You Are So Beautiful by Joe Cocker

Album: I Can Stand a Little Rain (1974)

Charted: 5

License This Song

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

This Billy Preston/Bruce Fisher song was first recorded by Preston 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 slower arrangement for Cocker's cover.

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.
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 "Beautiful" became the A-side.
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.

Comments: 11

Travis Shelton from TexasLyrics should have "such joy you bring" and "heavens gift to me"
J. C. from San BernardinoNo one sang this song with Billy Preston's emotion.
Janice from FloridaWhy do the lyrics on this page not include the true second verse to this song? I've also found that most "lyric" devoted webpages also don't include the second verse. This is such a beautiful song, it's a shame that most people don't realize there is a second verse. Billy Preston's original on the 1974 album "The Kids and Me" includes the 2nd verse. The video of Joe singing it above is just one version of the song. To hear him sing it with the 2nd verse, Google "Joe Cocker- You Are So Beautiful (Live at Montreux 1987)".

The. Words to the 2nd verse are:
Such joy and happiness you bring
Such joy and happiness you bring
Like a dream
A guiding light that shines in the night
Heavens gift to me
You are so beautiful to me.
Barry from Sauquoit, Nyhttp://www.oldiesmusic.com/news.htm
John Robert "Joe" Cocker died Monday (December 22) of lung cancer at his Colorado home at the age of 70. Born in Sheffield, England, he formed a skiffle group there at the age of 16 and one year later began performing in British pubs- eventually opening for the Rolling Stones. By 1964 he earned a brief contract as a solo artist with Decca Records to little success. He continued on though, and in 1968 recorded a #1 tune in England with his version of the Beatles' "With A Little Help From My Friends" (#68- US). Joe was asked to perform at Woodstock and afterwards, "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window" from his second album earned him his first American hit (#30-1970). Joe's "Mad Dogs And Englishmen" tour yielded a live album and a #7 single- a cover of the Box Tops' "The Letter" in 1970. Other hits included "Cry Me A River" (#11-1970), "Feeling Alright" (#33-1972) and the Billy Preston composition, "You Are So Beautiful" (#5) in 1975. His biggest American hit was a duet with Jennifer Warnes, "Up Where We Belong", from the movie "An Officer And A Gentleman" (#1-1982), which the two performed at the Academy Awards. Joe is remembered by many from John Belushi's imitations on television's "Saturday Night Live" and the two famously performed together on the show in 1976.
May he R.I.P.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn January 5th 1975 "You Are So Beautiful" by Joe Cocker entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; and on March 23rd it peaked at #5 (for 2 weeks) and spent 17 weeks on the Top 100...
It was track seven from his 4th studio album, "I Can Stand A Little Rain", and the album also produced another Top 100 hit, "Put Out The Light", it reached #46...
Mr. Cocker, born John Robert Cocker, will celebrate his 70th birthday in four months on May 20th.
Joel from Vallejo, Caamazing song. i'm gonna have this played at my wedding.
Lisette from The Hague, NetherlandsKenny Rogers has covered this song and is one of his top hits.
Lalah from Wasilla, AkMarge sings this song to Homer in a Simpson episode. Who says a voice has to be pretty in order to sing? Joe Cocker rasps out the blues and then croons in this just to prove that it's the feeling an artist brings to the song that makes it. Marge Simpson is kind of a female Cocker when it comes to raspy voices singing the blues.
Thomas from Somerville, AlNOBODY, I said NOBODY can do this song like JC!!
Oldpink from New Castle, InAlmost nothing to it, and yet Joe's rasping vocals somehow make this so incredibly touching.
It really is a paradox how someone with what no one would consider a pretty singing voice can make something that excels not despite the vocal deficiency, but BECAUSE of it.
Great stuff, and definitely a nice one to listen to as you put your arms around the love of your life.
Karen from La Crosse , WiJust the most beautiful love song ever!

see more comments

More Songfacts:

The Great PretenderThe Platters

The Pretenders are named after the 1956 song "The Great Pretender" by The Platters.

Harry Patch (In Memory Of)Radiohead

Radiohead's "Harry Patch (In Memory Of)" is about the last surviving World War I veteran to fight in the trenches.

Dixie ChickenLittle Feat

The Dixie Chicks got their name from the Little Feat song "Dixie Chicken." In 2020 they became "The Chicks" because Dixie refers to the American South in times of slavery.

In The Air TonightPhil Collins

"In The Air Tonight" by Phil Collins was revived when it was used in the first episode of Miami Vice, three years after it was released.

How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By YouMarvin Gaye

"How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You" by Marvin Gaye was inspired by Jackie Gleason's saying, "How Sweet It Is!"

Mrs. RobinsonSimon & Garfunkel

The Simon & Garfunkel song "Mrs. Robinson" was originally called "Mrs. Roosevelt," most likely after First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. The title was changed when it was considered for use in the film The Graduate, where Anne Bancroft's character is Mrs. Robinson.