ROCK Sex: "You Are So Beautiful" - Billy Preston > Dennis Wilson > Joe Cocker

ROCK Sex says you are so bountiful.

Billy Preston is known as 'the fifth Beatle' and 'the sixth Stone', but who knew he was an adjunct Beach Boy?

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In 1974, Billy jammed with Beach Boy Dennis Wilson at a party, and their ad-lib became the song, "You Are So Beautiful".

BILLY PRESTON -"You Are So Beautiful" (1974)



Later that year, Joe Cocker transformed it into his signature song.

JOE COCKER -"You Are So Beautiful" (1974)



For the next eight years, until his untimely death, Dennis Wilson closed out Beach Boys concerts with the ballad.



© Tym Stevens

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See Also:

• BEATLESQUE Songs: 1969-esque, with Music Player!

• BRIAN WILSON-esque: All The Songs Imitating His BEACH BOYS Music Styles!, with 3 Music Players!

• FUNK, The True History: 1970-1974, with 3 Music Players!


• The Real History of Rock and Soul!: The Music Player Checklist

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ROCK Sex: All over, "Baby Blue"! - Gene Vincent > Bob Dylan > Badfinger > Beach Boys > Topley Bird

ROCK Sex says, 'it's all over the place, Baby Blue!'

We've seen how an act inspires another, or a song is reinterpreted by generations. But this time the relay baton is a song title. Here's the example of how many great songs have come from the title "Baby Blue".

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Rockabilly hellcat GENE VINCENT smoothes us into that mood indigo with this classic:

GENE VINCENT AND THE BLUE CAPS -"Baby Blue" (1958)


And here's this vocal group doing a love serenade:

THE ECHOES -"Baby Blue" (1961)



Bob Dylan always liked the title of Gene Vincent's song and worked it into this evergreen diatribe. The song's lyrics and snarling edge are pure Punk in Folk form.:

BOB DYLAN -"It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" (1965)



Rock's most under-appreciated wizards Badfinger made this power pop classic:

(Note: the song took on significant new meaning and popularity in the finale episode of "Breaking Bad" [2013].)

BADFINGER -"Baby Blue" (1972)



In the finest tradition of The Beach Boys, The Raspberries, or 10cc, here's CHILLIWACK with another vocal beauty:

CHILLIWACK -"Baby Blue" (1976)



Not to be outdone, Dennis Wilson shines on this ethereal and unsung ballad recorded by The Beach Boys:

THE BEACH BOYS -"Baby Blue" (1979)



Here's a fine soulful song from Martina Topley Bird:

MARTINA TOPLEY BIRD -"Baby Blue" (2008)




Bringing us full circle, here's The White Stripes covering Gene Vincent's original:

THE WHITE STRIPES -"Baby Blue" (live, 2002)




© Tym Stevens

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See Also:

• Revolution 1950s: The Big Damn Bang of Rock'n'Roll!


• BEYOND COOL: Badfinger, the Beatles of the 1970s!, with Music Player!

• BRIAN WILSON-esque: All The Songs Imitating His BEACH BOYS Music Styles!, with 3 Music Players!

• "I Want You!" - The Troggs, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Marvin Gaye, Cheap Trick, Elvis Costello +


• The Real History of Rock and Soul!: The Music Player Checklist

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