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