Movie Review: Billy Preston—That’s the Way God Planned It

4.5 stars out of 5

Turns out I didn’t know much about Billy Preston. I knew he was referred to as “the fifth Beatle.” I knew that song, “Nothing From Nothing.” I recently learned, after a viewing that I enjoyed much more than you might expect, that he has a very cool scene in the Bee Gees’ Sgt. Pepper movie. Hell, his performance of “Get Back” was one of the reasons I bought the soundtrack! (I get a little obsessive about certain things.) And possibly I thought he was in a musical duo with Marilyn McCoo. (Wrong Billy.)

Now I know a lot more about Billy Preston! I’m not going to tell you most of it, because learning all these cool facts is a real benefit of watching this excellent documentary. Which I suggest you do, and the less you know about Mr. Preston, the more you’ll enjoy it.

I will say that he began at a very young age in the gospel world, as a Hammond B3 organ prodigy. And because the doc doesn’t mention it, I will say that one of the interviewees, Gloria Jones who young Billy was in a gospel group with, is the artist who sang the original version of “Tainted Love.” And was Marc Bolan’s girlfriend! (Hey, somebody should make a Gloria Jones documentary!) She’s just one of several great interviews in the doc, which also includes Ringo Starr, the since-passed Sam Moore, and wow you have to give credit to any filmmaker (here, director Paris Barclay) who makes Eric Clapton come off as super likable. (Oh, and slightly randomly, my college classmate Billy Porter is in there too. Another “wrong Billy” mixup?)

Preston’s life does follow the we’ve-seen-it-before arc of rise to greatness, excesses of fame, drop-off in popularity, and personal struggles. But the fact that he never liked talking about himself adds a very compelling angle to the story. Those close to him — bandmates, managers, friends — recall many memories, good and bad, and try to piece together the puzzle that was Billy Preston.

And yes, after watching the movie, I purchased a Billy Preston compilation. I get a little obsessive about certain things.