay
  4. Hi-Heel Sneakers – Robert Higginbotham
  5. C. Rider – Gertrude “Ma” Rainey
  6. Lonely Avenue – Doc Pomus
  7. Man With Money – Don Everly, Phil Everly
  8. People Get Ready – Curtis Mayfield
  9. My Babe – Willie Dixon
  10. Walking the Dog – Rufus Thomas
  11. I Almost Lost My Mind – Ivory Joe Hunter
  12. The Girl Can’t Help It – Bobby Troup

Delanie & Bonie and Friends: D&B Together

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In March 1972, “Columbia” label released “D&B Together”, the sixth Delaney & Bonnie and Friends album. It was recorded 1969-1971, and was produced by Delaney Bramlett.

Personnel:

  • Delaney Bramlett- vocals, guitar
  • Bonnie Bramlett- vocals
  • Eric Clapton – vocals, guitar
  • Duane Allman – vocals, guitar
  • Dave Mason- vocals, guitar
  • Steve Cropper- vocals, guitar
  • Charlie Freeman – vocals, guitar
  • Red Rhodes- vocals, steel guitar
  • John Hartford- vocals, banjo
  • Leon Russell – vocals, piano, keyboards
  • Billy Preston- vocals, keyboards, piano
  • Bobby Whitlock- vocals, keyboards
  • Kenny Gradney- vocals, bass
  • Larry Knechtel – vocals, bass
  • Chuck Rainey – vocals, bass
  • James Jamerson – vocals, bass
  • Carl Radle- vocals, bass
  • Jim Gordon- vocals, drums
  • Jaimoe – vocals, drums
  • Bobby Keys- vocals, saxophone
  • Jerry Jumonville – vocals, saxophone
  • King Curtis- vocals, saxophone
  • Darrell Leonard – vocals, trumpet
  • Jim Price – vocals, horns
  • Larry Savoie- vocals, trombone
  • Rita Coolidge- vocals
  • Tina Turner- vocals
  • Venetta Fields- vocals
  • Merry Clayton- vocals
  • Eddie Kendricks- vocals
  • Sam Clayton- vocals
  • Joe Hicks- vocals
  • Patrice Holloway- vocals
  • Tex Johnson- vocals
  • Clydie King- vocals
  • Sherlie Matthews- vocals
  • Gordon De Witty- vocals
  • Jay York- vocals
  • Tom Dowd, James Greene – engineer
  • Howard Fritzson – art direction
  • David Gahr, Beverly Parker, Sandy Speiser – photography

Track listing:

  1. Only You Know and I Know – Dave Mason
  2. Wade in the River of Jordan – traditional, arr. Delaney Bramlett
  3. Sound of the City – Delaney Bramlett, Joe Hicks
  4. Well, Well – Delaney Bramlett
  5. I Know How It Feels to Be Lonely- Bonnie Bramlett, Leon Ware
  6. Comin’ Home – Bonnie Bramlett, Eric Clapton
  7. Move ‘Em Out – Steve Cropper, Bettye Crutcher
  8. Big Change Comin – Delaney Bramlett
  9. A Good Thing (I’m on Fire) – Delaney Bramlett, Gordon DeWitty
  10. Groupie (Superstar) – Delaney Bramlett, Leon Russell
  11. I Know Something Good About You – Delaney Bramlett, Joe Hicks
  12. Country Life – Delaney Bramlett, Bobby Whitlock

J. J. Cale & Eric Clapton: The Road To Escondido

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the_road_to_escondido

On November 7, 2006, “Duck” label released “The Road to Escondido”, album by J.J. Cale, Eric Clapton and Simon Climie. It was recorded in August 2005, and was produced by J.J. Cale and Eric Clapton. The album features the final Billy Preston recordings, to whom the “The Road to Escondido” Is dedicated. In 2008, the album won “Grammy Award” for “Best Contemporary Blues Album”. “The Road to Escondido” was certified Platinum in Denmark by “IFPI Denmark”; Platinum in Germany by “BVMI”; 2 x Platinum in Greece by “IFPI Greece”, and 2 x Platinum in New Zealand by “RMNZ”.

Personnel:

  • JJ Cale – vocals, guitars, keyboards
  • Eric Clapton – vocals, guitars, concept.
  • Derek Trucks – guitar
  • John Mayer – guitar
  • Doyle Bramhall II – guitar
  • Christine Lakeland – vocals, guitar
  • Albert Lee – guitar
  • Billy Preston – Hammond Organ, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer.
  • Walt Richmond – piano
  • Simon Climie – piano
  • David Teegarden – piano
  • Taj Mahal – harmonica
  • Pino Palladino – bass guitar
  • Gary Gilmore – bass guitar
  • Willie Weeks – bass guitar
  • Jim Karstein – drums, percussion.
  • James Cruce – drums, percussion.
  • Steve Jordan – drums
  • Abe Laboriel, Jr – drums
  • Nathan East – bass guitar
  • Dennis Caplinger – fiddle
  • Bruce Fowler – horns
  • Marty Grebb – horns
  • Steve Madaio – horns
  • Jerry Peterson – horns
  • Simon Climie – programming, digital editing
  • Alan Douglas – engineer
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering
  • Catherine Roylance – art direction
  • Joel Evenden – digital editing
  • Lee Dickson – guitar techician

Track listing:

All tracks by J.J. Cale except where noted.

  1. Danger
  2. Heads in Georgia
  3. Missing Person
  4. When This War Is Over
  5. Sporting Life Blues – Brownie McGhee
  6. Dead End Road
  7. It’s Easy
  8. Hard to Thrill – Eric Clapton,John Mayer
  9. Anyway the Wind Blows
  10. Three Little Girls – Eric Clapton
  11. Don’t Cry Sister
  12. Last Will and Testament
  13. Who Am I Telling You?
  14. Ride the River

The Beatles: Abbey Road

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beatles_-_abbey_road

On September 26, 1969, “Apple Records” label released “Abbey Road” the eleventh Beatles (The) studio album. It was recorded February 22 – August 20, 1969, at “EMI Studios”,  “Olympic Studios”  and  “Trident Studios” in London, and was produced by George Martin. The album recording sessions were the last in which all four Beatles participated. Although “Let It Be” was the final Beatles album before the band’s dissolution in April 1970, most of the album had been recorded before the “Abbey Road” sessions began. The album cover was designed by “Apple Records” creative director Kosh, and It is the only original UK Beatles album sleeve to show neither the artist name nor the album title on its front cover. The cover has become one of the most famous and imitated images in the history of recorded music. “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “Abbey Road” at number 14 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. The album was certified Diamond in Argentina by “CAPIF”; 3 x Platinum in Australia by “ARIA”; Diamond in Canada by “Music Canada”; Platinum in Germany by “BVMI”; 5 x Platinum in New Zealand by “RMNZ”; 2 x Platinum in UK by “BPI”, and 12 x Platinum in the US by “RIIA”.

Personnel:

  • John Lennon– lead, harmony and backing vocals; lead and rhythm guitars; acoustic and electric pianos, Hammond organ and Moog synthesizer; white noise generator and sound effects; percussion
  • Paul McCartney– lead, harmony and backing vocals; lead, rhythm and bass guitars; acoustic and electric pianos, Hammond organ and Moog synthesizer; sound effects; wind chimes, handclaps and percussion
  • George Harrison– lead, harmony and backing vocals; lead, rhythm and bass guitars; Hammond organ, harmonium and Moog synthesizer; handclaps, percussion
  • Ringo Starr– lead and backing vocals, drums, percussion
  • George Martin– piano, harpsichord, organ, harmonium; percussion, mixing
  • Billy Preston– Hammond organ
  • Mal Evans– “anvil”
  • Something” and “Here Comes the Sun” orchestrated and conducted by George Martin and George Harrison
  • “Golden Slumbers”, “Carry That Weight” and “The End” orchestrated and conducted by George Martin and Paul McCartney
  • Mike Vickers – Moog programming
  • Geoff Emerick – recording, mixing
  • Phil McDonald – recording, mixing
  • Alan Parsons – engineer assistant
  • George Martin – mixing

Track listing:

All tracks by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, except where noted.

  1. Come Together
  2. Something – George Harrison
  3. Maxwell’s Silver Hammer
  4. Oh! Darling
  5. Octopus’s Garden – Ringo Starr
  6. I Want You (She’s So Heavy)
  7. Here Comes the Sun – George Harrison
  8. Because
  9. You Never Give Me Your Money
  10. Sun King
  11. Mean Mr. Mustard
  12. Polythene Pam
  13. She Came in Through the Bathroom Window
  14. Golden Slumbers
  15. Carry That Weight
  16. The End
  17. Her Majesty

George Harrison: Extra Texture

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extra-texture

On September 22, 1975, “Apple” label released “Extra Texture (Read All About It)”, the sixth George Harrison studio album. It was recorded February 1971, April –June 1975, August–September 1974, at “A&M Studios” in Los Angeles; “FPSHOT” in Oxfordshire, and “Abbey Road Studios” in London, and was produced by George Harrison.

Personnel:

  • George Harrison – lead and backing vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, ARP synthesizer, Moog synthesizer, piano
  • Legs Larry Smith– vocal
  • Ronnie Spector– vocal
  • Jesse Ed Davis– electric guitar
  • David Foster– piano, organ, ARP synthesizer, electric piano, tack piano, string arrangements
  • Leon Russell– piano
  • Nicky Hopkins– piano
  • Billy Preston– electric piano
  • Gary Wright– organ, electric piano, ARP synthesizer
  • Klaus Voormann– bass
  • Carl Radle– bass
  • Willie Weeks– bass
  • Paul Stallworth – bass, backing vocals
  • Jim Keltner– drums, percussion
  • Jim Gordon– drums, percussion
  • Andy Newmark– drums
  • Norm Kinney – percussion
  • Jim Horn– saxophones
  • Tom Scott– saxophones
  • Chuck Findley– trumpet, trombone

Track listing:

All tracks by George Harrison.

  1. You
  2. The Answer’s at the End
  3. This Guitar (Can’t Keep from Crying)
  4. Ooh Baby (You Know That I Love You)
  5. World of Stone
  6. A Bit More of You”
  7. Can’t Stop Thinking About You
  8. Tired of Midnight Blue
  9. Grey Cloudy Lies
  10. His Name Is Legs (Ladies and Gentlemen)