Imagine a rockstar trading in his electric guitar for a milking pail. Now picture that same musician belting out a song that becomes a global phenomenon. As fantastical of a plot twist as it may sound, this is the incredible true story of Norman Greenbaum, the man behind the legendary “Spirit in the Sky”.
YouTuber Professor of Rock, known for dissecting the stories behind rock’s most enduring stars, themes, and stories, turned his focus to the singer-songwriter, in one of his episodes for a series called Bottled Lightning where he features timeless one-hit wonders.
In this episode, the Professor digs into the fascinating journey of a musician who went from psychedelic jam sessions with a band called Dr. West’s Medicine Show and Junk Band warning Chicago about a monstrous eggplant to writing and releasing one of the most iconic one-hit-winders to ever appear in the history of rock.
The Enduring Mystery of the One-Hit Wonder
E.B. White, the literary genius behind Charlotte’s Web and The Trumpet of the Swan, urged readers to embrace the wonder around them. This concept is particularly captivating in the realm of music: a single song can possess a magical grip, swaying both body and soul. This captivating power is most intriguing when it manifests as a “one-hit wonder”, or a “bottled lightning” as Professor of Rock calls it.
Traditionally, a one-hit wonder is an artist who achieves phenomenal success with a single song but never replicates that feat. However, the label often carries a negative connotation, implying the artist’s other work is irrelevant simply due to lack of commercial success. But this is dismissive of the power behind the creation of such tracks.
To Professor of Rock, the one-hit wonder is an intriguing enigma. How can a song explode into a monster hit, defying all logic, while subsequent efforts with similar talent and formula fail to capture the same lightning in a bottle? It’s a phenomenon with countless examples throughout musical history, and the story of Norman Greenbaum, the mastermind behind “Spirit in the Sky,” offers a fascinating case study.
An Unlikely Rock Star
Greenbaum’s life and career defy easy categorization. Raised in a religious Jewish household, he wrote a song that some interpreted as being about Jesus. He started as a folk singer but embraced the electric guitar and psychedelic sounds to create a global hit. Greenbaum then walked away from the rock and roll lifestyle to become a goat farmer, all while his song dominated the airwaves.
This singer-songwriter’s musical journey began with a love for Southern blues and folk music. He spent his youth listening to country gospel on the radio and performing in Boston coffee houses after high school. However, college life wasn’t for him, and he soon found himself in Los Angeles. There, he joined the unconventional Dr. West’s Medicine Show and Junk Band. Despite opening for acts like Sonny and Cher, the band was short-lived.
After their break-up in 1968, Greenbaum began playing solo gigs, catching the attention of producer Erik Jacobsen at the iconic Troubadour Club. Jacobsen became a key figure in Greenbaum’s career, securing a record deal and producing his early albums. It was also around this time that a greeting card with the words “Spirit in the Sky” sparked an idea for Greenbaum’s future masterpiece.
The Unexpected Inspiration for “Spirit in the Sky”
The seed for “Spirit in the Sky” was unexpectedly sown while watching television. Greenbaum, raised in a Jewish household, witnessed country music legend Porter Wagoner belting out a gospel tune. Inspired by Wagoner’s performance, Greenbaum, with no prior experience in religious songwriting, decided to write his own gospel song. He later claimed it took him only 15 minutes to complete the lyrics.
The title, of course, came from that greeting card caption that had lingered in his mind. However, Greenbaum’s inclusion of Jesus as a figure of salvation raised eyebrows. The line “got to have a friend in Jesus” was intended to enhance marketability rather than reflect his own religious beliefs.
Greenbaum further emphasized this point in the controversial lyric “Never been a sinner, I never sin, I got a friend in Jesus”. This line caused offense to some Christians, who felt it contradicted the core tenets of their faith. Greenbaum, however, simply hadn’t considered the theological implications as he wrote from his own secular perspective.
Finding the Right Groove
While the lyrics for “Spirit in the Sky” came quickly to Norman Greenbaum, crafting the musical arrangement proved a far greater challenge. Initially, Greenbaum attempted a familiar jug band feel, then a traditional folk style, and even dabbled with a Delta Blues approach – all to no avail. None captured the vibe he envisioned.
The breakthrough occurred in the recording studio when Jacobsen brought in The Stovall Sisters, a soulful Oakland-based gospel trio. Their backing vocals infused the track with the spiritual authenticity Greenbaum craved, providing the spark for an infectious musical bed. Also, in a bold move, Greenbaum ditched the acoustic guitar entirely, opting instead for a Fender Telecaster with a custom-built fuzz box.
This fuzzy sound became a signature element, perfectly complementing the song’s joyous energy. Greenbaum meticulously experimented with the fuzz box to achieve the right tone, ultimately transforming his gospel tune into a psychedelic revival. The final layer came courtesy of session guitarist Russell DaShiell, who blazed through a scorching electric solo.
The Unforeseen Advantages and Studio Magic
The recording of “Spirit in the Sky” benefitted from some serendipitous factors. Back then, car stereos weren’t built for a wide dynamic range. This actually worked in the song’s favor, as the simpler sound translates well to smaller speakers that lack subwoofers, a feature prevalent in modern listening experiences.
Another key element to the song’s distinct fuzzy tone was Greenbaum’s technique. He opted for fingerpicking his Telecaster instead of using a traditional pick, contributing to the unique sound. The recording itself was refreshingly straightforward, utilizing a simple studio setup with minimal effects – a touch of echo in the mix and some amplifier reverb. The chosen equipment and their positioning in the studio simply clicked, creating the desired soundscape. Greenbaum himself described the experience as mind-blowing, feeling like the song was destined to be.
He recounted, “From the beginning, the song sent shivers down our spines”. Interestingly, the specific distortion effect Greenbaum achieved has never been fully replicated. Musicians frequently inquire about the secret behind the sound, but Greenbaum genuinely doesn’t know the answer. He’s played “Spirit in the Sky” countless times over the years, yet hasn’t been able to recreate the magic of that original recording.
An Unlikely Hit
Despite the enthusiasm of Greenbaum and Jacobsen, “Spirit in the Sky” wasn’t initially embraced by Reprise Records. The label executives found the song’s religious theme and fuzzy guitar unconventional, particularly for a single. They also expressed concern about the song’s length, fearing it wouldn’t be suitable for radio airplay in the age of AM Top 40.
Opting for a safer route, Reprise released “Marcy” as the lead single from Greenbaum’s debut album. Unsurprisingly, “Marcy” failed to chart, and a similar fate awaited the follow-up single, “Jubilee”. Typically, two consecutive non-performing singles would prompt a label to shelve the album. However, in a stroke of serendipity, Reprise reconsidered “Spirit in the Sky” and released it as the third single in late 1969.
This decision proved to be a golden touch. “Spirit in the Sky” exploded on the airwaves, becoming a global phenomenon. The song soared to number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the charts in Australia, Ireland, Canada, Germany, and the UK. “Spirit in the Sky” became one of the biggest hits of 1970, selling over two million copies and etching itself into pop culture history.
The Reluctant Rock Star
While “Spirit in the Sky” dominated global charts, Greenbaum simply fell back to his tranquil life. Unlike the rock and roll lifestyle often associated with chart-topping hits, Greenbaum found himself hundreds of miles away from Hollywood. He was living a quiet life on a goat farm in Petaluma, California with his wife. He did tour and fulfill promotional obligations for the song, but his heart lay in the tranquility of rural life. This even translated into the title of his second album, Back Home Again.
Reprise Records, however, sought to capitalize on the success of Norman’s debut. They craved a second “Spirit of the Sky”, a song that replicated the religious themes and mainstream appeal. Instead, they received “Canned Ham”, a song with a suggestive title and a significant thematic leap from its predecessor. Unsurprisingly, “Canned Ham” failed to capture the magic of its predecessor, peaking at a modest number 46 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Greenbaum made two more albums for Reprise, but neither achieved commercial success. Released from the label, he pursued deals with others, only to find them all seeking another “Spirit in the Sky”. The constant pressure to recreate his one-hit wonder proved frustrating, leading Greenbaum to walk away from the music industry altogether.
A Second Wind for a One-Hit Wonder
By 1980, Greenbaum had left the music industry behind. He’d sold his publishing rights to “Spirit in the Sky” years earlier, and when those funds dwindled, he faced financial hardship. Throughout the first half of the decade, he worked as a cook at various restaurants in Northern California. In 1986, his dedication earned him a promotion to kitchen manager at a hamburger joint. Ironically, it was around this time that a British band called Doctor and the Medics unexpectedly revived “Spirit in the Sky”.
Their cover version became a smash hit, rocketing to number one in the UK and Ireland. “Spirit in the Sky” captivated a new generation and rekindled its enduring appeal. The unexpected success sparked renewed interest in Norman Greenbaum himself. Reporters tracked him down at the restaurant, peppering him with questions about the song’s resurgence. Unfortunately, this influx of calls angered his boss, who ultimately fired him.
“If you’re such a big star, you don’t need to be working here,” said his boss. In a strange twist of fate, the boss’s words held an unexpected truth. Thanks to the renewed popularity of “Spirit in the Sky”, Norman no longer needed to work at the restaurant or any other greasy spoon.
The Enduring Legacy of “Spirit in the Sky”
Despite selling his publishing rights to “Spirit in the Sky”, Norman Greenbaum still benefited financially from the song’s success. As the original performer, he earned performance royalties – a stream of income that revived in the 1980s with the song’s resurgence.
“Spirit in Sky” became a pop culture phenomenon, appearing in over 30 movies, including The Longest Yard, Wayne’s World 2, Apollo 13, and Ocean’s 11, and over 20 television shows like Beverly Hills, 90210, The Drew Carey Show, and Rock and Roll Jeopardy. Major brands like Nike, American Express, Toyota, J.P. Morgan, HBO, and Walmart also used the song in their commercials.
Interestingly, “Spirit in the Sky” holds a unique record. It reached number one in the UK three times by three different acts: Norman’s original in 1970, Doctor and the Medics’ cover in 1986, and Gareth Gates’ version with the Kumars in 2003. This enduring popularity ensures that “Spirit in the Sky” continues to generate royalties for Norman Greenbaum, a testament to the lasting impact of his one-hit wonder.
A Brush with Mortality and Lasting Gratitude
In 2015, Norman’s life took a dramatic turn when he himself almost met the Spirit in the sky. While riding as a passenger in a car, he was involved in a horrific accident. The driver made a left turn in front of an oncoming motorcycle, resulting in a three-vehicle collision. Tragically, the motorcyclist died in the crash, and Greenbaum himself suffered critical injuries. He remained in a coma for three weeks and faced a long road to recovery, requiring months of rehabilitation to regain his mobility.
Despite this near-death experience, Norman Greenbaum emerged with a renewed perspective. He could have easily succumbed to bitterness or cynicism, but instead, he chose gratitude and optimism. He’s come to accept the “one-hit wonder” label and even embraces it. As Greenbaum himself puts it, “how many things are you known for in life? All you need to do is one good thing.”
For Norman, that “one good thing” is the undeniable masterpiece – “Spirit in the Sky.” The opening notes of that fuzzy guitar riff instantly transport the listener, a testament to the enduring power of this psychedelic gospel anthem.
You can watch Professor of Rock’s video about Norman and his legendary song below.