Billy Preston
William Everett "Billy" Preston (September 2, 1946 – June 6, 2006) was an American musician whose work included R&B, rock, soul, funk and gospel. A virtuoso keyboardist, particularly on Hammond organ, Preston was recognized as a top session musician in the 1960s, during which he backed artists such as Little Richard, Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and the Beatles. He then went on to achieve fame as a solo artist, with hit pop singles including "That's the Way God Planned It", "Outa-Space", "Will It Go Round in Circles", "Space Race", and "Nothing from Nothing". In addition, Preston co-wrote "You Are So Beautiful", which became a number 5 hit for Joe Cocker, and Stephen Stills asked Preston if he could use his phrase "if you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with" and created the hit song.
Preston was the only musician to be credited on a Beatles recording other than the group's four members: the group's number-one hit "Get Back" billed as "The Beatles with Billy Preston". Preston continued to record and perform with other artists, notably George Harrison after the Beatles' break-up, and Eric Clapton, and he played keyboards for the Rolling Stones on many of the group's albums and tours during the 1970s.
Billy Preston (album)
Billy Preston (sometimes referred to Do What You Want) is the eleventh studio album by Billy Preston, released in 1976. The title song is a remake of the 1969 original from That's the Way God Planned It.
Track listing
All songs by Billy Preston, except where noted.
Personnel
Billy Preston
ALBUMS
- Shotgun released: 2011
- The Gold Standard Series Pop Classics: Billy Preston released: 2011
- Live In New York released: 2010
- Billy Preston (Re-Recorded Version) released: 2009
- Live European Tour released: 2008
- You and I (New 2007 Edition) released: 2007
- The Collection released: 2007
- The Complete VeeJay Recordings released: 2007
- Drown in My Own Tears released: 2006
- Soul Meetin' released: 2006
- Billy's Bag released: 2005
- The Wildest Organ in Town / Club Meeting released: 2004
- 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best of Billy Preston released: 2002
- Ultimate Collection released: 2000
- Late at Night released: 1979
- Billy Preston released: 1976
- It's My Pleasure released: 1975
- The Kids & Me released: 1974
- Music Is My Life released: 1972
- I Wrote a Simple Song released: 1971
- That's the Way God Planned It released: 1969
- 16 Yr. Old Soul released: 1962
- Everybody Likes Some Kind of Music released:
- Encouraging Words released:
- Billy Preston released:
- The Best released:
The Complete VeeJay Recordings
Released 2007- If I Had a Hammer
- Low Down
- Slippin' and Slidin'
- Drown In My Own Tears
- I'm Coming Through
- The Octopus
- Soul Meetin'
- Let Me Know
- Billy's Bag
- The Masquerade Is Over
- Steady Gettin' It
- Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying
- Lay My Burdens Down
- Do Lord
- Gospel Groove
- Praise the God from Whom All Blessings Flow
- Just a Closer Walk With Thee
- Pass Me Not
- How Great Thou Art
- His Eye Is On the Sparrow
- Gospel In My Soul
- You'll Never Walk Alone
- The Only Hope We Have
- May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You
- I Believe
- Trees
The Wildest Organ in Town / Club Meeting
Released 2004- Midnight Hour
- Uptight
- A Hard Day's Night
- Aint Got No Time to Play
- Love Makes Me Do Foolish Things
- The Duck
- Advice
- Satisfaction
- I Got You
- It's Got to Happen
- Free Funk
- The "In" Crowd
- Introduction
- Sunny
- Hoochie Coochie Man
- Billy's Groove
- No Man Is an Island
- Let the Music Play
- Wade in the Water
- Summertime
- This Little Light of Mine
- Ike's Theme
- Together
- James Brown Medley
Ultimate Collection
Released 2000- Will It Go Round in Circles
- Outa-Space
- Slaughter
- I Wrote a Simple Song
- That's the Way God Planned It (live)
- Struttin'
- Fancy Lady
- You're So Unique
- Space Race
- Get Back
- Blackbird
- Wide Stride
- Nothing From Nothing
- I'm Really Gonna Miss You
- You Are So Beautiful
- With You I'm Born Again (feat. Syreeta)
- Since I Held You Close
- Go for It (feat. Syreeta)
- One More Time for Love (feat. Syreeta)
- I'm Never Gonna Say Goodbye
Everybody Likes Some Kind of Music
- Everybody Likes Some Kind of Music
- You're So Unique
- How Long Has the Train Been Gone
- My Soul Is a Witness
- Sunday Morning
- You've Got Me for Company
- Listen to the Wind
- Everybody Likes Some Kind of Music (reprise)
- Space Race
- Do You Love Me?
- I'm So Tired
- It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)
- Minuet for Me
Encouraging Words
- Right Now
- Little Girl
- Use What You Got
- My Sweet Lord
- Let the Music Play
- The Same Thing Again
- I've Got a Feeling
- Sing One for the Lord
- When You Are Mine
- I Don't Want to Pretend
- Encouraging Words
- All Things Must Pass
- You've Been Acting Strange
- As Long as I Got My Baby
- All That I've Got (I'm Gonna Give It to You)
Billy Preston
- Outa Space
- Everybody Likes Some Kind of Music
- Will It Go Round in Circles
- That's the Way God Planned It
- Struttin'
- You Are So Beautiful
- Blackbird
- It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)
- Get Back
- Nothing From Nothing
- Space Race
- I'm Really Gonna Miss You
- I Wrote a Simple Song
- Swing Down Sweet Chariot
- Make the Devil Mad (Turn on to Jesus)
- Song of Joy
- Do It While You Can
- Music Is My Life
- My Country 'Tis of Thee
Born: 1946-09-02
Died: 2006-06-06
Old Soul
She's a little more than a child herself
Than the children of her own
All her living's done for someone else
The only life she's ever known
All the dreams and desires that she had
She had to put 'em all on hold
While another young heart became an old soul
River of life keeps rushing by
She just rolls with the flow
She's seen it all through world weary eyes
She takes it like it comes and goes
She's forgotten more about life and love
Than most will ever know
While another young heart became an old soul
Laugh too little and you cry too much
Way too long without that gentle touch
Weight of the world resting down in your bones
Pretty soon you've got an old soul, old soul, old soul
Laugh too little and you cry too much
Way too long without that gentle touch
Weight of the world resting down in your bones