Encouraging Words  by Billy Preston

Billy Preston's Encouraging Words from 1970 is considered one of the top albums of Apple Records, combining the talent of the "5th Beatle" with the production of George Harrison. The album is a vibrant mix of soul, gospel, R&B, funk, and rock.

Recordings for the creation of Encouraging Words started in February 1969 and continued from December 1969 until April 1970, taking place at the famous Trident Studios and Olympic Studios in London. The album was released in Britain on September 11, 1970, and in the USA on November 9, 1970. The production is co-signed by George Harrison and Billy Preston. The album includes the first recordings of two classic Harrison tracks before he released them himself. We are talking about My Sweet Lord and All Things Must Pass (!)

Despite rave reviews, Encouraging Words failed commercially and did not enter the charts of the time. The single "My Sweet Lord" reached only No. 90 in the USA in February 1971. Today it is considered one of the hidden "gems" of Beatles-related discography.