Encouraging Words

First released in the UK on 11 September 1970, the album was co-produced by Billy and George Harrison, with two of George's songs - 'All Things Must Pass' and 'My Sweet Lord' - issued here for the first time, two months before his own recordings appeared on the triple album 'All Things Must Pass'. The album was last released on vinyl in 1992. In 2010 Record Collector magazine described 'Encouraging Words' as 'one of the finest titles in the Apple Records catalogue'. As a child prodigy, Billy played organ for the Gospel great Mahalia Jackson, and in 1957 at the age of ten he performed a vocal and organ duet with Nat 'King' Cole on his US television show. In 1962, aged 16 years-old, Billy joined Little Richard's touring band with live dates including a performance in Liverpool, with The Beatles as the opening act.