Encouraging Words - Billy Preston (1970)

Ideated from: dudes named Billy

Billy Preston is not an ex-Beatle. He did briefly play with them, but he was a fully formed musician in his own right, both before and after that association. So it’s not entirely fair that his career is so closely linked to playing on the last two Beatles records and being friends with them.

But one of my big takeaways from the “Get Back” documentary is how much energy Billy Preston injected into the proceedings when he showed up. The band had been struggling, and they got Preston to immediately dial up what was being done with those songs.

The Beatles returned the favor by putting out two of his records on their new label, including this 1970 one with members of the band participating.

I’m not clear if what you hear is Preston’s influence on the Beatles, or vice versa, or some of both. But it’s a great lively hunk of soul, and Preston’s ultra-bright keys really drive it.

Tracks I Liked

Let the Music Play - Organ, electric piano, and some weird harmonies

I Got A Feeling - the only Get Back song on here. There’s nothing that says who played drums on which track, and Ringo has a credit along with several other drummers. But I don’t think it’s controversial to say that the nervous funkiness on this track is not coming from Ringo, and it really puts the song on a different trajectory from the Beatles’ versions

Encouraging Words - as advertised. A great horn chart that pushes the whole thing up to speed.