In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida – IRON BUTTERFLY***

Most Anything You Want/Flowers & Beads/My Mirage/Termination/Are You Happy/In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida

Spending three years in the US album charts, heavy rock group Iron Butterfly's strangely titled In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida was for many years Atlantic Records best selling LP. Unfortunately, the title track, taking up the whole of the second side, is way too long and tedious. (US:4)

"Iron Butterfly's most well-known work was once Atlantic's biggest seller. Sadly, the first five tracks are instantly forgettable and the album's immortality stems from its 17 minute meandering title track. Great intro, mercurial organ/guitar interplay, manic bluesy vocals, but the power of the piece is compromised by the drum solo and the shrieks entangled in the succeeding organ solo."

"In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida was so long it became almost a parody of itself, because after all, who wants to sit there and listen to a bunch of self-absorbed musician make love to their instruments for over 17 minutes?"

"What made this album great is Iron Butterfly's one hit wonder, In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, which is slurred for 'In a Garden of Eden'. The same catchy riff has been reused, modulated and used as the foundation for the extended solos in the glorious 17 minute song."

"Half of the album is the title track, the other half is completely disposable. In-A-Gadda- Da-Vida the song is one of the most remembered in rock history whether you remember it fondly or not."

"Possibly the first metal album, this release (and band) are only known for the title track which gets really long and pointless well before it's over. The rest of the album is extremely dated psychedelic rock not helped by the poor lyrics."

"The problem with Iron Butterfly's signature album is that while the musicianship is solid enough, their lyrics are trite and sometimes clumsily written and their song structures are competent but uneven."

"Although it may seem repetitive, using this short riff and extending it over 17 minutes requires musical talent and physical endurance to perform this piece."