Billy preston and disco

[remicks]

*****

Because I think Billy Preston’s early 70’s work should be included as compositions that moved music toward disco …. It is then therefore disappointing to me to not be able to find later works by him …..during the disco era .... that demonstrated his own evolution of carrying his sound into this genre . Would love it , if one of our classics from the era had been one featuring him going wild on the organ/ piano/clavinet ....
( I haven’t heard all of his later 70’s music …. I know he released albums then ....so maybe there is some disco therein ? Anybody ?? :-?)

However …. By coincidence , in the soundtrack bins at Rasputin’s in Berkeley this week …. I unexpectedly found something ! :D

--- The soundtrack to the basketball themed movie FASTBREAK (1979 ) ... The entire LP features Billy Preston and Syreeta doing vocals.
including a couple of disco numbers, especially a song called GO FOR IT (DISCO)
At 8:53 long , it is a 100% disco tune.8)

Music by David Shire it features Kenny Burke on organ and Melvin "Wah Wah " Ragin on guitar

To be continued ….

*****

[Bernie]

Only thing I have by Billy Preston during the Disco era is...

http://www.discomusic.com/records-more/2021_0_2_0_C/

[DISCODISK]

*****



--- The soundtrack to the basketball movie FASTBREAK (1979 ) ... The entire LP features Billy Preston and Syreeta on vocals.
including a couple of disco numbers, especially a song called GO FOR IT (DISCO)
At 8:53 long , it is a 100% disco tune.8)

yes REMICKS great track great on 12" pressed in the uk on yukkie brown vinyl to resemble a baseball:icon_mrgreen: i think this was generally overlooked at the time maybee too fast? but it was a monster in northern soul clubs
now my favourite...tucked away on the b.side of the u.s follow up to go for it 'with you im born again' [nov 79] was ALL I WANTED WAS YOU, again a very fast cut, showing what billy could do vocally and includes a great line 'as free as a bird in flight,no-ones clipping my wings tonight!'
also released in the u.k 3 months later again tucked away:-o on the b.side of billy and syreetas it will come in time,great song

[QUINNY]

Billy's Bag, an uptempo, semi-latin, hammond groover was always a favourite in the late '60's going into the '70s. That used to keep the floor happy.

[totouk]

I have a 12" called Give It Up, Hot which I think was from around 1979 and may have been from a soundtrack. It's white label so I have no other details that I can recall, other than I liked it at the time.

toto

[Disco Funk]

Here's a link to some Youtube videos of Billy Preston:

Billy Preston

The performance of Outa Space was taken from the Kenny Rogers variety show. I have it on DVD. If you look carefully, you can spot the Brothers Johnson on guitar and bass. BTW, they're not playing live, just mimicking to the studio track.

Disco Funk

[SandraDee]

'Just For You' by Billy Preston & Syreeta is a fabulous funky disco track from '81; it was very under-rated at the time. I implore any early 80s boogie-lovers to check it out.:razz:

[remicks]

****
Anybody familiar with this one????

From 1981 on Motown :



Would like to hear his version of KEEP ON TRUCKIN" .....produced by Hal Davis (LOVE HANGOVER / DON'T LEAVE ME THIS WAY)

as well as Billy's version of Sam Cooke's A CHANGE IS GONNA COME

Well, the whole LP reads interesting ...Gene Page , Van McCoy ...

here's the content from discogs:

Tracklisting:


A1 Hope (5:17)
Producer - Paul Jabara
Producer, Arranged By - Bob Esty
Written-By - Bob Esty , Paul Jabara

A2 Good Life Boogie (4:17)
Arranged By - David Blumberg
Co-producer [Associate Producer] - Arthur G. Wright* , Hal Davis , Russ Terrana
Producer - Billy Preston
Written-By - Billy Preston

A3 Keep On Truckin' (4:26)
Producer - Hal Davis
Producer, Arranged By - Arthur G. Wright*
Written-By - Anita Poree , Frank Wilson , Leonard Caston

A4 A Change Is Gonna Come (3:56)
Producer - Billy Preston
Producer, Arranged By - Marty Paich
Written-By - Sam Cooke

B1 Lay Your Feelings On Me (4:22)
Arranged By - Gene Page
Co-producer - Suzee Ikeda
Producer - Berry Gordy
Written-By - Helen Lewis , Kay Lewis

B2 I Won't Mistreat Your Love (3:57)
Arranged By - David Blumberg
Co-producer [Associate Producer] - Arthur G. Wright* , Hal Davis , Russ Terrana
Saxophone [Alto Saxophone Solo] - Herman Riley
Written-By - Billy Preston , Bruce Fischer

B3 Baby I'm Yours (3:18)
Arranged By - David Blumberg
Producer - Billy Preston , David Shire
Written-By - Van McCoy

B4 Until Then (3:35)
Co-producer [Associate Producer] - Russ Terrana
Producer, Arranged By - Billy Preston
Written-By - Billy Preston , Jesse Kirkland , Joe Greene

B5 The Way I Am (4:56)
Producer - Billy Preston , David Paich
Producer, Arranged By - Marty Paich
Written-By - David Paich



....... very interesting indeed ...
.............particularly that first cut !!! :icon_confused::icon_biggrin: :icon_biggrin: :icon_mrgreen: :icon_question: :icon_idea:


*****

[SandraDee]

I never knew Billy worked with Paul Jabara.

[remicks]

I never knew Billy worked with Paul Jabara.

:icon_biggrin::icon_cool:

Ladies And Gentlemen

Paul Jabara and Bob Esty together bring you

Billy Preston :



with a sort of energized WITH YOU I'M BORN AGAIN PT.2 .... concept


****

[RobbaDobba]

There was an EXCELLENT instrumental version of "Go For It"...on par with, and similar in sound to Ashford and Simpson's "Bourgie Bourgie"

[70spop]

A1 Hope (5:17)
Producer - Paul Jabara
Producer, Arranged By - Bob Esty
Written-By - Bob Esty , Paul Jabara

A2 Good Life Boogie (4:17)
Arranged By - David Blumberg
Co-producer [Associate Producer] - Arthur G. Wright* , Hal Davis , Russ Terrana
Producer - Billy Preston
Written-By - Billy Preston

A3 Keep On Truckin' (4:26)
Producer - Hal Davis
Producer, Arranged By - Arthur G. Wright*
Written-By - Anita Poree , Frank Wilson , Leonard Caston

A4 A Change Is Gonna Come (3:56)
Producer - Billy Preston
Producer, Arranged By - Marty Paich
Written-By - Sam Cooke

B1 Lay Your Feelings On Me (4:22)
Arranged By - Gene Page
Co-producer - Suzee Ikeda
Producer - Berry Gordy
Written-By - Helen Lewis , Kay Lewis

B2 I Won't Mistreat Your Love (3:57)
Arranged By - David Blumberg
Co-producer [Associate Producer] - Arthur G. Wright* , Hal Davis , Russ Terrana
Saxophone [Alto Saxophone Solo] - Herman Riley
Written-By - Billy Preston , Bruce Fischer

B3 Baby I'm Yours (3:18)
Arranged By - David Blumberg
Producer - Billy Preston , David Shire
Written-By - Van McCoy

B4 Until Then (3:35)
Co-producer [Associate Producer] - Russ Terrana
Producer, Arranged By - Billy Preston
Written-By - Billy Preston , Jesse Kirkland , Joe Greene

B5 The Way I Am (4:56)
Producer - Billy Preston , David Paich
Producer, Arranged By - Marty Paich
Written-By - David Paich



....... very interesting indeed ...
.............particularly that first cut !!! :icon_confused::icon_biggrin: :icon_biggrin: :icon_mrgreen: :icon_question: :icon_idea:


*****

First cut. Last cut. And many in between!! :icon_eek: Wow! That's an impressive and varied list of writers, arrangers and producers. If it lives up to its promise, that should be a good, if schizophrenic , album.

Brian

[SandraDee]

:icon_biggrin::icon_cool:

Thanx remmy. Billy's got a big disco ball there hasn't he?!