Spirit in the Sky: Best of

Norman Greenbaum | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 24, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Varese Fontana
• ASIN: B0000014XO
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #54,015 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Spirit In The Sky

2. Weird - Dr. West's Medicine Show And Junk Band

3. Daddy I Know - Dr. West's Medicine Show And Junk Band

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 - Dr. West's Medicine Show And Junk Band

13. Back Home Again

14. The Day They Sold Beer In Church

15. Gondoliers, Shakespeares, Overseers, Playboys, And Bums - Dr. West's Medicine Show And Junk Band

Editorial Reviews

The first-ever compilation of Norman's career, headlined by Spirit in the Sky (featured in the film Apollo 13 ), plus his first hit with Dr. West's Medicine Show and Junk Band, The Eggplant That Ate Chicago , and other key tracks like Canned Ham; California Earthquake and the unreleased The Day They Sold Beer in Church .

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars NOT YOU'RE EVERYDAY ONE HIT WONDER March 21, 2001

By Patrick Earley

Format:Audio CD

I got this cd a couple years ago because I've always had a guilty pleasure for the song "SPIRIT IN THE SKY", which was heavily played on am radio when I was in highschool. It was a way overplayed hit back then that everybody eventually grew tired of, and it finally faded away. I also vaguely remembered his other single "CALIFORNIA EARTHQUAKE", which was a minor hit for about 5 minutes. But it was "SPIRIT IN THE SKY", with it's fuzzy guitar tone and the hand clapping rhythm that I found myself missing after all these years. To my surprise, after playing this album, I found Greenbaum to be an excellent songwriter. I expected to hear a lot of that Spirit in the Sky sound on here. But instead, this album has more of a country rock sound to it, with songs like "CANNED HAM", the hook laden "HOOK AND LADDER" (shoulda been another single), "DADDY I KNOW", with a great sounding fiddle, and a song that begs for a listen "THE DAY THEY SOLD BEER IN CHURCH". He even offers a little R&B sound with "JUNIOR CADILLAC", and a little gospel with "JUBILEE". And you get a few psychedelic rockers thrown in for good measure. This Best Of cd has a lot to offer with all his singles, b-sides, and rarities included. And there's not a clanker in the bunch. I think Norman Greenbaum, with his songwriting talents, could have been a big star. But he quit the music business for good in 1972 at the height of his popularity, and never looked back. For me, this album was a great trip down memory lane, and a pleasant surprise to boot!

48 of 52 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Sadly, only a few tracks pass the test of time September 7, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Audio CD

I sought out this CD hoping that SPIRIT IN THE SKY was not just a fluke and that Norman Greenbaum would have some equally inspiring things to say about other subjects. SPIRIT IN THE SKY is the one song that makes Jesus out to be the coolest dude on the planet and accessible to every rebel of every generation. The song is so perfect I want it sung at my funeral to express the joy I want people to feel about my life and my eventual passing to walk with my Lord in a better place. Sadly, the majority of the other songs are amatuerish even if they are fun. They don't hold up well. I* highly recommend you save your money and buy the Rhino 70's CD HAVE A NICE DAY Volume 2 which has SPIRIT IN THE SKY plus a bunch of other top hit songs from the same few months of 1970, a few of which are also inspirational in nature like EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL by Ray Stevens and UNITED WE STAND by The Brotherhood of Man. That CD will show you that Hippie Ideals were still going strong in early 1970 despite the shocking end of the Summer of Love that was brought about by the Manson Family Murders.

31 of 35 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Hippie fun, but I think you had to be there�. August 20, 2000

By Vincent M. Mastronardi

Format:Audio CD

Let me just clarify something for everybody. Norman Greenbuam is indeed just a one hit wonder. While some of the songs on this collection might have a memorable through back sound to those good old rebel days of the late sixties early seventies. It is indeed a different time space you'll find on this disc and unlike something with a hard edge like Zeppelin; this stuff just doesn't age very well.

The only track that is everyone is going to really love is the fun "Spirit In the Sky". The beginnings of Christian rock? Hardly with a very catchy guitar sound and very universal understood lyrics. It's just a masterpiece of the early seventies with a little bit of revolt yet a load of enlightenment. Norman hits it very dead on with this combo of hard rock with female soul singers. I have no idea if this killer track was just an accident or something that is pure magic and genius combined. After that you have some rough follow ups like "Canned Ham" and the early yodel rock of "Weird" are just to quirky to enjoy as is the madness of the too dumb for words story song "The Eggplant that Eat Chicago". Surprisingly, some of these peaceful follow ups charted but not very high. You think a song called "The Day They Sold Beer In Church" would be interesting but it's a moral tale with a country twang. The real shocking part is that it was recorded in 1977 but sounds like one of his late sixties songs. I guess you just can't change your style no matter what. "Marcy" is good psychedelic rock tune that is very soft. Cool keyboard quality. You also get great pop potential in the smooth rock blues of "California Earthquake". After a few listens, its lyrics are catchy. "Back Home Again" is another winner with a nostalgic feel of music. Its lyrics seem his most personal with him even telling of his instant fame and going back to his loved ones.

This might be a good trip for those who just love light sixties/seventies rock, but those looking for another "Spirit In the Sky", dream on. The songs are interesting and have a very slow hippie feel to them and don't have half the energy or originality of that big hit. There are a few nice songs on here, but nothing essential at all. Unless you're into this kind of music or would like to give it a try, you might be best off just looking for a compilation with the hit.