'Spirit in the Sky' Singer Norman Greenbaum Hurt in Crash That Killed Motorcyclist

NBC ^ | March 30, 2015 | Elisha Fieldstadt

[ConservativeStatement]

The singer-songwriter best known for writing and performing the 1969 hit song "Spirit in the Sky" remained in a hospital Monday, two days after he was hurt in a car crash north of San Francisco that left a motorcyclist dead, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Norman Greenbaum, 72, was brought to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital in critical condition after the car he was a passenger in collided with a motorcycle, according to a statement from the California Highway Patrol (CHP

[vetvetdoug]

I watched an interview with Dick Clark and he was asked who the nicest and most gracious guest he ever had on American Bandstand. His response was Norman Greenbaum first with Elvis a close second. I was surprised.

[Jewbacca]

“nd just as expected, this hit sings the song of God’s enemy.”

OK, so a Jewish guy is G-d’s enemy.

Hope you don’t like ‘Charlie Brown’s Christmas,” since it was written by a Jewish guy, too.

Along with a strong plurality of Christmas songs.

[cyclotic]

Now that you mention it. Vague memories.

[trisham]

That’s a good point. Jesus was a Jew. The first Christians were Jews. The Jews are the Chosen People. I don’t understand the disconnect that some have.

[Jewbacca]

“I watched an interview with Dick Clark and he was asked who the nicest and most gracious guest he ever had on American Bandstand. His response was Norman Greenbaum first with Elvis a close second.”

Impossible. Reasonisfaith says Jews are G-d’s enemy.

I bet he’ll be really sorely disappointed to find out that Elvis’s mother was Jewish (and thus he was too).

[concernedcitizen76]

In the 1960’s and early 1970’s, Jesus was on the charts, as one DJ put it.

Billboard’s Hot 100 pop songs:

“Oh Happy Day” Edwin Hawkins Singers 06/1969 #4

“Spirit in the Sky” Norman Greenbaum 02/1970 #3

“I Don’t Know How to Love Him” Yvonne Elliman 1971 #28 (”Jesus Christ, Superstar” Broadway musical)

“I Don’t Know How to Love Him” Helen Reddy 1971 #13

“In the Year 2525” Zager and Evans #1 on July 12, 1969 (six weeks at #1)

“Jesus Is a Soul Man” Lawrence Reynolds 09/1969 #28

“Amen” The Impressions 1964 #7

“People Get Ready” The Impressions 1965 #14
Rolling Stone magazine rated “People Get Ready” the 24th greatest song of all time.

“Crying in the Chapel” Elvis Presley 1965 #3

“Get Together” The Youngbloods 1967 & 1969 #5 (inference to second coming of Jesus)

“Everything is Beautiful” Ray Stevens Spring 1970 #1 (”Jesus Loves the Little Children” hymn at beginning of song)

“Jesus Is Just Alright” The Byrds 1970 #97
“Jesus Is Just Alright” Doobie Brothers 1972 #35

“Amazing Grace” Judy Collins 1970 #15

“Put Your Hand in the Hand” Ocean 1971 #2

[reasonisfaith]

I apologize for the confusion from my comments. When I say God’s enemy, I mean his enemy. Not a Jew.

[driftless2]

Spirit In The Sky remains one of my wife's all-time favorite songs. It was her favorite song forty-five years ago when she used to dance at the discos of her home in Norwich, England.

A few years ago I was watching tv while my wife was in the bathroom getting ready to go to bed. An info commercial for sixties hits came on the tv, and they started playing Spirit In The Sky. My wife raced out of the bathroom and started dancing in front of the tv screen. I was quite amused by the spectacle to say the least.

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

Katrina is still around and singing. Saw her on TV a couple weeks ago. Great song, “Walking on Sunshine”.

let’s toss in “Spirit in the Sky” and “Bang-A-Gong” (T-Rex) for one hit wonders that we all love to hear and sing.

In fact, let’s go back to “Tequila” (The Champs), “Kansas City” (Wilbur Harrison?), “Little Bitty Pretty One (Thurston Harrison?), “Dominique” (hated it), “Sea of Love” (Phil Phillips) and other one hit wonders that still are played. Oh, don’t forget “Sukiyaki”. A really beautiful song.

Now, all together, sing them for the rest of the night.

Then start tomorrow with “Does your bubblegun stick on the bedpost over night” by Lonny Donnegan/Donnigan. That will teach you!

“Next versus, worse than the first”.

[Gay State Conservative]

Showbiz types always seem to be involved in breathtaking “mishaps”.I,OTOH,have,in my life,had two minor accidents,no drug ODs,no stints in “rehab”,no messy divorces,no affairs and not a single brush with the law.

[ConservativeStatement]

I think Greenbaum was born in Massachusetts. :-)

[Mears]

Aaaah,”Sea of Love”-—— a terrific song and lots of memories here.

.

[Axenolith]

Listening to Old and in the Way live in Santa Rosa from 1973 while I read this...

[Axenolith]

RE - Grateful Dead, Ironic that in the end they were one of, if not the, the highest royalty band, highest grossing, most concerts played, etc...

Wish I could swing the July 4th weekend shows at Soldier, Hopefully it’ll produce a really good farewell video. Based on their homespun ticketing method it shouldn’t be to loaded with moneyed douchebags and trustafarians, just a passel of the “children” ;-)

[Smokin' Joe]

If Norman was the passenger and was seriously injured, it sounds like the vehicle he was riding in made a left turn in front of the motorcycle.

Prayers up for Norman, the person driving him, and prayers up for the deceased rider and his friends and family, too.

[DannyTN]

"Actually it’s “Never been a sinner, I never sinned.” The reason I don’t listen to his song. Fruit of the devil.

I always assumed that lyric was from the standpoint of having been washed clean so that no sin existed. If you have the imputed righteousness of Jesus then in one sense you have no sin, thus there is no condemnation. But in another sense we have all sinned which is why we need Jesus.

But I have read that he is Jewish and I hope he realizes the truth that he put in his song, that he needs a relationship with Jesus.

[reasonisfaith]

I see what you mean. I think I just don’t trust it because I know and understand the music industry. My understanding of our sinful condition is that we’re not entirely “clean” until we’re rid of the flesh. I also hope he understands the points you made.

[Fiji Hill]

In fact, let’s go back to “Tequila” (The Champs), “Kansas City” (Wilbert Harrison), “Little Bitty Pretty One (Thurston Harris), “Dominique” (hated it), “Sea of Love” (Phil Phillips) and other one hit wonders that still are played.

Dominique is just about the weirdest one-hit wonder of them all. Why American record buyers bought enough copies of a French-language ballad about Domingo Félix de Guzmán, a medieval Spanish diplomat, evangelist and crusader to send it to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks is baffling.

[pbear8]

It was a catchy tune.

[Nailbiter]

“it shouldn’t be to loaded with moneyed douchebags and trustafarians”

I have heard that tickets are selling in excess of 1000.00.