Encouraging Words
| Encouraging Words | ||||
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| Studio album by Billy Preston | ||||
| Released | 11 September 1970 (UK) 9 November 1970 (US) |
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| Recorded | October 1969−May 1970 Trident Studios, London; Olympic Studios, London |
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| Genre | Soul, rock, gospel | |||
| Length | 44.29 | |||
| Label | Apple | |||
| Producer | Billy Preston & George Harrison | |||
| Professional reviews | ||||
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| Billy Preston chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Encouraging Words | ||||
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Encouraging Words is the fifth studio album by Billy Preston, released in 1970 on Apple Records. It was the second and last of his albums for The Beatles' label, after which he moved to A&M.
Contents |
[edit] Background and recording
As on the previous year's That's the Way God Planned It, Preston worked closely with George Harrison on the album, the Beatle contributing guitar, co-producing, and co-wroting a song with Preston. Harrison also donated two of his own − and subsequently most famous − compositions in "My Sweet Lord" and "All Things Must Pass", both of which he had yet to release himself. (Work on All Things Must Pass would only begin after the Preston sessions were completed.)
Recorded in London, Encouraging Words retained some of the all-star personnel from its predecessor − again featuring Eric Clapton as well as Harrison on guitar − augmented by the likes of Ringo Starr, Klaus Voormann and various members of Delaney & Bonnie's "Friends" band.[1] Crucially though, there were also contributions from members of The Temptations' and Sam and Dave's backing bands,[2] ensuring a more sympathetic setting for Preston's music than that provided by the all-British rock line-up on the 1969 album.[3] As a result, Encouraging Words is typical of Preston's successful blend of soul and rock,[4] highlighted by his powerful voice and virtuoso Hammond organ and piano playing.
In late April 1970, Harrison arrived in New York, where he was said to be working on Preston's album.[5][6] It is possible that orchestral strings were overdubbed onto "All Things Must Pass" and "Little Girl" at this point, after which Harrison collaborated briefly with Bob Dylan.[7]
[edit] Release
Encouraging Words was released in Britain on 11 September 1970 (with the Apple catalogue number SAPCOR 14) and in America on 9 November (as ST 3370).[8] Although it failed to find commercial success, the album is considered one of Billy Preston's best by fans and one of the finest non-Beatle Apple releases.[9][10]
To tie in with the album's September release, "My Sweet Lord" had been issued as a single in certain European countries.[11][12] Three months later, with Harrison's version dominating the airwaves, it was belatedly given a US release (with "Little Girl" on the B-side),[13] rewarding Preston with a highest placing of number 90 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart of 27 February 1971.[14]
Later, CD releases of Encouraging Words saw the inclusion of both sides of Preston's rare Apple single "All That I've Got". Recorded in November 1969 and released in January 1970 (February in the United States),[15][16] the song was co-written with soul singer Doris Troy, whose Apple album was released on the same day as Encouraging Words.
[edit] Track listing
All songs by Billy Preston, except where noted.
[edit] Side 1
- "Right Now" – 3:14
- "Little Girl" – 3:28
- "Use What You Got" – 4:22
- "My Sweet Lord" (George Harrison) – 3:21
- "Let the Music Play" (Preston, Joe Greene, Jesse Kirkland) – 2:44
- "The Same Thing Again" (Billy Preston, James Herndon) – 4:32
[edit] Side 2
- "I've Got a Feeling" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) – 2:51
- "Sing One for the Lord" (Harrison, Preston) – 3:49
- "When You Are Mine" – 2:45
- "I Don't Want You to Pretend" – 2:38
- "Encouraging Words" – 3:35
- "All Things Must Pass" (Harrison) – 3:43
- "You've Been Acting Strange" (R.L. Williams) – 3:27
[edit] CD bonus tracks (1993 and 2010 remasters)
- "As Long As I Got My Baby" - 2:42
- "All That I've Got (I'm Gonna Give It to You)" (Preston, Doris Troy) - 3:34
[edit] New bonus track (added to 2010 remaster)
- "How Long Has This Train Been Gone" (Preston, Bruce Fisher) - 3:17
[edit] Personnel
No comprehensive musician credits have ever been compiled for Encouraging Words. The following are named in promotional material[17] for the 2010 remaster of the album.
- Billy Preston – vocals, organ, piano, electric piano
- George Harrison – electric guitars, Moog synthesizer, backing vocals
- Eric Clapton – electric guitars
- Delaney Bramlett – electric guitars, backing vocals
- Carl Radle – bass
- Jim Gordon – drums
- Klaus Voormann – bass
- Ringo Starr – drums
- Bobby Keys – saxophones
- Jim Price – trumpet, trombone, horn arrangements
- The Edwin Hawkins Singers – backing vocals
- members of The Temptations' tour band – electric guitar, bass, drums
- members of Sam & Dave's tour band – bass, drums
- uncredited string arrangements and percussion
[edit] References
- ^ Apple Records, "Encouraging Words", http://applerecords.com/#!/albums/Album_EncouragingWords (retrieved 16 February 2012).
- ^ Keith Badham, The Beatles Diary Volume 2: After the Break-Up 1970−2001, Omnibus Press (London, 2002), p. 203.
- ^ Simon Leng, While My Guitar Gently Weeps: The Music of George Harrison, Hal Leonard (Milwaukee, WI, 2006), p. 70.
- ^ Leng, While My Guitar Gently Weeps:, p. 72.
- ^ Badham, The Beatles Diary Volume 2, p. 6.
- ^ John Harris, "A Quiet Storm", Mojo, July 2001, p. 72.
- ^ Badham, The Beatles Diary Volume 2, p. 7.
- ^ Harry Castleman & Walter J. Podrazik, All Together Now: The First Complete Beatles Discography 1961−1975, Ballantine Books (New York, NY, 1976), p. 91.
- ^ Bruce Eder, Encouraging Words album review, http://www.allmusic.com/album/encouraging-words-r1952618/review (retireved 16 February 2012).
- ^ BioCritics, "Billy Preston Inspires Musically and Spiritually with 1970's Encouraging Words, http://blogcritics.org/music/article/billy-preston-inspires-musically-and-spiritually/ (retrieved 16 February 2012).
- ^ Nicholas Schaffner, The Beatles Forever, McGraw-Hill (New York, NY, 1978), p. 143.
- ^ Alan Clayson, George Harrison, Sanctuary (London, 2003), p. 281.
- ^ Castleman & Podrazik, All Together Now, p. 95.
- ^ Castleman & Podrazik, All Together Now, p. 352.
- ^ Apple Records, "Encouraging Words", http://applerecords.com/#!/albums/Album_EncouragingWords (retrieved 16 February 2012).
- ^ Castleman & Podrazik, All Together Now, p. 91.
- ^ Apple Records, "Encouraging Words", http://applerecords.com/#!/albums/Album_EncouragingWords (retrieved 16 February 2012).
