DESCRIPTION:
I Wrote a Simple Song is the sixth studio album by Billy Preston. Released in 1971, this was his first for A&M Records.

Reception

This album continued Preston's inclusion of gospel-themed songs which had started with the 1967 album Club Meeting. Preston's friend George Harrison supplied dobro accompaniment on the title track.
The instrumental "Outa-Space" won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance in 1973. It was also one of the clarion calls for the coming importance of the synthesizer in popular music.

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

"Should Have Known Better" -- 00:00
"I Wrote a Simple Song" -- 02:27
"John Henry" (Preston, Robert Sam) -- 05:50
"Without A Song" (William Rose, Edward Eliscu, Vincent Youmans) -- 09:06
"The Looner Tune" (Preston, Joe Greene, Jesse Kirkland) -- 14:06
"The Bus" -- 16:47
"Outa-Space" -- 20:08
"You Done Got Older" (Preston, Bruce Fisher) -- 24:15
"Swing Down Chariot" (trad arr by Preston and Greene) -- 27:18
"God Is Great" -- 31:31
"My Country, 'Tis of Thee" (trad) -- 35:00

Personnel:

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