Norman Greenbaum
Encyclopedia
Norman Greenbaum is an American singer-songwriter
. He was raised in a traditional Jewish household and went to Hebrew school. His initial interest in music was sparked by Southern blues music and the folk music that was hugely popular in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He performed with various bands in high school, and attended Boston University for two years, performing at local coffeehouses during that time, but eventually dropped out and moved to Los Angeles in 1965. He studied music
at Boston University
. He is best known for his song "Spirit in the Sky
".
", which sold two million copies across 1969 and 1970. Sales for this song
reached over one million by May 1970 alone, and received a gold disc
awarded by the R.I.A.A.
. Spirit In The Sky, with its combination of 'heavy' guitar
, hand-clapping, and spiritual lyrics, has been used in many films, advertisements, and television
shows.
Although "Spirit in the Sky" has a clear Christian
theme, Greenbaum was and still is a practicing Jew. He was inspired to write the song after observing country singers Dolly Parton
and Porter Wagoner
singing a religious song on television
.
Greenbaum is generally regarded as a one-hit wonder
; however, 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
". Warner Bros.
Records released "Spirit in the Sky" to tremendous response in 1970; a December 1970 survey of the top 100 songs of the decade, hosted by radio personality Robert W. Morgan
, listed "Spirit in the Sky" at #7.
, became a one-hit wonder of sorts with their version of "Spirit in the Sky" in 1986 (they had a minor hit with the follow-up "Burn", and a hit album Laughing at the Pieces
). Also in 1986, an all-girl punk band called Fuzzbox
had a hit with the song. British television stars The Kumars
also became one-hit wonders in the UK, when they and Gareth Gates
reached #1 with the same song in 2003. "Spirit in the Sky" is featured on the video game Rock Band 2
. The song was also remade by the Christian band Stellar Kart
and debuted in their 2010 album, Everything Is Different Now
. The Kentucky Headhunters
recorded it, including it on their 1991 album, Electric Barnyard
.
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
. He was raised in a traditional Jewish household and went to Hebrew school. His initial interest in music was sparked by Southern blues music and the folk music that was hugely popular in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He performed with various bands in high school, and attended Boston University for two years, performing at local coffeehouses during that time, but eventually dropped out and moved to Los Angeles in 1965. He studied music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
at Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
. He is best known for his song "Spirit in the Sky
Spirit in the Sky
"Spirit in the Sky" is a song written and originally recorded by Norman Greenbaum and released in 1969. The single sold two million copies in 1969 and 1970 and reached number three in the U.S. Billboard chart, as well as number one on the UK, Australian and Canadian charts in 1970. Rolling Stone...
".
Career
Greenbaum is best known for his song "Spirit in the SkySpirit in the Sky
"Spirit in the Sky" is a song written and originally recorded by Norman Greenbaum and released in 1969. The single sold two million copies in 1969 and 1970 and reached number three in the U.S. Billboard chart, as well as number one on the UK, Australian and Canadian charts in 1970. Rolling Stone...
", which sold two million copies across 1969 and 1970. Sales for this song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
reached over one million by May 1970 alone, and received a gold disc
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
awarded by the R.I.A.A.
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
. Spirit In The Sky, with its combination of 'heavy' guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, hand-clapping, and spiritual lyrics, has been used in many films, advertisements, and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
shows.
Although "Spirit in the Sky" has a clear Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
theme, Greenbaum was and still is a practicing Jew. He was inspired to write the song after observing country singers Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
and Porter Wagoner
Porter Wagoner
Porter Wayne Wagoner was a popular American country music singer known for his flashy Nudie and Manuel suits and blond pompadour. He introduced the young Dolly Parton near the beginning of her career on his long-running television show, and they were a well-known duet throughout the late 1960s and...
singing a religious song on television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
.
Greenbaum is generally regarded as a one-hit wonder
One-hit wonder
A one-hit wonder is a person or act known mainly for only a single success. The term is most often used to describe music performers with only one hit single.-Characteristics:...
; however, several of his records placed prominently in the charts. In 1968, under the name Dr. West's Medicine Show and Junk Band
Dr. West's Medicine Show and Junk Band
Dr. West's Medicine Show and Junk Band was a psychedelic rock band. They were known best for both producing Norman Greenbaum; and the their own hit "The Eggplant that Ate Chicago", which reached #52 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966.-Albums:...
, he recorded the novelty hit "The Eggplant That Ate Chicago
The Eggplant That Ate Chicago
The Eggplant That Ate Chicago is a psychedelic jug band song about alien invasion by Dr. West's Medicine Show and Junk Band. Although often listed as a "one hit wonder",...
". Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
Records released "Spirit in the Sky" to tremendous response in 1970; a December 1970 survey of the top 100 songs of the decade, hosted by radio personality Robert W. Morgan
Robert W. Morgan
Robert Wilbur Morgan was an award-winning morning radio personality best known for his work at several stations in Los Angeles, California, in particular KHJ-AM....
, listed "Spirit in the Sky" at #7.
"Spirit in the Sky" remakes
Another group, Doctor and the MedicsDoctor and the Medics
Doctor and the Medics are a London based psychedelic rock band which enjoyed greatest success in the 1980s and are best known for their UK No. 1 song, "Spirit in the Sky"...
, became a one-hit wonder of sorts with their version of "Spirit in the Sky" in 1986 (they had a minor hit with the follow-up "Burn", and a hit album Laughing at the Pieces
Laughing at the Pieces
Laughing at the Pieces is the 1986 album by Doctor and the Medics.-Side One:#"No-one Loves You When You've Got No Shoes" – 3:37#"Kettle on a Long Chain" – 3:00#"Come On Call Me" – 2:35#"Watermelon Runaway" – 2:29#"Fried Egg Bad Monday" – 4:09...
). Also in 1986, an all-girl punk band called Fuzzbox
We've Got a Fuzzbox and We're Gonna Use It
We've Got A Fuzzbox and We're Gonna Use It were an English alternative rock group. Formed in Birmingham in 1985, the all-female quartet originally consisted of Vix, Maggie Dunne, Jo Dunne and Tina O'Neill. The band's name was shortened to Fuzzbox for the U.S. release of their first album...
had a hit with the song. British television stars The Kumars
The Kumars at No. 42
The Kumars at No. 42 was a British television show. It won an International Emmy in 2002 and in 2003. It ran for seven series totalling 53 episodes.-Plot:...
also became one-hit wonders in the UK, when they and Gareth Gates
Gareth Gates
Gareth Paul Gates , is an English singer-songwriter. He was the runner-up in the first series of the ITV talent show Pop Idol. Gates has sold over 3.5 million records in the UK alone. He is also known for having a stutter, and has talked about his speech impediment publicly...
reached #1 with the same song in 2003. "Spirit in the Sky" is featured on the video game Rock Band 2
Rock Band 2
Rock Band 2 is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems. It is the sequel to Rock Band and is the second title in the series. The game allows up to four players to simulate the performance of popular songs by playing with controllers modeled after musical instruments...
. The song was also remade by the Christian band Stellar Kart
Stellar Kart
Stellar Kart is a Christian pop punk band from Phoenix, Arizona, USA . The band is signed to INO Records and released its first album in February 2005. Some of the singles from their debut album, All Gas. No Brake - including "Finish Last" and "Life Is Good" - have been played on Christian radio...
and debuted in their 2010 album, Everything Is Different Now
Everything Is Different Now
For the Don Henley song, see Inside Job.Everything is Different Now is the fourth studio album from the Christian pop punk band Stellar Kart. It was released on September 21, 2009 at the band's live shows, and in retail stores on February 2010. The original 2009 live show release of the album also...
. The Kentucky Headhunters
The Kentucky Headhunters
The Kentucky Headhunters are an American country rock band. They were founded in 1968 as Itchy Brother, which comprised brothers Richard Young and Fred Young along with Greg Martin and Anthony Kenney...
recorded it, including it on their 1991 album, Electric Barnyard
Electric Barnyard
-Personnel:*Greg Martin – electric guitar, slide guitar*Doug Phelps – bass guitar, background vocals*Ricky Lee Phelps – lead vocals, harmonica, percussion*Fred Young – drums, percussion*Richard Young – rhythm guitar-Chart performance:...
.