I Wrote A Simple Song | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 8 November 1971 (US) 14 January 1972 (UK) | |||
Recorded | February, August–September 1971 | |||
Studio | A&M (Hollywood) | |||
Genre | Soul, rock | |||
Length | 40:03 | |||
Label | A&M | |||
Producer | Billy Preston | |||
Billy Preston chronology | ||||
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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.
I Wrote a Simple Song was Preston's first self-produced album.[1] Preston's friend George Harrison played lead guitar on most of the songs,[1] 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.
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [2] |
The instrumental "Outa-Space" won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance in 1973.[3]
All songs by Billy Preston and Joe Greene, except where noted.
Side one
Side two
Year | Album | Chart positions[4] | |
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US | US R&B | ||
1972 | I Wrote a Simple Song | 32 | 9 |
Year | Single | Chart positions[4] | ||
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US | US R&B |
US Dance | ||
1972 | "I Wrote a Simple Song" | 77 | — | — |
"Outa-Space" | 2 | 1 | — | |
"The Bus" | — | 43 | — |