Every Billboard Hot 100 Single 1970: #93: “Spirit In The Sky”- Norman Greenbaum. Highest debuting single week of February 28, 1970.
- Single: ‘Spirit In The Sky”- Norman Greenbaum
- Record Company- Reprise
- Genre: Rock
- Written by Norman Greenbaum
- Time: 3:57
- B-side:” Milk Cow”
- Album- Spirit In The Sky
- Grade: A
- Peaked at #3 spent 15 weeks in the Billboard Hot 100.
Norman Greenbaum was a one -hit wonder. While he did have 3 Hot 100 singles this was the only one to make the Top 40. Greenbaum a pop-rock singer-songwriter was born in Malden, Massachusetts. Greenbaum has said that “Spirit In The Sky”- was inspired by watching western movies. At age 77 Greenbaum is still out there performing.
Norman Greenbaum: If you ask me what I based “Spirit In The Sky” on … what did we grow up watching? Westerns! These mean and nasty varmints get shot and they wanted to die with their boots on. So to me that was spiritual, they wanted to die with their boots on.
Ray Shasho: So that was the trigger that got you to write the song?
Norman Greenbaum: Yes. The song itself was simple, when you’re writing a song you keep it simple of course. It wasn’t like a Christian song of praise it was just a simple song. I had to use Christianity because I had to use something. But more important it wasn’t the Jesus part, it was the spirit in the sky. Funny enough … I wanted to die with my boots on.
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I blasted this song on my car radio all the time, great memories.
The song is almost like a mantra. Trying to figure out how a 1-hit-wonder so many years ago is still touring on it….
Wouldn’t that be great- to be able to make a career out of one hit!
It would be torture for me! On a side note, I’m on disk 6 of Ken Burns’ Country Music. What a delight it is. He did such a good job of it. The story on George Jones and Tammy Wynette was SO good!
Glad you are enjoying it.
The way he personalizes the stars is knocking me over. Merle and Kris along with the rest. Johnny Cash is rising to a mountaintop for me.
I really enjoy hearing Marty Stuart and Rosanne Cash’s comments- they sure know their country music history.
That story with Marty and Sammi Smith, WOW! Yes, Rosanne has the inside scoop on her dad. Rosanne’s mom was Johnny’s first wife, and John Carter Cash was the only child between Johnny and June, yes?
Yes Rosanne was the first child of Johnny and his first wife– John Carter the only child of John and June…. and Connie Smith- Sammi Smith did “Help Me Make It Through The Night.”…,, I can’t recall but have you see the Ken Burns Jazz? I just rewatched it a couple weeks back.
Sorry I got the Smith name wrong. No haven’t seen Ken Burns Jazz yet. One of these days.
God, I loved this song SO MUCH back in the day! It’s still a great classic.