Search - Norman Greenbaum :: Spirit in the Sky: Best of

NOT YOU'RE EVERYDAY ONE HIT WONDER

Patrick Earley | Edmond, Oklahoma USA | 03/22/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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!"

This one song is worth buying the whole CD!

lillemor kalogridis | 07/16/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Call me weird, but when my husband and I pass on we are going to donate our bodies to science. I have told my husband that at my memorial I want the song "Spirit in the Sky" played as the memorial service is ending! I've also told him that I will do the same at his memorial service (if he should pass on first)!"

Norman greebaum spirit in the sky

lillemor kalogridis | 02/22/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It tak`s me back some years.Great to relax to."