Spirit in the Sky - Norman Greenbaum (1970) 3/4/23

One day, back in the late 1960s, Jewish singer/songwriter Norman Greenbaum happened to hear country star Porter Wagoner sing a Gospel song about a preacher and thought, "Hey, I can do that!"

And thus, "Spirit in the Sky" was born!

During an interview with Rolling Stone Magazine, he said, "I'm just some Jewish musician who really dug gospel music. I decided there was a larger Jesus Gospel market out there than a Jehovah one."

The lyrics were written in less than a half-hour, but the music itself took a few months. Norman finally decided to go "full rock & roll" with it, complete with fuzz guitar, echo effects, and more than a little psychedelia.

"Spirit in the Sky" hit the charts in late December of 1969, and before the new decade was a few weeks old, it was a Top 5 hit in 11 countries...including #1 in Australia, Ireland, The UK, West Germany, Canada--and the US!

Over the years, the song has been featured in the films "Apollo 13," "This is the End" and "Guardians of the Galaxy," and has been covered twice with great success--outside the US.

In 1986, an even HARDER rock version by Doctor & The Medics went to #1 in Canada, The UK, Ireland and Austria.

In 2003, it was the the official Comic Relief charity single. recorded by Gareth (with the Kumars) and it went to #1 in the UK, Scotland, and Austria.

1970's "Spirit in the Sky" (originally) by Norman Greenbaum: probably the "Greatest Jewish Gospel Song of All Time." (Many musicologists also consider it to be the "Greatest One-Hit Wonder of the '70s!)

Norman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZQxH_8raCI

Doctor & The Medics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrUoDdS8lBc

Gareth/Kumars: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eekDlvF9U-I