Outtake of the Week: "She's A Woman" (Take 1)

Take 1 of "She's A Woman" took a totally different approach than the master take in terms of the rhythm of the guitar playing; it's a shame that the full recording has yet to surface.



Next installment: June 20

Beatle People: P.J. Proby

P. J. Proby (born James Marcus Smith, 6 November 1938, Houston, Texas, United States) is a singer, songwriter, and actor noted for his theatrical portrayals of Elvis Presley and Roy Orbison, plus interpretations of old standards in the vein of Billy Eckstine, Nat King Cole and Tony Bennett. The stage name P. J. Proby was suggested to him by a friend named Sharon Sheeley who remembered an old high school boyfriend. In 2008, Proby celebrated his 70th birthday and his original record label EMI released the Best Of The EMI Years 1961-1972.

Youth and early career

Proby grew up in a banking family where his father was the VP of the Second National Bank in Houston, Texas. He was educated at San Marcos Military Academy, Culver Naval Academy and Western Military Academy. After graduation he moved to California to become a motion picture actor and recording artist. Given the stage name Jett Powers by top Hollywood agents Gabey, Lutz, Heller and Loeb, he took acting and singing lessons, and appeared in movies with small roles. Two singles "Go, Girl, Go", and "Loud Perfume", were released on an independent label, but were not noticed. In 1962 he began writing songs and recording demos, for artists such as Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash.

Proby was taken by songwriter Sharon Sheeley (who penned "Poor Little Fool" for Ricky Nelson, and was engaged to Eddie Cochran) to audition at Liberty Records. He travelled to London after being introduced to Jack Good by Sheeley and Jackie DeShannon. Soon, Proby created his fashion image of a pony-tail tied back with a ribbon, swashbuckling pirate shirts, and buckle shoes. In addition to this, he wore skin-tight suits made of velvet in different colours for each day of the week. Appearing on The Beatles' television special in 1964, he received great media interest with this fashion styling. Under the production of Good, Proby's balladeer style and theatrical presentation scored a string of hits in 1964 with "Hold Me" and "Together" (featuring session guitarists Big Jim Sullivan and Jimmy Page), "Somewhere", "Maria", and "I Apologise".

A royalty dispute with Liberty Records in 1966, broke his run of success in the UK Singles Chart. His career was also affected by controversies. His skin-tight trousers split open during a concert in England. The women in the audience went wild. Somehow, the trousers split again at the next venue. Critics, and the audience, were divided on whether he was using a gimmick to promote his image, or simply an eccentric rock star. During a concert with Cilla Black in 1965 they split again, and Proby was dropped from the rest of the tour by theatre managers.

Back in the USA

In 1967 Proby scored a Billboard Hot 100 Top 30 hit with "Niki Hoeky". He was then auditioned for the London production of Finian's Rainbow, but did not get the role and to this day has never been told why. Poor managerial advice led to Proby briefly declaring bankruptcy. He returned to the United States to rest. In September 1968, Proby recorded the album Three Week Hero, which was released in 1969. A collection of country-style ballads mixed with blues, the album is notable more for its association with the new Yardbirds, his backing band, who would later become Led Zeppelin.

Success on the London stage

In 1971 he appeared on stage as Casio in a rock musical version of Shakespeare's Othello, called Catch My Soul. The play enjoyed a successful run in London's West End. After, he continued to perform mostly in cabarets and nightclubs, singing 1960s ballads and rhythm 'n' blues material. Signing with Good again in 1977, he portrayed Elvis Presley in a theatrical production of Elvis - The Musical, which received rave reviews, winning a Best Musical of the Year award. In 1978, Proby recorded with the Dutch rock group Focus releasing Focus con Proby. He then returned to singing in clubs, before embarking on a change of direction.

In 1993 Proby appeared in the Jack Good biographical musical "Good Rockin' Tonite" - as himself. Two years later in 1995, Proby appeared in the Roy Orbison tribute show "Only the Lonely". By 1996 Proby was acting again in "Elvis - The Musical".

1980s nadir

His career followed a similar path trodden by Tom Jones in the 1980s, who began to cover contemporary songs. Proby began with a version of Joy Division's epic "Love Will Tear Us Apart", followed with Gloria Jones's "Tainted Love", and then, The Sex Pistols' "Anarchy in the UK". He did enjoy minor success but, was largely neglected by the media. In 1989, the Southport, Lancashire based author/songwriter Ron Ellis recorded Proby singing one of his compositions, "Hot California Nights".

Comeback

By 1990 Proby was living in Bolton, Lancashire and suffering from alcoholism. He was offered a recording deal by John G. Sutton from the Preston based, J'Ace Records, and this led to the release of a single "Stage of Fools", and an album entitled, Thanks. It was distributed internationally by BMG and it brought Proby back into the record shops, for the first time since he left Liberty Records almost twenty years before.

Later in that same year Proby invited Jan Kornas, a fine art and antiques dealer, to become his new manager. The next place of work was the Bobbie Hope's Lansdowne Hotel, North Promenade, Blackpool, where he performed until November. He returned to the Lansdowne the following season.

In 1991, Jan Kornas contacted Jack Good, the producer of Six-Five Special and Oh Boy! who was in Liverpool at the time, whilst he was touring in the his musical Good Rocking Tonight. This was a pivotal point in Proby's resurrected career as Good invited him to join the musical at Manchester Opera House in a cameo role.

Granada TV featured Proby in a documentary and BBC TV featured Proby, on their flagship current affairs programme This Week. Following his return to the public eye, in 1991, Proby suffered a heart attack whilst on holiday in Florida in 1992 which curtailed his activities until 1993. Then he reappeared on stage in the biographical musical of Jack Good's life called Good Rockin Tonight, followed by playing himself in the Roy Orbison story called Only the Lonely. A year later Proby returned to a new production of Elvis, and released the critically acclaimed album Legend. The album featured songwriting and production contributions from Marc Almond, and Neal X from Sigue Sigue Sputnik. A resulting single, "Yesterday Has Gone", a duet with Almond, reached number 58 on the UK chart at the end of 1996.

In 1997, Proby toured with The Who in the United States and in Europe, performing as "The Godfather" in the road production of Quadrophenia. After Quadrophenia, Proby continued singing by doing performances in UK, Sweden, Denmark and Germany. In addition, he had been touring in "Sixties Gold", another revival series of shows, for some years. In August 2004, he also toured in Australia. From February until May 2006, Proby was touring with the "Solid Silver Sixties Show 2006" - and went through five tour managers - throughout much of the UK, which ended at The London Palladium.

In 2002, Van Morrison recorded a song for his album Down the Road entitled "Whatever Happened to P.J. Proby?"

2007 saw him embark on a small solo tour and is set to continue with additional UK dates in 2008, after which he is touring with "Oh Boy - It's the Non-Stop Sixties" (June and July 2008) alongside Chris Farlowe, Vanity Fare, Brian Poole and Mike Pender.

In July 2007, Proby was arrested on suspicion of a £50,000 benefit fraud. The Department of Work and Pensions are believed to be looking into whether the singer has undeclared concert earnings. He is alleged to have collected benefits whilst still performing around the country. Proby has denied the allegations saying: "I don't know anything about any benefit fraud. There is nothing in these allegations whatsoever."

In November 2008, Proby celebrated his 70th birthday. To commemorate the year, EMI has released a new 25-track retrospective, Best Of The EMI Years 1961-1972. This features hit A-side and B-side singles, eight rarities that debut on CD format, and two previously unreleased recordings (which are Les Reed and Barry Mason's "Delilah"; and Jim Ford's "I'm Ahead If I Can Quit While I'm Behind"). Les Reed wrote the song "Delilah" for Proby's 1968 studio album Believe It Or Not, but it was omitted from the finished release. Also around this time, Proby recorded a Christmas single entitled "The Bells Of Christmas Day" along with local guitarist and producer, Andy Crump.

Discography

Albums

* I Am P. J. Proby (1964)
* P. J. Proby (1965)
* P. J. Proby In Town (1965)
* Enigma (1966)
* Phenomenon (1967)
* Believe It or Not (1968)
* Three Week Hero (1969)
* California License (1970)
* I'm Yours (1972)
* Focus con Proby (1978)
* The Hero (1981)
* Clown Shoes (1987)
* Thanks (1991)
* The Savoy Sessions (1995) (compilation)
* Legend (1996)
* Memories (2003)
* Sentimental Journeys (2003)
* Wanted (2003)
* 20th Century Hits (2005)
* Best Of The EMI Years 1961-1972 (2008 CD features previously unreleased songs)

Singles

* "Hold Me" (1964) - Number 3
* "Together" (1964) - Number 8
* "Somewhere" (1964) - Number 6
* "I Apologise" (1965) - Number 11
* "Let The Water Run Down" (1965) - Number 19
* "That Means A Lot" (1965) - Number 30
* "Maria" (1965) - Number 8
* "You've Come Back" (1966) - Number 25
* "To Make A Big Man Cry" (1966) - Number 34
* "I Can't Make It Alone" (1966) - Number 37
* "It's Your Day Today" (1968) - Number 32
* "The Day That Lorraine Came Down" (1968)
* "Hanging From Your Loving Tree" (1969)
* "We'll Meet Again" (1972)
* "Stage Of Fools" (1990) - (J'Ace Records)
* "Yesterday Has Gone" (1996) - Number 58. (Credited to P. J. Proby and Marc Almond featuring the My Life Story Orchestra).
* "Love Me Tender" (2004)
* "Oh My Papa" (2004)
* "The Bells Of Christmas Day" (2008)

Wikipedia

"Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)" Lyrics

by John Lennon

Original Manuscript (1980)

I can't hardly wait
to see you come of age
but I guess we'll both
just have to be patient
it's a long way to go
a hard row to hoe
yes it's a long way to go
but in the meantime

Before you cross the street
won't you take my hand
life is what happens to you
while you're busy making other plans
Beautiful Boy
Darling Sean

As Released by John Lennon (1980)

Close your eyes
Have no fear
The monster's gone
He's on the run and your daddy's here

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy

Before you go to sleep
Say a little prayer
Every day in every way
It's getting better and better

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy

Out on the ocean sailing away
I can hardly wait to see you come of age
But I guess we'll both just have to be patient
'Cause it's a long way to go, a hard row to hoe
Yes, it's a long way to go but in the meantime

Before you cross the street
Take my hand
Life is what happens to you
While you're busy making other plans

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy

Before you go to sleep
Say a little prayer
Every day in every way
It's getting better and better

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Darling, darling, darling
Darling Sean

Good night Sean
See you in the morning
Bright and early

April 7, 1975 - Un jour futur

Taped: Monday 7 April 1975
Aired: Saturday 28 June 1975

At the Dakota, John records his second interview with the journalist Jean-Francois Vallee (his first being on December 14, 1971), this time for inclusion in the French television programme Un jour futur. His piece, entitled Il Etait Une Fois John Lennon (Once Upon A Time There Was John Lennon), is produced by Michael Lancelot and features John, besides speaking on the telephone, being interviewed while sitting on the floor. Among many topics of conversation, he discusses Paul's drug taking admission to ITN news in 1967, The Beatles as "world leaders", his visit to Paris in 1961 and the trademark Beatle haircut and collarless jacket. He also reveals how he incorporated reggae into the 1964 Beatles tune 'I Call Your Name'. At one stage, he goes out onto the balcony and performs a mock magical trick with a handkerchief, which appears from the bottom of his trousers. Inside his apartment again, this time solo on the piano, John performs a unique version of Labelle's hit 'Voulez Vous Coucher Avec Moi, Ce Soir (Lady Marmalade)'. (John appears in the interview wearing a T-shirt that has that logo stamped on to it.) For its first television broadcast, on Saturday June 28, and for the benefit of the non-English speaking French viewers, Lancelot strangely dubs John's answers with two separate male/female French voices. Sections of the interview where John speaks frankly about sex and drugs are deemed too risky for transmission and are never screened.

"Because" Lyrics

by John Lennon and Paul McCartney

As Released by the Beatles (1969)

Aah!
Because the world is round it turns me on
Because the world is round.

Aah!
Because the wind is high it blows my mind
Because the wind is high.

Aah!
Love is old, love is new
Love is all, love is you.

Because the sky is blue it makes me cry
Because the sky is blue.

Aah - aah
Aah - aah
Aah
Aah.

Photos of Pattie Boyd - Part 5

Beatle People: Gordon Waller

Gordon Trueman Riviere Waller (born on June 4, 1945 in Braemar, Scotland) is a singer/songwriter/Guitarist, best known as "Gordon" of 1960s duo Peter & Gordon, whose biggest hit was "World Without Love."

While attending Westminster School, he first met fellow student Peter Asher, and they began playing together as a duo — Peter & Gordon.

Asher is the older brother of actress and businesswoman Jane Asher, who in the mid-1960s was girlfriend of The Beatles' Paul McCartney. Through this connection he and Waller were often given unrecorded Lennon-McCartney songs to perform, most notably their first and biggest hit, 1964's decidedly Beatlesque "World Without Love."

Peter & Gordon disbanded in 1968. Afterwards, Waller attempted a solo career with little success, releasing one record, and Gordon. On this album Gordon used New York based group White Cloud featuring Teddy Wender on keyboards. He also appeared in a production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as Pharaoh, a performance that he reprised on the LP. In 2007 Gordon released a solo album Plays the Beatles, featuring a new recording of "Woman," which was written by he Lennon & McCartney in the mid-1960s and made a hit by Peter & Gordon. In 2008 he followed up with his release of Rebel Rider. On July 19, 2008 Peter & Gordon performed together at The Cannery Casino in North Las Vegas, Nevada. Also, on the bill that night was Chad & Jeremy with whom both duo's sang the final concert song ("Bye Bye Love") together for only the second time in history. On August 21, 2008, they performed a free concert on the pier in Santa Monica, California, briefly accompanied by Joan Baez.

Discography

* In Touch With... (by Peter & Gordon) (1964)
* Peter and Gordon (by Peter & Gordon) (1964)
* World Without Love Peter and Gordon (by Peter & Gordon) (1964)
* Hurtin' 'n' Lovin' (by Peter & Gordon) (1965)
* I Don't Want to See You Again (by Peter & Gordon) (1965)
* I Go to Pieces (by Peter & Gordon) (1965)
* True Love Ways (by Peter & Gordon) (1965)
* Best of Peter and Gordon (by Peter & Gordon) (1966)
* Peter and Gordon Sing & Play the Hits of Nashville (1966)
* Somewhere (by Peter & Gordon) (1966)
* Woman (by Peter & Gordon) (1966)
* In London for Tea (by Peter & Gordon) (1967)
* Knight in Rusty Armour (by Peter & Gordon) (1967)
* Lady Godiva (by Peter & Gordon) (1967)
* Hot Cold & Custard (by Peter & Gordon) (1968)
* and Gordon (solo) (1972)
* Best of Peter and Gordon (by Peter & Gordon) (1983)
* Hits of Peter and Gordon (by Peter & Gordon) (1983)
* Best of Peter and Gordon (by Peter & Gordon) (1991)
* Ultimate Peter and Gordon (by Peter & Gordon) (2001)
* Definitive Collection: Knights in Rusty Armour (by Peter & Gordon) (2003)
* Plays the Beatles (by Gordon Waller) (2007)
* Rebel Rider (by Gordon Waller) (2008)

Wikipedia

"All You Need Is Love" Lyrics

by John Lennon and Paul McCartney

Original Manuscript (1967)

There's nothing you can do that can't be done
and nothing you can sing that can't be sung
nothing you can say but you can learn how to
play the game - and it's easy.

There's nothing you can make that can't be made
no-one you can save that can't be saved
nothing you can do but you can learn to
be you in time - it's easy

There's nothing you can know that isn't known
+ nothing you can see that is not shown
there's nowhere you can be that isn't where
you're meant to be - it's easy.

Verse Love - Love - Love

Verse Love

Verse Love

Chorus - alone

Verse love - love - love

Chorus - altogether on last line

verse love

chorus altogether now

chorus " "

verse

chorus

chorus

As Released by the Beatles (1967)

Love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love, love

There's nothing you can do that can't be done ((love))
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung ((love))
Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game ((love))
It's easy.

Nothing you can make that can't be made ((love))
No-one you can save that can't be saved ((love))
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time ((love))
It's easy.

All you need is love, all you need is love
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.

Love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love, love.

All you need is love, (wuh) all you need is love (hey)
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.

There's nothing you can know that isn't known ((love))
Nothing you can see that isn't shown ((love))
There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be ((love))
It's easy.

All you need is love, all you need is love
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.

All you need is love (all together now)
All you need is love (everybody)
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.

Love is all you need (love is all you need)
Love is all you need (love is all you need)
Love is all you need (love is all you need)
Love is all you need (love is all you need)
Love is all you need (wuh) (love is all you need)
Love is all you need (love is all you need)
Love is all you need (love is all you need)
Love is all you need (love is all you need)
Love is all you need (love is all you need)
Love is all you need (love is all you need)
Love is all you need (yahoo) (eee - hi)
Love is all you need (love is all you need)
(Love is all you need) Yesterday (love is all you need)
(Oh) love is all you need
Love is all you need (oh yeah)
Love is all you need
Loves you yeah, yeah, yeah ((love is all, love is all))
She loves you yeah, yeah, yeah ((love is all, love is all))
Love is all you need
Love is all you need (wuhoo)
Love is all you need (wuhoo)
Love is all you need (oh)
Love is all you need
Love is all you need.

"The Ballad of John and Yoko" Lyrics

by John Lennon and Paul McCartney

As Released by the Beatles (1969)

Standing in the dock at Southampton
Trying to get to Holland or France.
The man in the mac said you've got to go back
You know they didn't even give us a chance.

Christ! you know it ain't easy
You know how hard it can be
The way things are going
They're gonna crucify me.

Finally made the plane into Paris
Honeymooning down by the Seine.
Peter Brown called to say, you can make it OK
You can get married in Gibraltar near Spain.

Christ! you know it ain't easy
You know how hard it can be
The way things are going
They're gonna crucify me.

Drove from Paris to the Amsterdam Hilton
Talking in our beds for a week.
The news-people said, say what're you doing in bed?
I said we're only trying to get us some peace.

Christ! you know it ain't easy
You know how hard it can be
The way things are going
They're gonna crucify me.

Saving up your money for a rainy day
Giving all your clothes to charity.
Last night the wife said, oh boy, when you're dead
You don't take nothing with you but your soul - think!

Made a lightning trip to Vienna
Eating chocolate cake in a bag.
The newspapers said, she's gone to his head
They look just like two gurus in drag.

Christ! you know it ain't easy
You know how hard it can be
The way things are going
They're gonna crucify me.

Caught the early plane back to London
Fifty acorns tied in a sack.
The men from the press said, we wish you success
It's good to have the both of you back.

Christ! you know it ain't easy
You know how hard it can be.
The way things are going
They're gonna crucify me.
The way things are going
They're gonna crucify me.

Beatle People: Billy Preston

William Everett "Billy" Preston (September 2, 1946 – June 6, 2006) was an American soul musician from Houston, Texas, raised mostly in Los Angeles, California. In addition to his successful, Grammy-winning career as a solo artist, Preston collaborated with some of the greatest names in the music industry, including the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Nat King Cole, Little Richard, Eric Burdon, Ray Charles, George Harrison, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Sam Cooke, King Curtis, Sammy Davis Jr., Sly Stone, Aretha Franklin, the Jackson 5, Quincy Jones, Mick Jagger, Richie Sambora, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. He played the Fender Rhodes electric piano and the Hammond organ on the Get Back sessions in 1969.

Preston along with Tony Sheridan are the only two non-Beatles to receive billing as an artist alongside the Beatles (as distinct from receiving credit as a session musician on album packaging) on an official Beatles record release. The label of the Get Back single credits the artists on the record as "The Beatles with Billy Preston."

Early career

Preston began playing piano while sitting on his mother's lap at age three, and he was considered something of a prodigy on piano and organ. By the age of 10 he was performing in the bands of gospel singers Mahalia Jackson and James Cleveland. At age 12 he appeared in the 1958 Paramount Pictures film St. Louis Blues, portraying blues composer W.C. Handy as a young man. In the 1960s he performed with Little Richard and Ray Charles. He also began a recording career as a solo artist with the 1965 album The Most Exciting Organ Ever. He was also a regular on the mid-1960s ABC-TV musical variety series Shindig! as a member of the show's house band.

Relationship with the Beatles

Preston is one of several people sometimes referred to by outsiders as "the Fifth Beatle"- though he was never described as such by any of the four Beatles. Preston first met the Beatles in 1962 as part of Little Richard's touring band when their manager Brian Epstein organized a Liverpool show, for which the Beatles opened. The Washington Post explained their subsequent meeting:

They'd hook up again in 1969, when The Beatles were about to break up while recording the last album they released, Let It Be (they would later record Abbey Road, which was released prior to Let It Be). George Harrison, always Preston's best Beatles buddy, had quit and walked out of the studio and gone to a Ray Charles concert in London, where Preston was playing organ. Harrison brought Preston back to the studio, where his keen musicianship and gregarious personality temporarily calmed the tension.

Preston played with the Beatles for several of the Get Back sessions, some of the material from which would latter be culled to make the film Let it Be and its companion album, during which he joined the band for its rooftop concert, its final public appearance. "Get Back," one of the album's singles, was credited to "the Beatles with Billy Preston," the only time such a joint credit had been given on an official Beatles-sanctioned release (as distinct from an unsanctioned reissue of some Hamburg-era recordings on which they were the backing group for Tony Sheridan). The credit was bestowed by the Beatles to reflect the extent of Preston's presence on the track; his electric piano is prominent throughout and he plays an extended solo. Preston also worked (in a more limited role) on the Abbey Road album, contributing to the track "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" and "Something".

Years later, he appeared as Sgt. Pepper in Robert Stigwood's Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, a film very loosely based on the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album.

Post-Beatles

Signed to the Beatles' Apple label, in 1969, Preston released the album That's the Way God Planned It and a single of the same name (produced by George Harrison). His relationship with Harrison continued after the breakup of The Beatles; he was the first artist to record "My Sweet Lord," in his album Encouraging Words (Harrison's own version of the single hit number one in the U.S. and the UK and was the first number one by a former Beatle after they disbanded) and he was on several of Harrison's 1970s solo albums. Preston also made notable contributions to The Concert for Bangladesh, the Harrison-organized charity concert, toured with Harrison on his 1974 tour of North America and, after Harrison's death, The Concert for George. Preston also worked on solo recordings by two other ex-Beatles, John Lennon and Ringo Starr.

His solo career also peaked at this time, beginning with 1972's "Outa-Space," an instrumental track that further popularized the sound of the clavinet in funk music. The song reached #2 in the U.S. and won the Grammy award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.

Over the next two years, he followed up with the #1 hits "Will It Go Round in Circles" and "Nothing From Nothing," and the #4 hit "Space Race." American Bandstand host and executive producer Dick Clark enjoyed "Space Race" to the extent that he used the instrumental for the mid-show break for virtually the remainder of its run.

After the Beatles, Preston played keyboards for the Rolling Stones, alongside pianist Nicky Hopkins. Preston appears on the Stones' albums Sticky Fingers, Exile on Main Street, Goats Head Soup, It's Only Rock'n Roll and Black and Blue. He toured as a support act on their 1973 European Tour and recorded his live album Live European Tour 1973 in Munich with Mick Taylor on guitar. In 1974 he composed one of Joe Cocker's biggest hits, "You Are So Beautiful." On October 11, 1975, he was a musical guest on Saturday Night Live's series premiere episode (along with Janis Ian). Also in that year, and in 1976, he again toured with the Stones. This time he played two of his own songs, backed by the Stones, in the middle of every concert. The Stones and Preston parted company in 1977, mainly due to a row over money. He continued to play on solo records by Stones members and made appearances again on the Stones' 1981 Tattoo You and 1997 Bridges to Babylon albums.

He had a hit single in 1980 with Syreeta Wright with the ballad "With You I'm Born Again" that reached number four on the charts. A few years later, however, he was arrested and convicted for insurance fraud after setting fire to his own house in Los Angeles, and he was treated for alcohol and cocaine addictions. In 1991, Preston was arrested in Los Angeles after physically attacking a teenage transvestite prostitute after he discovered the prostitute's real age and sex. After going over a drug test, he tested positive for cocaine. That year, he entered no-contest pleas to the cocaine and assault charges. He was sentenced to nine months at a drug rehabilitation center and three months of house arrest.

Preston overcame his problems in the early 1990s, toured with Eric Clapton, and recorded with a wide range of artists. He also toured with Ringo Starr and appeared on the 1990 live album Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band. He was also invited to become a member of The Band in 1991, after the death of their piano player, Stan Szelest. He completed a tour, but his above-mentioned legal problems put an end to the collaboration before they had a chance to record together in the studio.

While touring and fighting his own health issues, Preston received the news that on 29 November 2001, his longtime bandmate, friend and guitarist of the 1960s, George Harrison had died after a long battle with throat cancer. Preston, among many of Harrison's longtime friends, performed in the 2002 Concert for George in London, England, to play a tribute song.

Preston participated in the concert at the Royal Albert Hall, and his performance of "My Sweet Lord" has received critical acclaim. Preston played the Hammond Organ for the show and sang "Isn't It A Pity" and "My Sweet Lord" plus backing vocals to most of the songs. Ringo Starr called him one of the greatest Hammond players of all time (in the theatrical version of the concert).

In 2002 he appeared on the Johnny Cash album American IV: The Man Comes Around, playing piano on "Personal Jesus."

He toured with The Funk Brothers and Stevie Winwood in Europe in early 2004 and then with his friend Eric Clapton in Europe and North America. It has been claimed that his big contribution to the Beatles' sound was made clear with the release of the Let It Be... Naked album.

In 2005 he recorded "Go Where No One's Gone Before," the main title song for the anime series L/R: Licensed by Royalty.

Preston played clavinet on the song "Warlocks" for the Red Hot Chili Peppers album Stadium Arcadium released in 2006. Although very ill by this point, he jumped out of his bed after hearing a tape of the song given to him by the band, recorded his part, and went back to bed. Preston's final contributions were the gospel-tinged organ on the Neil Diamond album 12 Songs, and his keyboard work on The Road to Escondido by Eric Clapton and J. J. Cale.

In March 2005, Preston appeared on the American Idol's fourth season finale. Playing piano, he performed "With You I'm Born Again" with Vonzell Solomon, who finished in third place.

Preston made his last public appearance in late 2005 at the Los Angeles press junket for the re-release of the Concert for Bangladesh movie. He was in good spirits and talked to many in the press. Afterwards he played a three song set of "Give Me Love," "My Sweet Lord" and "Isn't It a Pity," featuring Dhani Harrison on guitar and Ringo Starr on drums for the final song only.

There still remains an unreleased CD of Beatles covers that he had been working on for several years before his death. Many tracks from this CD were previewed by him at The Fest For Beatles Fans shows in the years before his death.

Death

Preston had battled kidney disease in his later years, brought on by his hypertension. He received a kidney transplant in 2002, but his health continued to deteriorate. He died on June 6, 2006 in Scottsdale, Arizona, of complications of malignant hypertension that resulted in kidney failure and other complications. He had voluntarily entered a drug rehabilitation clinic in Malibu, Calif., and suffered pericarditis there, leading to respiratory failure that left him in a coma since November 21, 2005. His funeral was held on June 20 at the Faithful Central Bible Church in Inglewood, California. Preston was interred at Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood, California.

Discography

Albums

* (1965) The Most Exciting Organ Ever
* (1965) Early Hits of'65
* (1966) The Wildest Organ in Town
* (1967) Club Meeting
* (1969) That's The Way God Planned It
* (1970) Encouraging Words
* (1971) I Wrote a Simple Song
* (1972) Music Is My Life
* (1973) Everybody Likes Some Kind of Music
* (1974) Live European Tour 1973 featuring Mick Taylor on guitar (CD release A&M, 2002)
* (1974) The Kids and Me
* (1975) It's My Pleasure
* (1976) Billy Preston
* (1977) A Whole New Thing
* (1979) Late At Night
* (1981) The Way I Am
* (1982) Pressin' On
* (1984) On the Air
* (1986) You Can't Keep a Good Man Down
* (2001) You and I (featuring the Italian band "Novecento")
* (2004) The Wildest Organ in Town (Re-released on Stateside Records)

Gospel albums

* (1962) Sixteen Years Old Soul
* (1965) Hymns Speak from the Organ
* (1973) Gospel In My Soul (Re-edition of Hymns Speak from the organ)
* (1978) Behold!
* (1980) Universal Love
* (1994) Ministry of Music
* (1995) Minister of Music
* (1996) Words and Music
* (2001) Music From My Heart

Singles

* 1969: "That's the Way God Planned It" - US Pop #62, UK #11
* 1971: "My Sweet Lord" - US Pop #90, US R&B #23
* 1972: "I Wrote a Simple Song" - US Pop #77
* 1972: "Outa-Space" - US Pop #2, US R&B #1, UK #44
* 1972: "That's the Way God Planned It" (re-release) - US Pop #65
* 1972: "Slaughter" - US Pop #50, US R&B #17
* 1973: "Will It Go Round in Circles" - US Pop #1, US R&B #10
* 1973: "Space Race" - US Pop #4, US R&B #1
* 1974: "You're So Unique" - US Pop #48, US R&B #11
* 1974: "Nothing from Nothing" - US Pop #1, US R&B #8
* 1974" "Struttin'" - US Pop #22, US R&B #11
* 1975: "Fancy Lady" - US Pop #71, US R&B #11
* 1977: "Wide Stride" - US R&B #33
* 1978: "Get Back" - US Pop #86
* 1979: "With You I'm Born Again" (with Syreeta Wright) - US Pop #4, UK #2
* 1980: "It Will Come in Time" (with Syreeta Wright) - UK #47
* 1980: "One More Time for Love" (with Syreeta Wright) - US Pop #52
* 1982: "I'm Never Gonna Say Goodbye" - US Pop #88

As a guest/session performer

* (1963) Night Beat (Sam Cooke)
* (1969) Get Back and Don't Let Me Down (The Beatles)
* (1970) All Things Must Pass (George Harrison)
* (1970) John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, piano on "God" (John Lennon)
* (1971) Sticky Fingers (Rolling Stones)
* (1971) The Concert for Bangla Desh (George Harrison And Friends)
* (1971) There's a Riot Goin' On (Sly & the Family Stone)
* (1971) Live at Fillmore West (King Curtis & Aretha Franklin)
* (1971) Barbara Joan Streisand, Billy plays keyboards, drums
* (1972) Exile on Main Street (Rolling Stones)
* (1972) Wind of Change, Billy plays piano, keyboards, harpsichord, accordion (Peter Frampton)
* (1973) Ringo, organ on "I'm The Greatest"
* (1973) Goats Head Soup (Rolling Stones)
* (1974) Goodnight Vienna, clavinet on the title track, electric piano on "Only You (And You Alone)"
* (1974) It's Only Rock'n Roll (Rolling Stones)
* (1975) "You Are So Beautiful" (Joe Cocker's biggest hit)
* (1975) "Blood on the Tracks" (Bob Dylan)
* (1976) Thirty Three & 1/3 (George Harrison)
* (1976) Black and Blue (Rolling Stones)
* (1978) Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (also acted the part "Sgt. Pepper" in the film)
* (1981) Tattoo You (Rolling Stones)
* (1986) "Great Gosh A'Mighty (Been A Long Time Comin')" (co-written with Little Richard - from the hit motion picture 'Down And Out in Beverly Hills'. Little Richard - vocal.)
* (1990) Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band (Billy plays keyboards and vocals)
* (1990) Giovani Jovanotti (Jovanotti) (Billy plays keyboards & Fender Rhodes)
* (1991) ...E La Vita Continua (Nino D'Angelo)
* (1993) Wandering Spirit (Mick Jagger) "Sweet Thing", "Out of Forcus", "Use Me" "Wandering Spirit" and "I've Been Lonely for So Long".
* (1996) "Voyage of Dreams" - Jephté Guillaume and the Tet Kale Orkestra (Billy plays Organ, Strings on Al Di Yo, Go Tell Them, Kanpe, Get Up)
* (1997) Bridges to Babylon (Rolling Stones)
* (1998) Undiscovered Soul (Richie Sambora)
* (2000) The Harsh Light of Day (Fastball) (Billy played keyboards on "You're An Ocean")
* (2001) Songs From The West Coast - Elton John ("Electric organ" on "I Want Love", "The Wasteland"; "Love Her Like Me")
* (2001) Reptile (Eric Clapton)
* (2001) One More Car, One More Rider (Eric Clapton, live) --DVD includes live performance of Will It Go Round in Circles
* (2003) The Colored Section (Donnie) (Billy plays Hammond B3 on the last track: "The Colored Section")
* (2003) Concert for George -- including Isn't It a Pity and My Sweet Lord
* (2003) Get Born (Jet)
* (2004) Me and Mr. Johnson (Eric Clapton) (also appears in the DVD companion Sessions for Robert J)
* (2004) Eric Clapton: Crossroads Guitar Festival (Eric Clapton)
* (2004) Genius Loves Company (Ray Charles)
* (2005) 12 Songs (Neil Diamond)
* (2005) Back Home (Eric Clapton)
* (2005) Choose Love (Ringo Starr)
* (2005) The Concert for Bangladesh (George Harrison and Friends) (Re-mastered version & video)
* (2006) Stadium Arcadium (Red Hot Chili Peppers) (on "Warlocks")
* (2006) The Road to Escondido (J. J. Cale and Eric Clapton)

Wikipedia

"I Am the Walrus" Lyrics

by John Lennon and Paul McCartney

Original Manuscript (1967)

I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together
see how they run like pigs from a gun
see how they fly - I'm crying.

Sitting on a cornflake, waiting for the van to come
corporation t-shirt stupid bloody tuesday man you
been a naughty boy you let your face grow long
I am the eggman - they are the eggmen -
I am the Walrus - Goo Goo Joob.

Mr city policeman sitting pretty little policeman
see how they fly like Lucy in the sky,
see how they run - I'm crying - I'm crying I'm crying

Yellow matter custard, dripping from a dead dog's eye
crabalocker fishwife pornographic policeman boy
you been a lucky girl you let your knickers down
I am the eggman - they are the eggmen
I am the Walrus - Goo Goog Joob.

Sitting in an english garden
waiting for the sun
if the sun don't come you get a tan from standing
in the english rain

As Released by the Beatles (1967)

I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together

See how they run like pigs from a gun, see how they fly
I'm crying

Sitting on a cornflake, waiting for the van to come
Corporation T-shirt, stupid bloody Tuesday
Man you been a naughty boy, you let your face grow long

I am the eggman (goo) they are the eggmen (goo) I am the walrus
Goo goo g'joob

Mr. City policeman sitting pretty little policemen in a row
See how they fly like Lucy in the sky, see how they run
I'm crying - I'm crying (goo), I'm crying, I'm crying

Yellow matter custard, dripping from a dead dog's eye
Crabalocker fishwife, pornographic priestess
Boy, you been a naughty girl, you let your knickers down

I am the eggman (goo) they are the eggmen (goo) I am the walrus
Goo goo g'joob

Sitting in an English garden waiting for the sun
If the sun don't come you get a tan from standing in the English rain

I am the eggman, they are the eggmen, I am the walrus
Goo goo g'joob, g'goo goo g'joob

Expert texpert, choking smokers, don't you think the joker laughs at you?
Ho ho ho, he he he, ha ha ha
See how they smile, like pigs in a sty, see how they snied
I'm crying

Semolina pilchard climbing up the Eiffel Tower
Elementary penguin singing Hare Krishna
Man you should have seen them kicking Edgar Allan Poe

I am the eggman (goo) they are the eggmen (goo) I am the walrus (goo)
Goo goo g'joob, g'goo goo g'joob
Goo goo g'joob, g'goo goo g'joob g'goo

Joob - joob - joob
Joob - joob - joob
Joob - joob
Joob - joob
Umpa, umpa, stick it up your jumper ((joob - joob))
Umpa, umpa, stick it up your jumper.

Everybody's got one, everybody's got one...

Holy Grail Recording #6 - Summertime (1961)

In this series, In The Life Of...The Beatles presents the top 10 unreleased recordings of the Beatles.

In October 1960, Allan Williams arranged a recording session for Lu Walters (bass player from Rory Storm & the Hurricanes) at Akustik Studio in Hamburg, Germany. Backing him that day was the Beatles, including Rory Storm's drummer at the time, Ringo Starr. The cut that the Beatles played on, George Gershwin's "Summertime," may be the first recording ever to feature all four Beatles (John, Paul, George, and future Beatle Ringo; left out were Pete Best and Stuart Sutcliffe, who were also members of the Beatles at the time). When Allan Williams visited the Beatles during the making of Let It Be, he mentioned that he still had an acetate of this recording (unfortunately, he didn't bring it along while the cameras were rolling!). Unfortunately, Williams later lost the disc after leaving it behind it at a pub. It hasn't been seen since, making it perhaps the rarest Beatle recording known to exist. Whether it really still does exist, however, is anybody's guess.

This version by Gene Vincent may be how the Beatles approached the song:



Next installment: June 16

"Mull of Kintyre" Studio Session Footage

Great footage of the overdub session in 1977 for McCartney's "Mull of Kintyre" single:

"Back in the U.S.S.R." Lyrics

by John Lennon and Paul McCartney

As Released by the Beatles (1968)

Oh - flew in from Miami Beach BOAC
Didn't get to bed last night
On the way the paper bag was on my knee
Man I had a dreadful flight.

I'm back in the USSR
You don't know how lucky you are boys
Back in the USSR (yeah).

Been away so long I hardly knew the place
Gee, it's good to be back home
Leave it till tomorrow to unpack my case
Honey disconnect the phone.

I'm back in the USSR
You don't know how lucky you are boy
Back in the US, back in the US, back in the USSR.

Well, the Ukraine girls really knock me out
They leave the West behind
And Moscow girls make me sing and shout
That Georgia's always on my my my my my my my my my mind.

Oh come on!
Wuh - yeah
Ooo yeah
Ooo yeah
Yeah.

Hey, I'm back in the USSR.
You don't know how lucky you are boys
Back in the USSR.

Well, the Ukraine girls really knock me out
They leave the West behind
And Moscow girls make me sing and shout
That Georgia's always on my my my my my my my my my mind.

Oh - show me round the snow-peaked mountains way down south
Take me to your daddy's farm
Let me hear your balalaikas ringing out
Come and keep your comrade warm.

I'm back in the USSR (hey!)
You don't know how lucky you are boy
Back in the USSR.

Oh let me tell you honey
Hey, I'm back
I'm back in the USSR,
Hey, so look at me
Yeah - back in the USSR.
(I'm back!)

Beatle People: Francie Schwartz

Francie Schwartz (born 1944) was an American scriptwriter and the former girlfriend, during the late 1960s, of Paul McCartney, who referred to her as "Franny." At the time, McCartney was engaged to the actress Jane Asher who broke off the engagement when she found them in bed together, although Schwartz claims otherwise. One of the fans who used to hang around McCartney's Cavendish Road house says that "...Paul brought this American girl home...[and a little while later]...another car turned into Cavendish Avenue - it was Jane. She'd come back...earlier than she was supposed to. Jane went into the house. A bit later on she came storming out again and drove away." Later on, Jane's mother arrived to retrieve Jane's things.

White Album

In 1968, intrigued by the Beatles' formation of the Apple Corps which she had read about in the American magazine Rolling Stone, at the age of 23 she went to London to see if one of her scripts was of interest to what she regarded as the "non-establishment." She met the Beatles at a critical point in their development - when they were making the White Album.

Her script was for a film about a street violinist and actor she had met when he was doing his act in front of Carnegie Hall, New York. She thought the story would be perfect for Paul McCartney with the addition of his lyrical and romantic musical melodies. She came to London on 3 April 1968 and a few days later just walked into the reception room of their first office in 95 Wigmore Street, London. This was prior to Apple Corps' move to Savile Row later in 1968. At the time McCartney was standing in conversation with some business contacts. A relationship developed and he later invited her to move in with him at 7 Cavendish Avenue in St John's Wood, London where he was living at the time. McCartney gave her a job working for Derek Taylor, Apple Corps' Public Relations manager, writing press releases for various Apple Corps artists including James Taylor, Mary Hopkin, Badfinger and Jackie Lomax.

She was present, as was Lennon's girlfriend Yoko Ono when the White Album was being recorded when she says she: "was almost always stoned," and that: "the four began to diverge as artists during these sessions." Lennon and Ono came to live at Cavendish Avenue temporarily as guests when Schwartz was living there. Schwartz says that John was upset one morning after finding an insulting note from Paul about Ono, which referred to her as a "Jap tart."

On Sunday, 28 July 1968, in the midst of recording the White Album, the Beatles decided to spend what became known as "A Mad Day Out" being photographed at seemingly random locations in London. Schwartz had the task of picking suitable photographic sites. Veteran war photographer Don McCullin was primary cameraman, with additional photographers Ronald Fitzgibbon, Stephen Goldblatt, Tom Murray, and Tony Bramwell coming along as well. Beatles' assistant Mal Evans also took pictures. Ono and Schwartz were there too and the pictures are now some of the most famous and fascinating color images of The Beatles.

Wikipedia

"Blackbird" rehearsal with Francie in attendance:



"Helter Skelter" acoustic version with Francie providing percussion:

"Here, There and Everywhere" Lyrics

by John Lennon and Paul McCartney

Original Manuscript - "Here, There, and Everywhere" (1966)

To lead a better life, I need my love to be near here

Here,
making each day of the year
changing my life with a wave of her hand,
Nobody can deny that there's something there

There
Running my hands through her hair,
Both of us thinking how good it can be
someone is speaking, but she know he's there doesn't seem to care
want need her everywhere
And if/as long as she's beside me, I know I need never care
But For to love her is to need her everywhere

Knowing that love is to share
Each one believing that love never dies
Watching her eyes and (hoping she's always here [near]
hoping I'm always there) [there]

As Released by the Beatles (1966)

To lead a better life, I need my love to be here.

Here, making each day of the year
Changing my life with a wave of her hand
Nobody can deny that there's something there.

There, running my hands through her hair
Both of us thinking how good it can be
Someone is speaking but she doesn't know he's there.

I want her everywhere
And if she's beside me I know I need never care
But to love her is to need her everywhere.

Knowing that love is to share
Each one believing that love never dies
Watching her eyes and hoping I'm always there.

I want her everywhere
And if she's beside me I know I need never care
But to love her is to need her everywhere.

Knowing that love is to share
Each one believing that love never dies
Watching her eyes and hoping I'm always there.

I will be there and everywhere,
Here, there and everywhere.

Beatle People: Ken Scott

Ken Scott (born 20 April 1947 in London) is an English record producer and recording engineer.

Career

Scott started at the age of 16 working in the tape library at Abbey Road Studios. He became a recording engineer working with such acts as The Beatles, Jeff Beck, Pink Floyd, The Hollies, and Procol Harum. Procol Harum's A Salty Dog was engineered by Ken Scott at Abbey Road Studios in the early Spring of 1969. The album was released on EMI's Regal Zonophone label. When re-issued as a Fly/Cube Records double with A Whiter Shade Of Pale (Procol Harum's first album from 1967) it went to UK chart position of 27, in 1972.

He moved to Trident Studios where he worked with such artists as Elton John, George Harrison, Harry Nilsson, Mahavishnu Orchestra, and America. He went on to produce David Bowie, Supertramp, The Tubes, Dixie Dregs, Devo, Missing Persons, Kansas and Level 42.

More recently Scott has worked with Duran Duran, George Harrison and the George Harrison Estate.

Awards

Scott received a Clio award (for "I'd Like To Buy The World A Coke") and two Grammy nominations.

Wikipedia