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Billy Preston Appreciation

mannybolonemannybolone Los Angeles, CA 15,025 Posts
edited July 2011 in Strut Central
I don't think the Strut has really talked much about him except for an obit thread from years ago. I recently got around to picking up "I Wrote a Simple Song" and it reminded me how cotdamn soulful this dude was.





Doth the Strut ride? What other albums are essential? I definitely would recommend this LP, plus "Encouraging Words," and I'm assuming folks already have "Kids and Me."

  Comments

  • The_Hook_UpThe_Hook_Up 8,182 Posts
    I wanna hear more of his early stuff, as this is a killer
  • HorseleechHorseleech 3,830 Posts
    The_Hook_Up said:
    I wanna hear more of his early stuff, as this is a killer

    Damn, he was 15 when he did that.
  • holmesholmes 3,532 Posts
    dude did so much, he seems to have worked with everyone.
    This is one of my favorite northern tracks of his.

    can't forget this killer mod spin
  • willie_fugalwillie_fugal 1,862 Posts
    hells yes to the 5th beatle!

    the whole That's The Way God Planned It LP is great, imo

    also love the entire Music Is My Life album. this is my favorite cut:

  • willie_fugalwillie_fugal 1,862 Posts


    wow, thanks youtube!
  • mannybolonemannybolone Los Angeles, CA 15,025 Posts
    willie_fugal said:


    wow, thanks youtube!
    :face_melt:
  • motown67motown67 4,513 Posts
    willie_fugal said:


    wow, thanks youtube!

    Holy shit! So much for my image of Preston always sitting behind the piano. Preston is getting down like the best of them, i.e. James Brown and Jackie Wilson
  • holmesholmes 3,532 Posts
    that's incredible, what documentary is this from??
  • funky16cornersfunky16corners 7,175 Posts
    His early organ stuff on VeeJay and the Sly-produced stuff on Capitol (which had more vocals) Is excellent.

    I can't get the embed code on the phone, but here's the link...

  • DORDOR Two Ron Toe 9,899 Posts
    holmes said:
    that's incredible, what documentary is this from??


    I believe this was from Before The Music Dies.

    We had a thread about it a couple of years ago. Where this clip blew my mind and I was asking for more Billy Preston based on just that performance.

    http://www.soulstrut.com/index.php/forums/viewthread/58727/#827100
  • mannybolonemannybolone Los Angeles, CA 15,025 Posts
    I def respect his organ jamming steez but the Preston I've always been endeared with was more his '70s vocal work. reminds me a lot of Donny Hathaway actually, with maybe some Dr. John mixed in.
  • jjfad027jjfad027 1,594 Posts

    I love this jam
  • pickwick33pickwick33 8,946 Posts
    mannybolone said:
    I def respect his organ jamming steez but the Preston I've always been endeared with was more his '70s vocal work. reminds me a lot of Donny Hathaway actually, with maybe some Dr. John mixed in.

    He did a shitload of organ soul records in the sixties. While they're not bad, they do get interchangeable and generic. He was at his best when he started singing.

    In the meantime, clips of him from the sixties TV show Shindig are turning up:



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