Great obscure/forgotten album - Norman Greenbaum "Spirit in the sky"

Everybody's heard the title song before but has anyone heard the album? It is just great, very upbeat and catchy. Perfect album to put on after you've had a hard day. Kind of similar to Eric Clapton's first album, with lots of hand-clapping songs and call and response vocals. The followup single "Canned Ham" is very similar. He should have had more success than that 1 song.

 

This is one of the one hit wonder albums that is actually good. Some inventive arrangements. Love the closer Marcy.

 

A fine album indeed from a guy
who simply left the music biz
altogether.

 

It's a great album which is unfortunately totally forgotten today, other than the title song of course. I became interested after reading an excellent record review in an old 1970 Rolling Stone magazine, and they sure were right about this one. It's a blast to listen to, and Greenbaum is quite a charismatic character. Amazing that both the title song and "Canned Ham" both came from a Jewish farmer. He simply went back to farming after his singing career dried up.

 

Good thing his crops didn't...

Seriously, it is a good album. Marcy is my favorite track. Catchy upbeat pop, no more and no less. I like that about it.

 

I was reading through a Rolling Stone 70's era hardcover book, some nice comments about this album and Norman's music.

QUOTE="classicrockguy, post: 18430586, member: 83842"]It's a great album which is unfortunately totally forgotten today, other than the title song of course. I became interested after reading an excellent record review in an old 1970 Rolling Stone magazine, and they sure were right about this one. It's a blast to listen to, and Greenbaum is quite a charismatic character. Amazing that both the title song and "Canned Ham" both came from a Jewish farmer. He simply went back to farming after his singing career dried up.[/QUOTE]

 

This song is featured in "I, Tonya"