BILLY PRESTON Encouraging Words (Unique Test Pressing for the 1970 UK 13-track LP by the 'fifth Beatle', scheduled for release on September 11 1970 on Apple Records, recorded in London with George Harrison & guest starring George, RingoStarr, Eric Clapton, Klaus Voormann, various members of Delaney & Bonnie plus The Temptations & Sam & Dave's band. Includes the Lennon-McCartney penned 'I've Got A Feeling' as well as the earliest released versions of Harrison's 'All Things (Must) Pass' & 'My Sweet Lord' [George famously sued for plagiarism a few months after this song was released!]. The labels are plain white & the B-side label is annotated with the artist name & a reference to 'Track 6' [All Things Must Pass], with the Apple catalogue number 'SAPCOR-14' & 'A-1U/B-1U' matrices stamped in the run-outs. Housed in an Apple Recordings company inner, this incredibly rare Apple label test pressing was obtained from the private collection of the late British song arranger Johnny Arthey, whose string arrangements for this album remain uncredited to this day. Only a small select handful of these would have been made for sonic review purposes before the official release, never intended for sale to the general public. With no other test pressings known to exist, the vinyl remains nice & clean & in Excellent condition with just a few minor spindle marks & the odd faint hairline not affecting play. Preston was famously the only non-Beatle musician to be given a credit on a Beatles recording at the band's request - Backed with great provenance, this is a superb find for the dedicated Apple/Fabs collector & a true one-off SAPCOR14)