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Spirit in the Sky
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Spirit in the Sky
| cover = Norman Greenbaum - Spirit in the Sky.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Norman Greenbaum
| album = Spirit in the Sky
| B-side = Milk Cow
| released =
| recorded = 1968
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length = 4:02
| label =
| writer = Norman Greenbaum
| producer = Erik Jacobsen
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title =
| next_year =
| misc =
}}
"'Spirit in the Sky'" is a song by American singer-songwriter Norman Greenbaum, originally written and recorded by Greenbaum and released in late 1969 from the album of the same name. The single became a gold record, selling two million copies from 1969 to 1970, and reached No. 3 on the US 'Billboard' Hot 100 where it lasted for 15 weeks in the Top 100. 'Billboard' ranked the record the No. 22 song of 1970.Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1970 It also climbed to No. 1 on the UK, Australian and Canadian charts in 1970. 'Rolling Stone' ranked "Spirit in the Sky" No. 333 on its list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Cover versions by Doctor and the Medics and Gareth Gates have also made the No. 1 spot in the UK.
The song is also known for being one of the top one-hit wonders of all time.
Original version by Norman Greenbaum
"Spirit in the Sky" makes several religious references to Jesus, although Greenbaum himself is Jewish. In a 2006 interview with 'The New York Times', Greenbaum told a reporter he was inspired to write the song after watching Porter Wagoner singing a gospel song on TV. Greenbaum said: "I thought, 'Yeah, I could do that,' knowing nothing about gospel music, so I sat down and wrote my own gospel song. It came easy. I wrote the words in 15 minutes."
Greenbaum had previously been a member of psychedelic jug band Dr. West's Medicine Show and Junk Band. When they split up he won a solo contract with producer Erik Jacobsen for Reprise Records. Jacobsen had previously worked with The Lovin' Spoonful and the song was included on Greenbaum's first solo album. The song's arrangement came together in the studio in San Francisco where lead guitarist Russell DaShiell, bass player Doug Killmer from the band Crowfoot and drummer Norman Mayell from the band Sopwith Camel worked with Greenbaum. According to 'The New York Times' article, Greenbaum used a Fender Telecaster guitar with a fuzz box built into the body to generate the song's characteristic guitar sound.
The resulting sound was an "oddly compelling" combination of gospel and hard rock music, with loud drums, distorted electric guitar, clapping hands, and tambourines. The production team brought in the Stovall Sisters, an Oakland-based gospel trio, to sing backing vocals. Because of the song's length and lyrics, the record company was initially reluctant to issue it, but it was finally released as a single after two other singles from the album had poor sales. "Spirit in the Sky" became a worldwide hit, and was at the time the best-selling single ever for the Reprise label.
There is a music video with Greenbaum singing the song.
About the song, Greenbaum has been quoted as saying, "It sounds as fresh today as when it was recorded. I've gotten letters from funeral directors telling me that it's their second-most-requested song to play at memorial services, next to 'Danny Boy'."
The song was featured in the soundtrack to the 2013 film 'This is the End' and was included in the soundtrack for the 2014 film 'Guardians of the Galaxy'.
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
Doctor and the Medics version
{{Infobox song
| name = Spirit in the Sky
| cover = Doctor and the Medics - Spirit in the Sky.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Doctor and the Medics
| album = Laughing at the Pieces
| B-side = Laughing at the Pieces
| released =
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length = 3:28
| label =
| writer = Norman Greenbaum
| producer = Craig Leon assisted by Cassell Webb
| prev_title = The Miracle of the Age
| prev_year = 1985
| next_title = Burn
| next_year = 1986
}}
In June 1986, Doctor and the Medics reached No. 1 in the UK singles chart with their version of the song, where it spent three weeks at the top, while the same year punk band Fuzzbox released their own less successful version. In New Zealand, the song reached No. 2 on the RIANZ Singles Chart, while in Canada, it peaked at No. 1 for a week and was the fifth-highest-selling single of 1986. The song has been certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and platinum by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA).
Charts
Weekly chartsYear-end charts
Certifications
Gareth Gates (with the Kumars) version
"Spirit in the Sky" served as the first single from 'Pop Idol' runner-up Gareth Gates' second studio album, 'Go Your Own Way'. The single was released on March 14, 2003, and was the official 'Comic Relief' charity single for 2003. The song features guest vocals from the Kumars. The song peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Gates' fourth number-one single. Gates' version has been certified platinum by BPI in the UK.
Track listing
'UK CD1'# "Spirit in the Sky" (with the Kumars)
# "Dance Again"
# "Spirit in the Sky"
# "Spirit in the Sky" (video)
'UK CD2'
# "Spirit in the Sky" (with the Kumars)
# "Will You Wait for Me?"
# Interview with Gareth Gates
'UK cassette single'
# "Spirit in the Sky" (with the Kumars)
# "Dance Again"
# "Will You Wait for Me?"
'UK DVD single'
# "Spirit in the Sky" (video)
# Making of "Spirit in the Sky" (video)
# "Dance Again" (video)
# Interview with the Kumars (video)
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
Other versions
A version by Dorothy Combs Morrison reached No. 99 on 'Billboard'
Nina Hagen recorded two versions of the song, one in English and one in German. Each was released in 1985 on the same language version of her album 'Nina Hagen in Ekstasy'. Both were also released as singles.
In 2013, Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman revealed that he recorded a demo of the song in November 1985 and had sent it to a film company for the prospective use in a new film. The demo cassette was not returned and Doctor and the Medics' version was released in June of the following year.Bill Wyman (2013) 'Bill Wyman's scrapbook'. 'Accompanying audio CD'.
Canadian rock musician Sam Roberts released a version of the song as part of his 2015 EP 'Counting the Days.'
See also
* List of 1970s one-hit wonders in the United States
References
Category:1969 singles
Category:1970 singles
Category:1986 singles
Category:2003 singles
Category:Gareth Gates songs
Category:Norman Greenbaum songs
Category:Cashbox number-one singles
Category:UK Singles Chart number-one singles
Category:Number-one singles in Scotland
Category:Number-one singles in Germany
Category:Number-one singles in Australia
Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles
Category:Comic Relief singles
Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles
Category:19 Recordings singles
Category:Bertelsmann Music Group singles
Category:RCA Records singles
Category:Reprise Records singles
Category:Syco Music singles
Category:Songs about death
Category:Songs about Jesus
Category:1969 songs
Category:Song recordings produced by Erik Jacobsen
Category:Gospel songs
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