Billy Preston & Syreeta (Syreeta Wright)

Billy Preston & Syreeta Wright - Billy Preston & Syreeta
Motown M8-958M1 (1981) - US LP
SoulMusic Records SMCR 5106 (2013) - UK CD - Expanded edition with 7 bonus tracks

Side One

1 - Someone Special
2 - Searchin’
3 - Just For You
4 - It’s So Easy
5 - A Long And Lasting Love*

Side Two

6 - Love*
7 - One More Try
8 - Hey You
9 - A New Way To Say I Love You*
10 - What We Did For Love*

Expanded edition bonus tracks

11 - With You I’m Born Again (3:39) - US 7” single
12 - With You I’m Born Again (Instrumental) (5:06) - UK 7” single
13 - Go For It (8:53) - US 12” single
14 - Go For It (3:53) - US 7” single
15 - It Will Come In Time (3:09) - US 7” single
16 - One More Time For Love (3:51) - US 7” single
17 - Please Stay (3:58) - US 7” single

Notes: 1) Original record album was re-released as an extended CD in 2013 with 7 added tracks. 2) According to web sources French pressings of original vinyl LP carried track 11 as an additional track at the closing of side 2. 3) Tracks 11, 15 are two solo singles by Billy Preston & Syreeta. According to web sources these were originally included in the Billy Preston album “Late At Night” on Motown M7-925R1 (US, 1979) although album duration for track 15 was longer, clocking in at 4:57. Reissue notes indicate these as being Billy Preston solo singles. 4) Tracks 11, 12, 13, 14 were originally included in the soundtrack album of the 1979 Jack Smight motion picture “Fast Break”. 5) Tracks 16, 17 are two solo singles by Syreeta. According to web sources these were originally included in the Syreeta album “Syreeta” on Tamla T7-372R1 (US, 1980). 6) According to web sources, bass players on bonus tracks are as follows: Eddie N. Watkins, Jr. (11, 13), Ray Brown (12), Abe Laboriel (14). 7) In the original album notes, mixing credits for Michael Schuman and Ollie E. Brown are not track-by-track specified. 8) On CD reissue some of the producing and tech credits for bonus tracks are bundled together in a somewhat confusing layout. These have been verified and attributed according to web sources.

Original LP Credits

Billy Preston - Vocals, Piano Solo, Melodica Solo, Background Vocals
Syreeta Wright - Vocals, Background Vocals (as Syreeta)
Leland Sklar - Bass (5, 6, 9, 10)
Nathan Watts - Bass (as Nathan Lamar Watts)
Ollie E. Brown - Drums, Percussion
Rick Shlosser (as Rick Schlosser) - Drums (5, 6, 9, 10)
Ray Parker, Jr. - Guitar
Paul M. Jackson, Jr. - Guitar, Guitar Solo
Melvin “Wah-Wah Watson” Ragin - Guitar (as Melvin “Wah-Wah” Ragin)
Tim May - Acoustic Guitars, Electric Guitars
John Barnes - Keyboards, Synthesizers
Michael Boddicker - Synthesizers
Michael Masser - Piano
Randy Goodrum - Piano
James Brown - Saxophone Solo, Flute Solo
Gary Coleman - Vibes (as Gary L. Coleman)
Eddie Brown - Congas (as Eddie “Bongo” Brown)
J.D. Nicholas - Background Vocals
Arnell Carmichael - Background Vocals
James A. Carmichael - Background Vocals
Josie James - Background Vocals
Lynn Davis - Background Vocals
Deborah Thomas - Background Vocals
Sylvia Cox - Background Vocals
Jim Gilstrap - Background Vocals
Becky Lopez - Background Vocals
Linda Dillard - Background Vocals
Ginger Blake-Schackne - Background Vocals

Produced by Ollie E. Brown for Brown Sugar Productions (1, 2, 3, 7, 8)
Produced by Michael Masser (5, 6, 9, 10)
Produced by David Shire & Carol Connors (4)
Tony Jones - Executive Producer (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
Suzanne Coston - Executive Producer (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)

Ollie E. Brown - Rhythm Arrangements (1, 2, 3, 7, 8), Background Vocal Arrangements (1, 2, 3, 7, 8)
Sylvester Rivers - Rhythm Arrangements (3, 8)
Barry Fasman - Rhythm Arrangements (5, 6, 9, 10)
Michael Masser - Rhythm Arrangements (5, 6, 9, 10)
David Shire - Rhythm Arrangement (4), String Arrangement (4)
Gene Page - String Arrangements (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
Jerry Hey - Horn Arrangements (1, 2, 3, 7, 8)
Arnell Carmichael - Background Vocal Arrangements (1, 2, 3, 7, 8)
Jim Gilstrap - Background Vocal Arrangements (1, 2, 3, 7, 8)
Harry Bluestone - Concertmaster (1, 2, 3, 7, 8)

Michael Schuman - Recording Engineer, Mixing Engineer
Russ Terrana - Recording Engineer, Mixing Engineer (4, 5, 6, 9, 10)
Ollie E. Browwn - Mixing Engineer
Bobby Brooks - Additional Vocal Engineering
Barney Perkins - Additional Vocal Engineering
Tony Autore - Assistant Engineer
Steve Catania - Assistant Engineer
Tom Cumming - Assistant Engineer
Fred Law - Assistant Engineer
Virginia Pallante - Assistant Engineer

Recording Studios:
Motown/Hitsville U.S.A. Recording Studios
Ameraycan Studios
Kendun Recorders

Mixing Studios:
Motown/Hitsville U.S.A. Recording Studios
Ameraycan Studios
Kendun Recorders

Cheryl R. Brown - Production Assistance (1, 2, 3, 7, 8)

Management: de Passe & Jones // 6255 Sunset Boulevard, // 18th Floor // Hollywood, California 90028

Johnny Lee - Art Direction
Terry Taylor - Design
Harry Langdon - Photography

Expanded Edition Additional Credits

Produced by James Di Pasquale & David Shire for Regal Productions, Inc. (11, 12, 13, 14)
Produced by Billy Preston (15)
Produced by Jerry Peters for Mecca West Productions Inc. (16)
Produced by David Shire & Billy Preston (17)
Suzanne de Passe (as Suzanne DePasse) - Executive Producer (11, 12, 13, 14)
Tony Jones - Executive Producer (11, 12, 13, 14)

David Shire - Arrangement (17)

F. Byron Clark - Engineer (11, 12, 13, 14), Mixing Engineer (11, 12, 13, 14)

David Nathan - Reissue Producer
Alan Wilson (www.western-star.co.uk) - Digital Remastering Engineer
Sharon Davis - Notes (June 2013)
Roger Williams (www.whinfellmedia.co.uk) - Artwork & Design

“(Selected quotes from “Motown: The History” published in 1988 by Guinness Books)”.

Album:
“Billboard R&B Albums #48/Top 200 Albums #127”.

Track 2:
“Single “Searchin’/Hey You” (1981)”.

Track 8:
“Single “Searchin’/Hey You” (1981)”.

Track 11:
“US Motown 7” single M 1477F”.
“From the album “Fast Break” Motown M7-915-R1”.
“Single “With You I’m Born Again/All I Wanted Was You” (Billy Preston solo) (1979)”.
“Billboard R&B Singles #86/Hot 100 #4/Adult Contemporary #2”.

Track 12:
“UK Motown 7” single TMG 1139”.
“Single “Go For It/With You I’m Born Again (Instrumental) (1979)”.
“Billboard Dance Music/Club Play Singles #80”.

Track 13:
“US Motown 12” single M 00016D1”.

Track 14:
“US Motown 7” single M 1460F”.
“Single “Go For It/With You I’m Born Again (Instrumental) (1979)”.
“Billboard Dance Music/Club Play Singles #80”.

Track 15:
“US Motown 7” single M 1470F”.
“Single “It Will Come In Time/All I Wanted Was You” (Billy Preston solo) (1979)”.

Track 16:
“US Tamla 7” single T 54312 F”.
“Single “One More Time For Love/Dance With Me Children” (Syreeta solo) (1980)”.
“Billboard R&B Singles #72/Hot 100 #52”.

Track 17:
“US Tamla 7” single T 54319 F”.
“Single “Please Stay/Signed Sealed Delivered (I’m Yours)” (Syreeta solo) (1980)”.

“Special Thanks From Soulmusic Records // (David Nathan and Michael Lewis) // Sharon Davis for great notes; Carol Connors and Jim Gilstrap for insightful comments and quotes; Harry Weinger at Universal Music (US), Kevin Phelan, Johnny Chandler, Linda Collin and staff at Universal Music (UK) for supporting us in marketing this great music available again and Tony Bisogno at Universal Music (US) for invaluable project assistance. // Adam, Paul, Jon R., Dave, Matt I., Eddy, Rob, Matt B., Richard, Jon S., Ricky, and all the team at Cherry Red for all you do in making SoulMusic Records a first class reissue label; // Alan Wilson, for exceptional mastering and Roger Williams, for great artwork; // to all the hardworking journalists and radio broadcasters whose devotion and passion for soul music is unparalleled - thank you for keeping the soul flag a-flyin’! // To the thousands of soul music lovers the world over who have been our rock at Soul Music.com since 2000 - you make it all worthwile! // Thank you to our Soul Music.com facebook group for input and support. // SoulMusic Records is dedicated to bringing you the music you love!”.

“Join The SoulMusic Community (TSMC) and check out The SoulMusic Hall Of Fame at // www.soulmusic.com // The Ultimate Destination for Soul Music”.

Songwriters:
Billy Preston
Syreeta Wright
Greg Beck
Keith Boyd, Jr.
Ollie E. Brown
Carol Connors
Gerry Goffin
Randy Goodrum
Michael Masser
Michael McGloiry
Renee Moore
David Shire
Allee Willis
Lauren Wood
Additional Songwriters on Expanded Edition:
Billy Preston
Carol Connors
Jerry Peters
David Shire

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source/pic: my records
vinyl LP cat #: the web