The archetypal one-hit wonder, Greenbaum created a timeless masterpiece with this one. The overfed guitar distorts nicely, across an unfussy but steady drum beat, and Norman's plaintive vocal performance is nicely backed up by a female chorus. A shame he could not hit those heights again (one of his follow-ups was called "Canned Ham", a treatise on how much he LOVES ... er, um ... canned ham - and closing out with the [female] spoken line "When you gonna buy me a canned ham, Greenbaum?"
And his reply: "Soon, baby...". Dear oh dear). "Spirit" got to number 1 in the UK and number 3 in the USA in 1969/70, selling two million copies in that period alone. Covered in later years by 'Doctor & The Medics', but let's not go there..... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit_in_the_Sky
@leejohnson just took this off YouTube- "Though Greenbaum is generally regarded as a one-hit wonder.Several of his records placed prominently in the charts. In 1968, under the name Dr. West's Medicine Show and Junk Band, he recorded the novelty hit "The Eggplant That Ate Chicago". Clearly he had a strong calling to sing about food.
@teen Me too - but love this version only. The "Medics" cover was too harsh and metallic to convey the spiritual sentiment contained within the song. OK as a fun rehash, if that's what you want, but in no way respectful of this fine performance by its writer.
@kemiladashdot Yeah, I also spotted that he had "aliases" within the musical fraternity. Perhaps his penchant for diversity derailed his personal drive for perfection and a robust back catalogue. He wouldn't be the first to suffer through that, nor probably will he be the last, though mosern day record companies tend to grab the artist(s) firmly, and focus or re-focus their talents into a formulaic mould. There's a lot of money riding on it now!
16 Comments (since 20 May 2013)
leejohnson
The archetypal one-hit wonder, Greenbaum created a timeless masterpiece with this one. The overfed guitar distorts nicely, across an unfussy but steady drum beat, and Norman's plaintive vocal performance is nicely backed up by a female chorus. A shame he could not hit those heights again (one of his follow-ups was called "Canned Ham", a treatise on how much he LOVES ... er, um ... canned ham - and closing out with the [female] spoken line "When you gonna buy me a canned ham, Greenbaum?"
leejohnson
And his reply: "Soon, baby...". Dear oh dear). "Spirit" got to number 1 in the UK and number 3 in the USA in 1969/70, selling two million copies in that period alone. Covered in later years by 'Doctor & The Medics', but let's not go there..... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit_in_the_Sky
leejohnson
["Canned Ham" by Norman Greenbaum: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5k4OP-rwSKo]
kemiladashdot
@leejohnson just took this off YouTube- "Though Greenbaum is generally regarded as a one-hit wonder.Several of his records placed prominently in the charts. In 1968, under the name Dr. West's Medicine Show and Junk Band, he recorded the novelty hit "The Eggplant That Ate Chicago". Clearly he had a strong calling to sing about food.
lynn200
great choice...the brains a filing cabinet...i remember all the words.....''up to the spirit in the sky.....
teen
Love this song...
leejohnson
@teen Me too - but love this version only. The "Medics" cover was too harsh and metallic to convey the spiritual sentiment contained within the song. OK as a fun rehash, if that's what you want, but in no way respectful of this fine performance by its writer.
leejohnson
@kemiladashdot Yeah, I also spotted that he had "aliases" within the musical fraternity. Perhaps his penchant for diversity derailed his personal drive for perfection and a robust back catalogue. He wouldn't be the first to suffer through that, nor probably will he be the last, though mosern day record companies tend to grab the artist(s) firmly, and focus or re-focus their talents into a formulaic mould. There's a lot of money riding on it now!
leejohnson
*modern* day.....
BertrandRustles
A classic. Love it.
ScreeamingMimi
Swingtown!
ian38018
If you are gonna be a One-Hit-Wonder make sure it is with something wonderful like this.
Deborah
@leejohnson Love this...also love the great 80s version by Nina Hagen.
Sachax
love this song.
glimmer9
nice one
hsmagnet
best_rockstar_name_ever