Spirit In The Sky – NORMAN GREENBAUM***

Junior Cadillac/Spirit In The Sky/Skyline/Jubilee/Alice Bodine/Tars Of India/The Power/Good Lookin’ Woman/Milk Cow/Marcy

Spirit In The Sky was the debut album from the American singer-songwriter Norman Greenbaum. The unusual and distinctive title track for which he is best remembered reached No. 3 in the US and No. 1 in the UK. (US:23)

“The title track is simply the best use of fuzz guitar ever. It's a dynamo but what about the rest? Well, first that's the only track that uses that glorious guitar sound, the rest is primarily rootsy rock that is rather so-so. There are a few other tracks on here which are pretty good. Junior Cadillac is an alright white boy funk song. Marcy is a song that uses early synthesiser expertly and Good Lookin' Woman is a nice track, but the rest? Please leave them. You only really need that glorious title track.”

“The monster hit title track of this album represents, in my view, one of the very few times the mainstream actually got it right. Emerging from the ruins of San Francisco's Dr. West's Medicine Show, Greenbaum put together a rather diverse collection of material that makes the album difficult to pigeon-hole. From the highly psychedelic hit, to the mountain style jug band music, the album is a relative sleeper. Shame, because it's surprisingly good overall, and pretty consistent as well.”

“Of course Spirit In The Sky is the best song on this album. Overall, I think the remainder needed a bit more work done to them and for the arrangements to be edited a little. Other than that, it's an easy listening album for the most part.”

“A real buried treasure. Much more than the title track. Eclectic, quirky, fun and some gorgeous synthesizer-work.”

“Those looking to Greenbaum's solo debut for tracks that measure up to the cultural touchstone, Spirit In The Sky, are likely to be disappointed. The remaining tracks range from memorably melodic pop (Skyline) to gospel (Jubilee) to Tin-Pan Alley, to rock, blues and soul (including some nice horn charts and wah-wah guitar). The topics include many hippie lifestyle classics, such as farm life and dope smoking (Tars Of India).”