Outa-Space

{{For|the Mellow Trax song|Outa Space}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Outa-Space

| cover = File:Outa-space single.jpg

| caption = French picture sleeve

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Billy Preston

| album = I Wrote a Simple Song

| A-side = I Wrote a Simple Song

| released = December 20, 1971

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Funk, psychedelic soul

| length = 4:10

| label = A&M

| writer = Billy Preston, Joe Greene

| producer = Billy Preston

| prev_title = My Sweet Lord

| prev_year = 1970

| next_title = The Bus

| next_year = 1972

| misc = {{External music video|header=Official Audio|{{YouTube|uQaS9kJc-O4|"Outa-Space"}}}}

}}

"Outa-Space" is an instrumental recorded by Billy Preston that originally appeared on his 1971 A&M Records-debut album, I Wrote a Simple Song. To create the primary instrumental sound, Preston played a clavinet through a wah wah pedal. The song was created by Preston improvising while calling out chord changes to the backing band. He later added organ and hand claps. Preston named the song "Outa-Space" for the instrumental's spacy sound.{{cite web|first=Ed|last=Hogan|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/outa-space-mt0005775489|title=Billy Preston 'Outa-Space'|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=July 19, 2018}}

While he thought it would be a hit, A&M was skeptical and issued it as the B-side of "I Wrote a Simple Song" in December 1971. However, radio DJs began flipping the single and, while "I Wrote a Simple Song" only reached #77 on the Billboard Hot 100,{{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|access-date=July 19, 2018}} "Outa-Space" peaked at #2, showing that Preston's feelings about it were correct.

A version with vocals, entitled "All Spaced Out," was performed on an episode of The Midnight Special on August 31, 1973.{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0PLCH0TYB0&t=2255s | title=Ep 31 – the Midnight Special | August 31, 1973 | website=YouTube | date=24 November 2023 }}