When you get a reputation as a sideman extraordinaire, it can be tough to garner attention for the music you make on your own. You might think that dilemma would have bedeviled Billy Preston as much as anyone, so accomplished and acclaimed was he as a session man for some of the most famous acts in rock.
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But Preston shook free from that stigma numerous times during his solo heyday in the early 1970s. He hit the top of the pop charts a couple of times on his own, including with the irresistibly funky “Nothing from Nothing,” released as a single in 1974.
Friend of Beatles … and Many More
Well before he ever became one of the most in-demand session keyboardists in the music world, Billy Preston released a solo album. That 1963 record showcased his prodigy status, as you can tell by the title: 16 Yr. Old Soul. His solo career largely went on hiatus for several years after that, as he began to make the rounds as a session man while also joining Ray Charles’ backing band.
Going where the musical action was, Preston made his way to London at the end of the decade. That’s where he happened upon a breakout moment, joining The Beatles for their Let It Be sessions. George Harrison initiated the idea, in large part because he knew the genial Preston would lighten up the tense sessions. His work on songs like “Let It Be” and “Get Back” played an integral part in that record.
Preston would also play often with The Beatles’ main rivals for British rock supremacy, The Rolling Stones, as well as many other luminaries. But he was way too talented to simply be a supporting player. The Beatles realized that and signed him to their Apple Records label for his 1969 album That’s the Way God Planned It.
A Song about “Nothing”
Preston’s ability to meld funk, gospel, soul, and rock into his musical stew helped set him apart in the early ’70s. He put together a streak where he released mega-successful singles from four consecutive albums in that era. Few artists managed breakthrough success with instrumental songs like Preston did with tracks like “Outa-Space” and “Space Race.”
By 1974, he was no longer at Apple, but the success kept rolling for him at A&M. On his album from that year, The Kids & Me, he recorded the first version of “You Are So Beautiful,” which he wrote with songwriting partner Bruce Fisher and would become a big hit for Joe Cocker.
But Preston wasn’t just giving away massive singles from that album; he was releasing them as well. “Nothing From Nothing” evolved from the fact he simply liked the title phrase and thought it would be the good foundation for a song. He also thought that his use of a saloon-style piano would help it pop. Preston was right on both counts, as “Nothing From Nothing” became his second No. 1 single.
What is “Nothing From Nothing” About?
Although the lyrics are mostly a lark, “Nothing From Nothing” sends a message from the narrator to a prospective relationship partner that substance is required if they’re going to have a future together: Nothin’ from nothin’ leaves nothin’ / You gotta have somethin’ if you want to be with me.
Preston and Fisher do a great job keeping the lyrics playful and unpredictable. Consider this irreverent couplet: I’m not tryin’ to be your highness / ‘Cause that minus is too low to see. He also tells her, I’m a soldier in the war on poverty, an out-of-left-field declaration that will keep you guessing.
Ultimately, what distinguishes “Nothing From Nothing” is the instrumental interplay, as well as Billy Preston’s effervescent ease as a frontman. That’s right, as a frontman, as he proved time and again throughout his career that he was far more than a cog in the wheel. He was right at home as the hub as well.
Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images
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