Billy Price

Born November 10, 1949 in Passaic, NJ, the "East Coast King of blues-eyed soul" & Pittsburgh PA's dynamo Billy Price initially gained notoriety as vocalist on two records by legendary guitarist Roy Buchanan ("That's What I'm Here For" , "Livestock") before creating his own Billy Price and the Keystone Rhythm Band in 1977, which  recorded four critically acclaimed albums over the next 13 years ("Is It Over", "They Found Me Guilty", "Live" & "Free at Last").

In 1990 Price formed the Billy Price Band and released the 50s homage "Danger Zone" for Corona Records. "The Soul Collection" followed before Price enlisted the legendary Swamp Dogg to produce the excellent "Can I Change My Mind", which in addition to a unique take on the title cut included several new songs from Dogg (Jerry Williams).

Currently with Bonedog Records, Price & band have dropped "East End Avenue".

Album Discography

w/ Keystone Rhythm Band (Billy Price)

"Is It Over?" (Green Dolphin 1979)/"They Found Me Guilty" (KRB 1981)

Like the J. Geils Band before them Billy Price & The Keystone Rhythm Band cut their teeth on classic R & B & Bluesy Rock, becoming an exciting live act and building a dedicated fanbase before recording their debut LP "Is It Over?" (** 1/2). The set opens with the pumping Soul "Eldorado Cafe", the lone original on this set of workman-like covers of songs by Jerry "Boogie" McCain, Clarence Carter & O.V. Wright. Price unleashes quite the yearning tenor on the Otis Clay weepie "Is It Over?" but his vocals don't fit as well on Al Green's "Let's Get Married". The record, like it's followup "They Found Me Guilty" (** 1/2), reveals a great bar band with an exceptional front man.  "Guilty" offers more Al Green, Otis Clay & Tyrone Davis covers.

"Billy Price & the Keystone Rhythm Band Live" (Antenna 1984)

**** Price's first live record blows his first two LPs away in terms of passion and energy. Looking back this disc should've been a breakout for Price & band. The Keystone Rhythm Band smokes on this outing with horns blaring and Price testifying with youthful vigor. The styles range from the Philly Soul of "I'm So Glad" to the Staxy Funk of "I'm Sick Y'all" to the forceful Soul/Blues ("I Just Can't Lose The Blues"). Again mostly covers but the LP includes a strong new original "One Man, Two Lovers" and a superior reading of their first crowd favorite "Eldorado Cafe".

"Free At Last" (Antenna 1988) LISTEN

*** It seemed like time Price and band achieved some commercial success and this record seems designed to court such. Occasionally the slick MOR Rock arrangements veer too close to Foreigner territory ("Still Ain't Had Enough") or the clunky, synth-heavy 80s production of Don Henley ("Absolute Love") but the ebullient "Real Time" and the cover of George Jackson's "Slipped, Tripped And Fell In Love" rank amongst the group's best studio work. The latter cut is the only number not co-written by Price and his cohorts. Showing where their heart truly is, "I'm Gonna Win The War" borrows heavily from O.V. Wright's "Ace Of Spades". Listening to it now it's puzzling why this record didn't produce a hit.

"Danger Zone" (Corona 1993)

*** A change of pace for Price has him setting aside the circa 60s Soul/Blues thunder for a faithful set of pre-Rock & Roll R & B from the 1940s/50s. Gone are the acclaimed Keystone Rhythm Band but an aggregation of local musicians provide superb and vintage backing to a selection ranging from T-Bone Walker ("T Bone Shuffle"), to Bobby "Blue" Bland ("Who Will The Next Fool Be"), Bill Haley & The Comets ("Shake Rattle & Roll"), Percy Mayfield ("The Danger Zone"), etc. Price's voice is on point, proving he's one of the best blue-eyed Soul/Blues singers around.

"The Soul Collection" (Corona 1997)

*** I'm not a fan of all cover song projects ("Nilsson Sings Newman" being the exception) and this is Price's second in a row (sans the original "A Man Must Stand For Something") but it's just too good to dismiss. Besides, the deft decision to record some lesser known Soul goodies keeps the record from instant sterility. Displaying exquisite and astute taste he rounds up tracks by the likes of Otis Clay, James Carr, Joe Simon, O.V. Wright, the Soul Sisters, Arthur Alexander, Syl Johnson, etc. The most familiar tracks to me are the three Otis Clay classics: "I Didn't Know The Meaning Of Pain", "I Die A Little Each Day" & "That's How It Is". The latter's a fine duet with the one and only Clay himself. The horn-propelled band (including Ralph Guzzi, Nick Dialoiso, Eric DeFade and Mark Snyder) once again hits all the right grooves.

"Can I Change My Mind?" (Green Dolphin 1999) LISTEN

**** 1/2 It's a supercilious refrain but I can't get the hook of "Crack Crack (When You Coming Back)" outta my brain! But that's typical of Swamp Dogg (Jerry Williams) written and produced material. The Dogg authored 7 of the cuts on this energetic, inspired project. He had some nerve to place a flute in the mix of the title track but the results vindicate his disparate take on Soul music. The track, Tyrone Davis' signature tune, is especially important to Price who was widely praised for his version found on Roy Buchanan's "Livestock" LP. Granted, Dogg's production almost gives the song a festive, Caribbean feel but does anybody really want or need a carbon copy of the Dakar Records sound? That rolling, swaying-side-to-side mid-paced Soul Dogg is also known for is especially effective on the excellent one-two punch of "Mine All Mine All Mine" & "I Know It's Your Party (I Just Came Here To Dance". That said the standouts are the regal slowies "This Magic Hour" and "What is Love (What Makes You Think You Deserve Some)", which squeezes every bit of emotion out of Price's supple voice. Dogg brings out the best of Price whose vocal range is pushed to the limits throughout. This record is inexplicably underrated.

"Sworn Testimony: Billy Price Band Live" (Green Dolphin 2002)

N/R Two-CD live performance at the Ram's Head Tavern, Annapolis, MD, April 2002.

"East End Avenue" (Bonedog 2006) LISTEN

**** The career of Pittsburgh, PA's favorite blue-eyed soulman Billy Price reaches back three decades-plus. His first break came as lead vocalist on Roy Buchanan's "That's What I'm Here For" & "Livestock" in the 70s. After forming Billy Price & The Keystone Rhythm Band and later the Billy Price Band he's gone on to record some 7 records of authentic R & B, most notably the Swamp Dogg-produced "Can I Change My Mind?" in 1999. Now Price has joined the Bonedog Records stable for the excellent "East End Avenue". Co-produced by Price and Jeff Ingersoll, the set boasts 14(!) hard hitting Soul, Blues & R & B numbers lead by a superb gaggle of musicians. Master songwriter Mike Sweeney is credited with the crème de la crème here from the melodic "Soul Sailin'" (great refrain!), Staxy Soul/Blues mover "She Left Me With The Blues" and Beachy "East End Avenue", which could be embraced by those shaggin' Carolinars. Price and Sweeny collaborate on "Funky Like Dyke, Part 2", an homage to Arlester "Dyke" Christian of "Dyke & The Blazers" (the original "Funky Broadway") who was murdered in 1971. Price's Peter Wolf-like vocal and the appropriately stanky rhythm live up to the song's title. The Billy Price Horn Section (Rick Matt, Eric DeFade, Joe Herndon plus Don Donohue, Robbie Klein on 2 cuts) is in great form through out. It's striking what real horns can do for a recording. Price teamed with the ubiquitous Jon & Sally Tiven for five co-writes including the swingin' Blues shuffler "Keep It To Yourself" and the fed-up "Push Me To My Limit".