Record #0242: Will It Go Round In Circles / Blackbird – BILLY PRESTON

AM 1411 (original) USA, Feb. 1973
Words & Music by:  Side A – Billy Preston, Bruce Fisher; Side B – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Musicians: Billy Preston (vocals and keyboards), George Johnson (guitar), Louis Johnson (bass), Manuel Kellough (drums), George Bohanon, Jim Horn, Paul Hubinon, Tom Scott & Buck Monari (horns), Hubert Head (keyboards), others unknown
Recording sessions: Produced by Billy Preston in Hollywood (?), CA, 1972
Highest chart positions:  US #1, US R&B #10, UK #52

Preston was a session musician (e.g. with the Beatles) for about seven years before really starting his solo career in 1969. He had already released six albums before that, with a moderate success in US R&B Album charts, but things really started to build up after the release of his 1969 single “That’s the Way God Planned It” (US #62, UK #11) and the album of the same name, featuring guest musicians such as Ginger Baker, Eric Clapton, George Harrison and Keith Richards (on bass).

This single was Preston’s first US #1 hit. The flip is a McCartney song.

I just had to include this live performance, too. Is this 70’s stuff or what? :)

List price:  Very Good+ is $2, Near Mint is $4