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Story behind the Greatest Classic Rock One Hit Wonder of The 1970s (Spirit in the Sky)
craptube ^ | 11/06/2021 | professor of rock

Posted on 11/06/2021 9:04:58 AM PDT by max americana

Story of 1970 Hit: Spirit in the Sky by Norman Greenbaum:

How a Jew wrote a song about Jesus.

By the time the song went to #1 around the world, he was not rubbing shoulders with rock stars but herding goats in Petaluma, CA.


TOPICS: History; Music/Entertainment
KEYWORDS: boogiechillen; boogiechillun; christianity; greenbaum; jesus; johnleehooker; lagrange; normangreenbaum; onehitwonder; rock; spiritinthesky; zztop
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Greenbaum due to poor choices, ended up working as a cook in a restaurant and got "fired" by his boss after calls came in to the restaurant from reporters asking him about the popularity of the song after another version of it went to #1.
1 posted on 11/06/2021 9:04:58 AM PDT by max americana
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To: max americana

Jesus was a Jew, and a rock star.


2 posted on 11/06/2021 9:07:07 AM PDT by mylife (Joe Biden is like bald tires in the rain, Alec Baldwin with a gun..)
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To: max americana

If I get to have a funeral...that’s the song I want played, loud, like really loud as they lower me into the grave.


3 posted on 11/06/2021 9:07:20 AM PDT by EBH (Never trust the government or a politician . 1776-2021 May God Save Us.)
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To: EBH

😳


4 posted on 11/06/2021 9:10:59 AM PDT by JonPreston (Q: Never have so many, been so wrong, so often)
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To: max americana

Heh. I looked him up. He has the best of album out. From 1997. Gee. A whole album. With just one song on it.


5 posted on 11/06/2021 9:11:40 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd (I love my country. It's my government that I hate.)
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To: max americana
Bookmark for later. One of my all-time favorite songs and I'm sure the story behind it will be fascinating.

Norman had a follow-up single called "Canned Ham" and it charted. So not quite a one-hit wonder but close to it.

6 posted on 11/06/2021 9:12:16 AM PDT by SamAdams76 (I am 25 days away from outliving Holly Dunn)
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To: SamAdams76

“Norman had a follow-up single called “Canned Ham”

It’s in the video too and the reason why he was canned by reprise records because the record company wanted another Sprit in the Sky.


7 posted on 11/06/2021 9:13:53 AM PDT by max americana (FIRED LEFTARD employees at our office every election since 2008 and enjoyed seeing them cry.)
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To: SamAdams76

“Canned Ham?”

Still not Kosher.


8 posted on 11/06/2021 9:15:06 AM PDT by Tom in SFCA
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To: max americana

BFL


9 posted on 11/06/2021 9:17:13 AM PDT by VTenigma (The Democrat party is the party of the mathematically challenged )
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To: VTenigma

One hit wonder-this is why.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DB5r13Cc9M


10 posted on 11/06/2021 9:20:04 AM PDT by DIRTYSECRET
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To: DIRTYSECRET

BFL-Bump For Later. Thanks for the link though.


11 posted on 11/06/2021 9:21:53 AM PDT by VTenigma (The Democrat party is the party of the mathematically challenged )
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To: max americana

His other big Halloween hit. He was in this band too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtEpqlrwX5c


12 posted on 11/06/2021 9:22:54 AM PDT by bleach (If I agreed with you, we would both be wrong.)
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To: max americana

It’s a good song. Petaluma is the former home of the arm wrestling championships on ABC’s Wide World of Sports. Maybe it still is for all I know.


13 posted on 11/06/2021 9:26:08 AM PDT by dainbramaged (Your friends might get me in a rush but not before I make your head into a canoe.)
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To: max americana

Great fuzz box, custom built by a friend of Greenbaum’s.


14 posted on 11/06/2021 9:26:39 AM PDT by Drew68 (Ron DeSantis for President 2024.)
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To: bleach

Sorry wrong link..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfZ1ZHDAq08


15 posted on 11/06/2021 9:27:19 AM PDT by bleach (If I agreed with you, we would both be wrong.)
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To: Drew68

A LOT of bands and singers kept asking him about the fuzzbox effect and how to do it. They thought he’s selfish for not spilling but Greenbaum claims he cant exactly replicate it. It’s like asking Eddie Van Halen about tapping.


16 posted on 11/06/2021 9:29:04 AM PDT by max americana (FIRED LEFTARD employees at our office every election since 2008 and enjoyed seeing them cry.)
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To: SamAdams76
Norman had a follow-up single called "Canned Ham" and it charted.

My older brother bought the 45. I prefer it to "Spirit in the Sky", and if I ever have my own talk radio show, the instrumental lead-in would be my theme song.
17 posted on 11/06/2021 9:31:41 AM PDT by Dr. Sivana ("There are only men and women."-- George Gilder, Sexual Suicide, 1973)
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To: SamAdams76
Norman had a follow-up single called "Canned Ham" and it charted.

My older brother bought the 45. I prefer it to "Spirit in the Sky", and if I ever have my own talk radio show, the instrumental lead-in would be my theme song.
18 posted on 11/06/2021 9:31:41 AM PDT by Dr. Sivana ("There are only men and women."-- George Gilder, Sexual Suicide, 1973)
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To: max americana

Great song!


19 posted on 11/06/2021 9:31:42 AM PDT by PROCON (Sic Semper Tyrannis)
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To: max americana

B4l


20 posted on 11/06/2021 9:33:52 AM PDT by Manic_Episode ( “Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice. Moderation in pursuit of justice is no virtue.”)
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