The Best of Norman Greenbaum: Spirit in the Sky

by Norman Greenbaum

Overview

"Spirit in the Sky" was a classic one-shot hit: an unforgettable fuzz guitar riff, those eerie descending glissando psychedelic guitar effects, a soulful female backup chorus, and a rare gospel-rock song that explored a religious theme without sounding dogmatic or sappy. Greenbaum had more depth than the usual one-shot artist, but the fact is that he never came up with anything else remotely on the level of "Spirit in the Sky," as this 15-song anthology demonstrates. He was a witty, droll songwriter with slightly absurd tunes that didn't quite descend into novelty, as on "Canned Ham" and "The Day the Well Went Dry." Selections from his early-'70s Reprise albums comprise most of half of this disc, and they're amiable, mildly humorous good-time rock that isn't even as penetrating as the rawer and goofier stuff he did before his solo career as the leader of Dr. West's Medicine Show & Junk Band. Four Dr. West songs are on this CD, including the minor 1966 hit "The Eggplant That Ate Chicago," as well as a previously unreleased 1977 recording, "The Day They Sold Beer in Church." ~ Richie Unterberger

Product Details

Release Date:	10/24/1995
Label:	Var?Se Vintage / Var?Se Sarabande
UPC:	0030206566826
Rank:	28459

Tracks

1. Spirit in the Sky
2. Weird
3. Daddy I Know
4. Hook and Ladder
5. Skyline
6. Canned Ham
7. Marcy
8. California Earthquake
9. The Day the Well Went Dry
10. Damper
11. Petaluma
12. The Eggplant That Ate Chicago
13. Back Home Again
14. The Day They Sold Beer in Church
15. Gondoliers, Shakespeares, Overseers, Playboys and Bums

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Norman Greenbaum   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Bill Inglot   Remastering
Cary E. Mansfield   Producer
Norman Greenbaum   Composer,Producer
Wayne Jancik   Liner Notes
Henry Diltz   Photography
Erik Jacobsen   Producer
Lisa Sutton   Art Direction