Customer Reviews

20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection

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Billy Preston didn't release a big mountain of music, but he hung out with the big boys of Rock during the late '60's and '70's, became the only man credited with playing on a Beatle's LP (even Clapton's great solo on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" went unacknowledged) and released a series of jumping singles that sound as fresh today as they did 30 years ago.

What surprised me after all these years was how many of these tunes I knew but had never realized were written/played by Preston. The instrumental "Outa-Space" sounds like it was pulled off an old Average White Band record (or the soundtrack to the old animated Cosby show "Fat Albert"). And who knew that Billy Preston wrote "You Are So Beautiful"?

The two big hits, "Will It Go Round In Circles" and "Nothing From Nothing" are first class Pop, but Preston's true shining moment was "That's The Way God Planned It." A truly great song.

With the passing of Billy Preston last night June 6,2006 after a long illness.Rock and Roll has lost another link to it's past.Billy Preston played with some of the greatest Rock bands in history like The Rolling Stones and The Beatles.He became a vital part of the music scene in the 60's and 70's.Often referred to as "The Fifth Beatle",Billy played in many of their songs.He was well respected and loved by many artists.In 1971,former Beatle George Harrison assembled Preston and some of the greatest musicians of the day,to make the landmark concert/film "THE CONCERT FOR BANGLADESH".Billy continued on for many years playing,collaberating music with several artists.His last effort was a album/DVD he did with Eric Clapton,that paid tribute to the late blues legend Robert Johnson.Billy Preston made his mark in the music scene,stood the test of time,from frontman to icon.Billy Preston will be greatly missed by many who knew him to be a beautiful soul,who spoke to the world through his music.

We miss you, Man! And I'll bet The Lord has a huge grin on His face, listening to you play organ with the assembled Saints In Glory. Back here on earth, though, THIS "Greatest Hits" repackaging DOES do you right, Billy...

BILLY PRESTON-THE MILLENNIUM COLLECTION: Child prodogy, sideman to the superstars, 70s hit maker, master showman...all this and more applied to multi-talented, underrated soul-shaker BILLY PRESTON. Playing keyboards behind legends like MAHALIA JACKSON, LITTLE RICHARD, and his idol RAY CHARLES at a young age, he soon graduated to sublime session work on landmark albums such as ABBEY ROAD, EXILE ON MAIN STREET, and THE CONCERT FOR BANGLADESH. His rollicking freakazoid instrumentals OUTA-SPACE and SPACE RACE proved huge hits, as did WILL IT GO ROUND IN CIRCLES and NOTHING FROM NOTHING, playful combos of funk, RNB, and pop rock. THE MILLENNIUM COLLECTION rounds up all these classics plus his gospel-drenched anthem THAT'S THE WAY GOD PLANNED IT, PRESTON's original version of YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL (a smash for JOE COCKER), and whispery romantic ballad WITH YOU I'M BORN AGAIN, all showcasing the man's softer side. Never confined to one or two genres, BILLY PRESTON made a helluva joyous sound and the millions who listened in always smiled with him.

RATING: FOUR GAP-TOOTHED GRINS

Awesome to listen to while driving, working on my knitting projects or just unwinding after a busy day at work!

That CD has Billy Preston's best hits. I love nothing from nothing and outa space.