I Wrote a Simple Song (song)

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2018}}

{{Use American English|date=July 2018}}

{{Infobox song

| name = I Wrote a Simple Song

| cover = File:Outa-space single.jpg

| alt =

| caption = French picture sleeve

| type = single

| artist = Billy Preston

| album = I Wrote a Simple Song

| B-side = "Outa-Space"

| released = December 20, 1971{{cite book|last1=Castleman|first1=Harry|last2=Podrazik|first2=Walter J.|title=All Together Now: The First Complete Beatles Discography 1961–1975|publisher=Ballantine Books|location=New York, NY|year=1976|isbn=0-345-25680-8|page=[https://archive.org/details/alltogethernowfi0000cast/page/109 109]|url=https://archive.org/details/alltogethernowfi0000cast/page/109}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Soul, rock

| length = 3:28

| label = A&M

| writer = Billy Preston, Joe Greene

| producer = Billy Preston

| prev_title = My Sweet Lord

| prev_year = 1970

| next_title = Slaughter

| next_year = 1972

}}

"I Wrote a Simple Song" is a song by American soul musician Billy Preston that was first released as the title track to his album of the same name in November 1971. It was written by Preston and his regular collaborator, Joe Greene.{{cite AV media notes|title=I Wrote a Simple Song/Music Is My Life|others=Billy Preston|year=2011|type=CD booklet, song credits|publisher=BGO Records}} The song was also Preston's first single on A&M Records, following the end of his tenure on the Beatles' Apple record label. In the United States, it peaked at number 77 on the Billboard Hot 100.{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/billy-preston/chart-history/hsi/|title=Billy Preston 'I Wrote a Simple Song' Chart History|publisher=billboard.com|accessdate=July 19, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/billy-preston-mn0000590285/awards|title=Billy Preston: Awards|publisher=AllMusic|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120820023549/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/billy-preston-mn0000590285/awards|archive-date=August 20, 2012|accessdate=July 19, 2018}} Radio programmers there soon favored the B-side, the instrumental "Outa-Space", which had been Preston's choice for the lead side.{{cite web|first=Ed|last=Hogan|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/outa-space-mt0005775489|title=Billy Preston 'Outa-Space'|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=July 19, 2018}} "Outa-Space" became a breakthrough US hit for Preston and his first RIAA-certified gold single.{{cite book|first1=Patricia|last1=Romanowski|first2=Holly (eds.)|last2=George-Warren|title=The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll|publisher=Fireside/Rolling Stone Press|location=New York, NY|year=1995|isbn=0-684-81044-1|pages=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonee00patr/page/n803 786]–87|url=https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonee00patr|url-access=registration}} The single was released in Britain on January 21, 1972.

The recording features a guest appearance from Preston's Apple producer, George Harrison, on dobro,{{cite book|last=Leng|first=Simon|title=While My Guitar Gently Weeps: The Music of George Harrison|publisher=Hal Leonard|location=Milwaukee, WI|year=2006|isbn=978-1-4234-0609-9|pages=108–09}} and an orchestral arrangement by Quincy Jones.{{cite AV media notes|first=John|last=Tobler|title=I Wrote a Simple Song/Music Is My Life|others=Billy Preston|p=4|year=2011|type=CD booklet|publisher=BGO Records}} The song serves as an example of Preston's continuing association with Harrison after the Beatles' break-up, despite his departure for A&M. Its release followed Preston's well-received performance of "That's the Way God Planned It" at Harrison's Concert for Bangladesh shows on August 1, 1971, which had raised Preston's public profile.{{cite web|first=Richard S.|last=Ginell|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/the-concert-for-bangladesh-bonus-track-mr0001442252 |title=George Harrison The Concert for Bangladesh [Bonus Track]|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=July 19, 2018}}