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.

The song was created by Preston improvising while calling out chord changes to the backing band.

[1] 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.

[1] However, radio DJs began flipping the single and, while "I Wrote a Simple Song" only reached #77 on the Billboard Hot 100,[2] "Outa-Space" peaked at #2, showing that Preston's feelings about it were correct.

[1] A version with vocals, entitled "All Spaced Out," was performed on an episode of The Midnight Special on August 31, 1973.