Outa-Space
"Outa-Space" is a funk and rhythm and blues instrumental composed by American musicians Billy Preston and Joe Greene and performed by Preston, originally released as the B-side to his single "I Wrote a Simple Song" in 1971 and featured on his sixth studio album, I Wrote a Simple Song, issued by A&M Records in November 1971.[1] The track is characterized by its innovative use of a Hohner Clavinet D6 keyboard run through a wah-wah pedal and echo effects, creating a distinctive, space-themed groove that Preston improvised during recording sessions while directing chord changes to his band.[2] Upon its release as a standalone single in April 1972, "Outa-Space" quickly rose on the charts, debuting at number 90 on the Billboard Hot 100 and eventually peaking at number two for one week on July 8, 1972, while spending a total of 17 weeks on the chart; it also topped the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for one week on June 18, 1972.[3] The song's commercial success marked a breakthrough for Preston as a solo artist, certified gold by the RIAA for sales exceeding 500,000 copies in the United States, and it reached number 44 on the UK Singles Chart.[4] Critically acclaimed for its infectious rhythm and experimental sound, "Outa-Space" earned Preston the Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance at the 15th Annual Grammy Awards in 1973, highlighting his prowess as a keyboardist and composer during the early 1970s soul and funk era.[5] The track's enduring legacy includes covers by artists such as Prince in an unreleased version and its sampling or interpolation in later hip-hop and electronic music, as well as appearances in films like the 1973 TV movie Go Ask Alice and various media soundtracks.[2] Preston, who had previously gained prominence as a session musician for The Beatles and others, used "Outa-Space" to showcase his transition to a leading figure in popular music, blending gospel roots with futuristic sonic elements that influenced subsequent instrumental hits in the genre.[1]Background and development
Inspiration and writing
The creation of "Outa-Space" stemmed from Billy Preston's improvisational style during a studio session for his 1971 debut album I Wrote a Simple Song on A&M Records. Preston generated the track's distinctive sound by routing a Hohner Clavinet through a wah-wah pedal, creating an otherworldly, funky tone that defined the instrumental. He then led an impromptu jam by calling out chord changes in real-time to his backing band, allowing the groove to emerge organically without prior composition.[4][6] The song's title, "Outa-Space," directly reflected this experimental keyboard effect, evoking a "spacy" quality that aligned with the era's fascination with cosmic and futuristic motifs in soul and funk music. This space-themed aesthetic was part of a broader trend in 1970s Black music, where artists explored astral and sci-fi imagery to expand sonic boundaries beyond traditional structures. Preston's approach captured that innovative spirit, turning a spontaneous experiment into a Grammy-winning hit for Best Pop Instrumental Performance in 1973.[4][7] Songwriting credits for "Outa-Space" are shared between Billy Preston and Joe Greene, Preston's frequent collaborator and producer on the album. Although the track is entirely instrumental with no vocals, Greene's contribution likely involved shaping the arrangement or conceptual elements, as was common in their partnership; he co-wrote several Preston songs, including hits like "Will It Go Round in Circles." This collaboration underscored Greene's role in refining Preston's raw improvisations into polished recordings.[8]Context in Preston's career
Billy Preston's early career was marked by his emergence as a child prodigy in the gospel music scene, where he began playing piano at age three and directed a church choir by age nine at the Victory Baptist Church in Los Angeles.[9] By his early teens, he had toured with gospel legends Mahalia Jackson and the Reverend James Cleveland, and appeared on The Nat King Cole Show at age 11, laying the foundation for his versatile keyboard skills rooted in gospel traditions.[10] In 1962, at age 16, Preston joined Little Richard's touring band as an organist, an experience that introduced him to rock and R&B audiences and led to his first encounter with the Beatles, who opened for Little Richard in Hamburg.[9] He later contributed to Ray Charles's 1966 hit "Let's Go Get Stoned" and Sam Cooke's 1963 album Night Beat, solidifying his reputation as a sought-after sideman in the soul and R&B worlds.[10] These high-profile collaborations culminated in Preston's pivotal role with the Beatles during their 1969 Let It Be sessions, where he played organ on "Get Back" and was credited as the band's temporary fifth member, boosting his visibility in rock circles.[9] Following this, Preston released his Apple Records albums That's the Way God Planned It (1969) and Encouraging Words (1970), which featured contributions from George Harrison and showcased his budding songwriting, but he sought greater artistic control amid the label's instability.[10] In 1970, he signed with A&M Records, marking a deliberate shift from sideman to bandleader and allowing him to explore more personal, funk-infused material.[9] Preston's A&M debut, I Wrote a Simple Song (released November 8, 1971), represented this transition, blending his gospel heritage with emerging funk elements to position him as a solo force in the early 1970s soul scene.[10] The album's instrumental track "Outa-Space" exemplified Preston's experimentation with cosmic, groove-driven funk, drawing on his improvisational style while diverging from his church-rooted compositions to capture the era's innovative soul sound alongside artists like Sly and the Family Stone.[9] Released as the B-side to his single "I Wrote a Simple Song" in early 1972, it served as a breakthrough, bridging his past collaborations and paving the way for subsequent hits like "Will It Go Round in Circles" in 1973, which further established his solo stardom.[10][11]Production
Recording process
The recording of "Outa-Space" took place at A&M Studios in Hollywood, Los Angeles, during the sessions for Billy Preston's 1971 debut album for the label, I Wrote a Simple Song.[9][12] The track emerged from an unplanned jam session, with Preston overseeing production himself to capture its raw, improvisational essence.[9][12] Central to the track's distinctive "spacy" sound was Preston's use of a Hohner Clavinet routed through a wah-wah pedal, which produced the funky, oscillating riff that drives the instrumental.[13] This was layered with Hammond organ swells and rhythmic hand claps, creating a layered, cosmic texture without extensive overdubs.[14][12] In the studio, Preston directed the band live, calling out chords on the spot to maintain momentum and energy, resulting in the basic tracking being completed in a single take to preserve the jam-like immediacy.[9][12] This approach emphasized the track's organic flow, with the engineer ensuring the tape rolled to document the unplanned magic as it unfolded.[9]Personnel
Billy Preston performed on keyboards, including Hohner Clavinet and Hammond B3 organ, for the instrumental track "Outa-Space," while also serving as producer and arranger.[15] The rhythm section consisted of Louis Johnson on bass guitar, Manuel Kellough on drums, and King Errisson on congas.[16] Guitar contributions came from David T. Walker and a guest appearance by George Harrison on lead guitar.[17] Engineering was handled by Tommy Vicari as part of A&M Records' in-house team.[17] The track was co-written by Preston and Joe Greene, though Greene did not perform on it.[15]| Role | Personnel |
|---|---|
| Keyboards, Producer, Arranger | Billy Preston |
| Bass Guitar | Louis Johnson |
| Drums | Manuel Kellough |
| Congas | King Errisson |
| Guitar | David T. Walker |
| Lead Guitar (Guest) | George Harrison |
| Engineer | Tommy Vicari |