Billy Price — “Person of Interest” — Little Village
Billy Price is indeed a person of interest to me. Being a native Pittsburgher myself (it was New Jersey native Price’s adopted hometown), I’ve had the good fortune to know him and listen to his soulful music for much of the half-century-plus that he’s been a Pittsburgh institution.
I’ve seen him perform with the Keystone Rhythm Band, the Billy Price Band, and in small groups with just a keyboard or combo behind him. I’ve seen how he packed venues around Pittsburgh with appreciative fans. I’ve watched him perform tough, rocking shows with the Nighthawks. I’ve enjoyed seeing him joyously paired with his greatest musical influence, legendary soul man Otis Clay. I remember when he had hair!
In addition to his performing, Price is a knowledgeable fan and articulate advocate for the music he loves, with its deep, wide roots in American music. He has always paid tribute to those roots by performing and recording covers of songs by his favorite — always soulful — artists.
What makes “Person of Interest” more interesting, besides all the great music, is that: “This is the first time I tried to do an album with exclusively my own material, and I think it holds up very well.” Very well, indeed. This West Coast session with a group of crackling bandmates shows off Price’s still vigorous pipes that have ripened with age (he’s 74), displaying a smooth depth and richness.
The album opens in a funky vein with “Inside the Box” punctuated by a horn section that stomps relentlessly through the session. “Song I Never Heard Before” has an upbeat R&B flair with a lyric that pleads for music that does more than revisit its own past. “She Checks All the Boxes” is full-throated praise for a woman who, yes, checks all the boxes for a meaningful relationship.
The slow-burning “Mercy” is an emotional highlight, a throwback to an ’80s Price song that never made it past live shows onto an album, with its testifying vocals and passionate tenor solo by Eric Spaulding, a member of Price’s regular band. The title track follows, a funky soul/blues take on that crime-show phrase turned into a watchful eye on a cheating lover.
“Can’t Get Enough” is another pulsating dance track with an obvious theme: “I can’t get enough of my woman, she’s a hungry man’s dream.” Guitarist Joe Bonamassa guests on “Change Your Mind,” a tribute to Roy Buchanan, with whom Price recorded in the 1970s. Bonamassa captures the flavor of Buchanan’s stinging guitar style on this dramatice rendering.
“They Knew” is a sturdy vintage Price song, reworked for this album, “A Certain Something” has an easy-going Latin feel. “The Gift” is a smoothly turned-out soul-blues ballad about a painful financial relationship, with a striking guitar solo by Shane Theriot: “I’m the gift that keeps on giving but all you ever do is take.”
“Crying at the Stoplight” romps through Price’s musings about why a woman in the car next to his at a stoplight appeared to be so unhappy. “I Lose It (When I’m In Love)” is a gentle, rhythmic ballad – sweet soul music at its best. The strong closer adds punchy horns to a funkified “Damage Control” with Price stepping out on vocals and another sensuous sax solo from Spaulding.
The entire session benefits greatly from the expert musical cast assembled by Little Village. Musicians include: bass – Larry Fulcher, James Fulch and Reggie McBride, guitar – Josh Sklair and Shane Theriot, lead guitar – Joe Bonamassa, keyboards – Jim Pugh, drums – Tony Braunagel (who also produced), tenor and baritone sax – Ron Dziubla, tenor solo – Eric Spaulding, trumpet – Mark Pender and percussion – Lenny Castro. Background vocals are by Maxayn Lewis, Fred White and Will Weaton (full credits for each song on the track list below).
“Person of Interest” is Billy Price at his soulful best, creating original heartfelt stories from his own life. If you’ve never experienced this Pittsburgh musical treasure and soul survivor, you owe it to yourself to give him a try. If you’re already a fan, you know what I’m talking about. Either way, enjoy it soon. And often.
Here’s a very thorough and interesting interview with Billy Brice by Michael Limnios at Blues.gr.
Here’s another informative interview with music writer Scott Mervis at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Here’s “She Checks All the Boxes” from the album:
Tracklist and credits:
Billy Price, Person of Interest
Tracks recorded 10/17/23–10/20/23 at Ultratone Studios, Studio City, California
Produced by Tony Braunagel
Engineered and Mixed by Johnny Lee Schell
1. Inside That Box (4:32) Writers: Billy Price (50%), Jim Britton (50%)
Publishers: Overpriced Music, BMI, 50%; Zella Ru Music, 50%
Bass – Larry Fulcher, Guitar – Josh Sklair, Keyboards – Jim Pugh, Drums – Tony Braunagel, Background Vocals – Maxayn Lewis, Fred White, Will Wheaton, Tenor and Baritone Saxophone – Ron Dziubla, Trumpet – Mark Pender, Percussion – Lenny Castro
2. Song I Never Heard Before (4:24)
Writers: Billy Price (34%), Fred Chapellier (33%), Anthony Braunagel (33%)
Publishers: Overpriced Music, BMI, 67%; Toe Knee Music, ASCAP, 33%
Bass – James “Hutch” Hutchinson, Guitar – Josh Sklair, Keyboards – Jim Pugh, Drums – Tony Braunagel, Background Vocals – Maxayn Lewis, Fred White, Will Wheaton, Percussion – Lenny Castro
3. She Checks All the Boxes (4:07)
Writers: Billy Price (25%), Jim Britton (50%), Anthony Braunagel (25%)
Publishers: Overpriced Music, BMI, 25%; Zella Ru Music, BMI, 50%; Toe Knee Music, ASCAP, 25%
Bass – Reggie McBride, Guitar – Shane Theriot, Keyboards – Jim Pugh, Drums – Tony Braunagel, Background Vocals – Maxayn Lewis, Fred White, Will Wheaton, Tenor and Baritone Saxophone – Ron Dziubla, Trumpet – Mark Pender, Tenor Solo – Eric Spaulding, Percussion – Lenny Castro
4. Mercy (5:38) Writers: Billy Price (50%), Mike Karr (50%)
Publishers: Overpriced Music, BMI, 100%
Bass – Larry Fulcher, Guitar – Josh Sklair, Keyboards – Jim Pugh, Drums – Tony Braunagel, Tenor and Baritone Saxophone – Ron Dziubla, Trumpet – Mark Pender, Tenor Solo – Eric Spaulding
5. Person of Interest (4:44)
Writers: Billy Price (50%), Jim Britton (50%)
Publishers: Overpriced Music, BMI, 50%; Zella Ru Music, 50%
Bass – Reggie McBride, Guitar – Shane Theriot, Keyboards – Jim Pugh, Drums – Tony Braunagel, Tenor and Baritone Saxophone – Ron Dziubla, Trumpet – Mark Pender, Percussion – Lenny Castro
6. Can’t Get Enough (3:39)
Writers: Billy Price (50%), Jim Britton (50%)
Publishers: Overpriced Music, BMI, 50%; Zella Ru Music, 50%
Bass – Larry Fulcher, Guitar – Josh Sklair, Guitar Solo – Johnny Lee Schell, Keyboards – Jim Pugh, Drums – Tony Braunagel, Background Vocals – Maxayn Lewis, Fred White, Will Wheaton, Tenor and Baritone Saxophone – Ron Dziubla, Trumpet – Mark Pender, Percussion – Lenny Castro
7. Change Your Mind (in memory of Roy Buchanan) (5:31)
Billy Price featuring Joe Bonamassa
Writers: Billy Price (50%), Jim Britton (50%),
Publishers: Overpriced Music, BMI, 50%; Zella Ru Music, 50%
Bass – Larry Fulcher, Guitar – Josh Sklair, Keyboards – Jim Pugh, Drums – Tony Braunagel, Tenor and Baritone Saxophone – Ron Dziubla, Trumpet – Mark Pender, Lead Guitar – Joe Bonamassa
8. They Knew (4:34)
Writers: Billy Price (34%), Jon Tiven (33%), Sally Young (33%)
Publishers: Overpriced Music, BMI, 34%; Uncontrolled Compositions, BMI, 33%; Full Rate Music, ASCAP, 33%
Bass – James “Hutch” Hutchinson, Guitar – Josh Sklair, Guitar Solo – Johnny Lee Schell, Keyboards – Jim Pugh, Drums – Tony Braunagel, Tenor and Baritone Saxophone – Ron Dziubla, Trumpet – Mark Pender, Percussion – Lenny Castro, Lead Guitar – Johnny Lee Schell
9. A Certain Something (3:41)
Writers: Billy Price (25%), Jon Tiven (25%), Sally Young (25%) Anthony Braunagel (25%)
Publishers: Overpriced Music, BMI, 25%; Uncontrolled Compositions, BMI, 25%; Full Rate Music, ASCAP, 25%; Toe Knee Music, ASCAP, 25%
Bass – Larry Fulcher, Guitar – Josh Sklair, Keyboards – Jim Pugh, Drums – Tony Braunagel, Background Vocals – Fred White, Tenor and Baritone Saxophone – Ron Dziubla, Percussion – Lenny Castro
10. The Gift (3:55)
Writers: Billy Price (50%), Jim Britton (50%)
Publishers: Overpriced Music, BMI, 50%; Zella Ru Music, 50%
Bass – Reggie McBride, Guitar – Shane Theriot, Keyboards – Jim Pugh, Drums – Tony Braunagel, Tenor and Baritone Saxophone – Ron Dziubla, Trumpet – Mark Pender, Percussion – Lenny Castro
11. Crying at the Stoplight (4:48)
Writers: Billy Price (50%), Jim Britton (50%)
Publishers: Overpriced Music, BMI, 50%; Zella Ru Music, 50%
Bass – Reggie McBride, Guitar – Shane Theriot, Keyboards – Jim Pugh, Drums – Tony Braunagel, Tenor Saxophone – Ron Dziubla, Trumpet – Mark Pender, Percussion – Lenny Castro
12. I Lose It (4:07)
Writers: Billy Price (50%), Jim Britton (50%)
Publishers: Overpriced Music, BMI, 50%; Zella Ru Music, 50%
Bass – Reggie McBride, Guitar – Shane Theriot, Keyboards – Jim Pugh, Drums – Tony Braunagel, Percussion – Lenny Castro
13. Damage Control (4:31)
Writers: Billy Price (25%), Jim Britton (50%), Anthony Braunagel (25%)
Publishers: Overpriced Music, BMI, 25%; Zella Ru Music, BMI, 50%; Toe Knee Music, ASCAP, 25%
Bass – Reggie McBride, Guitar – Shane Theriot, Keyboards – Jim Pugh, Drums – Tony Braunagel, Background Vocals – Maxayn Lewis, Fred White, Will Wheaton, Tenor and Baritone Saxophone – Ron Dziubla, Trumpet – Mark Pender, Tenor Solo – Eric Spaulding
Blues Roadhouse 