Joe Cocker – You Are So Beautiful

A beautiful song by Joe Cocker. It was written by Billy Preston and Bruce Fisher. Billy’s inspiration was his mom. The song was on Preston’s on his 1974 album The Kids and Me and was the B-side of his hit single “Nothing From Nothing.” Producer Jim Price created a slow arrangement for Cocker’s cover. The song was on Cocker’s album was on  I Can Stand a Little Rain.

This was originally released as the B-side of “Put Out the Light,” which was the first single from the album. After a few weeks, A&M Records flipped the songs, and “You Are So Beautiful” became the A-side.

You Are So Beautiful peaked at #5 in the Billboard 100 in 1975. The song is beautiful and the slowed down tempo fits Joe Cocker’s voice perfectly. It is one of those songs that is instantly recognizable.

From Songfacts

This Billy Preston/Bruce Fisher song was first recorded by Preston 

Fisher was Preston’s songwriting partner and he co-wrote both of Preston’s American chart-toppers, “Will It Go Round In Circles” and “Nothing From Nothing.”

This is one of the more romantic songs out there, but Billy Preston wrote it as a tribute to his mother, a fact that embarrassed Sam Moore, half of the soul duo Sam & Dave, who often performed the tune to attract girls. After bragging to Preston about his exploits with the song, Preston finally set him straight. “You never understood after that how stupid I felt,” Moore told BBC Radio 4 in 2010. Moore still recorded it for his 2006 solo album, Overnight Sensational, with Preston on keyboards and Eric Clapton and Zucchero on guitar.

Legend surrounding “You are So Beautiful” claims that Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys helped Preston complete it. Wilson received no songwriting credits but he sang this song for many years at Beach Boys concerts.

This was used in the 1993 movie Carlito’s Way and in the 1981 film Modern Romance.

Cocker sang this at Billy Preston’s funeral in 2006.

This is one of the most-recognized songs in America, but it didn’t crack the chart in Joe Cocker’s native UK.

You Are So Beautiful

You are so beautiful
To me
You are so beautiful
To me
Can’t you see

You’re everything I hope for
You’re everything I need
You are so beautiful to me
You are so beautiful to me

You are so beautiful
To me
Can’t you see
You’re everything I hope for
You’re every, everything I need
You are so beautiful to me

Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player.

17 thoughts on “Joe Cocker – You Are So Beautiful”

      1. Me neither.That surprised me. Would have liked to heard McCartney do it. Seems like it’ s just me but I have to say I don’ t like Joe C’s voice. But it’s quite a good song

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  2. I didn’t appreciate this song until I was an adult. It really is lovely. I never knew who wrote it, but wouldn’t have guessed Billy Preston. (The youtube video that is showing up for me is the BeeGees’ How Deep Is Your Love. Must be some odd glitch.)

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    1. Wow… this was in my pending…not spam and the date is two days ago!
      I didn’t know that Preston wrote it either…Yes I had to replace the link to the video…I don’t know how I messed that one up.

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  5. Never would have thought this was for a son singing about his mother. Max what you said was well-said about how it suits Joe’s voice. I love his music and the passion he puts into all of his music.

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    1. It is a great song….We lost our Saint Bernard…Molly of 9 years in November. Aren’t they the best? In Spring we are looking for another one…they are just wonderful.

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