That's the Way God Planned It

That's the Way God Planned It
Studio album by Billy Preston
Released	22 August 1969 (UK) 10 September 1969 (US)
Recorded	late 1968; April−July 1969 undisclosed studio, Los Angeles; Abbey Road Studios, London; Olympic Studios, London
Genre	Soul, rock, gospel
Length	44.29
Label	Apple
Producer	George Harrison; Wayne Shuler
Professional reviews
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Billy Preston chronology
Club Meeting (1967) That's the Way God Planned It (1969) Encouraging Words (1970)
Singles from That's the Way God Planned It
""That's the Way God Planned It"" Released: 27 June 1969 (UK); 7 July 1969 (US) ""Everything's All Right"" Released: 17 October 1969 (UK); 24 October 1969 (US)

That's The Way God Planned It is the fourth studio album by Billy Preston, released in 1969 on Apple Records. George Harrison, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton and other guests appear on the album. Note that "Hey Brother " is a rewrite of "Hey Joe".

1969 liner notes

Derek Taylor's sleevenotes to the original Apple release praised Preston as a wonderful new signing. "Billy Preston is the best thing to happen to Apple this year. He’s young and beautiful and kind and he sings and plays like the son of God."

Preston himself wrote in the notes:

“

Music is my life and every day I live it, and it’s a good life to everything I want to say through music it gets to you. I may not be the best around but I’m surely not the worst. I learned to play and sing since the age of three, you don’t know how glad I am God laid his hands on me. Apple is the Company for all people that know where it’s at and love love peace love joy and all mankind. I am very grateful to be a part of it. It won’t be long before we change the whole system that holds and keeps the artist’s mind messed up. All thanks must be given to the fab Beatles. People should realize that what they have gone through has not been in vain and they are using it to the best of their ability.

”

Track listing

All songs by Billy Preston, except where noted.

1. "Do What You Want" – 3:44
2. "I Want to Thank You" – 3:13
3. "Everything's Alright" (Preston, Doris Troy) – 2:44
4. "She Belongs to Me" (Bob Dylan) – 4:09
5. "It Doesn't Matter" – 2:41
6. "Morning Star" (W.C Handy, Mack David) – 3:20
7. "Hey Brother" (Preston, Jesse Kirkland) – 2:34
8. "What About You" – 2:10
9. "Let Us All Get Together (Right Now)" (Preston, Troy) – 4:06
10. "This Is it" (Preston, Troy) – 2:45
11. "Keep it to Yourself" – 2:47
12. "That's the Way God Planned It" (Parts 1 & 2) – 5:34

CD bonus tracks (1991 and 2010 remasters)

1. "Through All Times" – 3:58
2. "As I Get Older" (Preston, Sly Stone) – 3:42
3. "That's the Way God Planned it" (alternate, previously unreleased version) – 4:13

New bonus track (added to 2010 remaster)

1. "Something's Got to Change" (Preston, Arthur Fullilove, Melvin Ray Jernigan) - 2:12

Personnel

• Billy Preston – vocals, piano, organ, tack piano, backing vocals; electric piano (CD bonus tracks only)
• George Harrison – electric and acoustic guitars, Moog synthesizer, sitar
• Eric Clapton – electric guitar
• Keith Richards – bass
• Ginger Baker – drums, tambourine
• Doris Troy – backing vocals
• Madeline Bell – backing vocals
• John Barham – string arrangements
• unconfirmed/unknown players on Wayne Shuler sessions – electric guitar, bass, drums, horns, congas, tambourine, backing vocals