I Wrote a Simple Song

I Wrote a Simple Song is the sixth studio album by American soul musician Billy Preston. Released in November 1971, it was his first album for A&M Records and marked the start of a run of commercial success in the United States that lasted through to the late 1970s. The album includes the hit single "Outa-Space", which won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance of 1972. Preston included a live version of the instrumental "The Bus", as part of a medley with the Beatles' "Day Tripper", on his 1974 album Live European Tour.

Recording

I Wrote a Simple Song was Preston's first self-produced album. Preston's friend George Harrison played lead guitar on most of the songs, and supplied dobro accompaniment on the title track. The album continued Preston's inclusion of gospel-themed songs which had started with the 1967 album Club Meeting.

Reception

The instrumental "Outa-Space" won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance in 1973.

Track listing

All songs by Billy Preston and Joe Greene, except where noted.

Side one

1. "Should Have Known Better" – 2:28
2. "I Wrote a Simple Song" – 3:28
3. "John Henry" (Preston, Robert Sam) – 3:15
4. "Without a Song" (William Rose, Edward Eliscu, Vincent Youmans) – 4:57
5. "The Bus" – 3:32

Side two

1. "Outa-Space" – 4:08
2. "The Looner Tune" (Preston, Greene, Jesse Kirkland) – 2:47
3. "You Done Got Older" (Preston, Bruce Fisher) – 3:08
4. "Swing Down Chariot" (traditional; arranged by Preston and Greene) – 4:13
5. "God Is Great" – 3:32
6. "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" (traditional) – 4:27

Personnel

• Billy Preston - vocals, piano, Hammond organ, keyboards
• David T. Walker - electric guitar
• George Harrison - guitar, Dobro
• Manuel Kellough - drums
• King Errisson - congas, percussion
• Rocky Peoples - tenor saxophone
• Carlos Garnette - trumpet
• Quincy Jones - string and horn arrangements
• Clydie King, Douglas Gibbs, Duane Rogers, Eugene Bryant, Jesse Kirkland, Merry Clayton, Myrna Matthews, Patrice Holloway, Sherrell Atwood, Venetta Fields - backing vocals

Technical

• Roland Young - art direction
• Jim McCrary - photography
• Tommy Vicari - engineer

Charts

Year	Album	Chart positions
		US	US R&B
1972	I Wrote a Simple Song	32	9

Singles

Year	Single	Chart positions
		US	US R&B	US Dance
1972	"I Wrote a Simple Song"	77	—	—
	"Outa-Space"	2	1	—
	"The Bus"	—	43	—

External links

• Billy Preston-I Wrote A Simple Song at Discogs