World of Chig   

6.6.06

Ever since we did our 50 Number Ones Project in 2002 (see sidebar), I've always pricked up my ears when I've heard about the death of a number one hitmaker. Sadly, there's another one today, with the death of Billy Preston, who hit number one with the Fab Four and 'Get Back' in 1969. The single was credited to 'The Beatles with Billy Preston'. It was the sixteenth of The Beatles' seventeen chart-toppers, and the only one that credits anyone else with the group. Billy Preston's only other top ten hit was the beautiful 'With You, I'm Born Again', his duet with Syreeta from late 1979, which would have deposed 'Another Brick In The Wall - Part II' from the top spot in January 1980, if The Pretenders' 'Brass In Pocket' hadn't got in the the way, keeping the duo at number 2 for a fortnight instead.

On a personal note, 'Get Back' is the single that was number one when my sister was born in May 1969. That's three of the five musicians who made that single now dead, with only Macca and Ringo left.

In one of those strange twists of fate, Billy Preston also played keyboards on The Beatles' 'Let It Be' (without being credited). 'Let It Be' forms the basis of The Streets' superb new single, 'Never Went To Church', which was released yesterday.


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