Spirit in the Sky

For other uses, see Spirit in the Sky (disambiguation).
For a deity associated with the sky, see Spirit of the sky.

"Spirit in the Sky"
side-A label by Eric Records
Side A of the 1989 US reissue
Single by Norman Greenbaum
from the album Spirit in the Sky
B-side"Milk Cow"
Released
  • December 1969 (UK)
  • January 1970 (US)
StudioCoast Recorders, San Francisco
Genre
Length4:02
LabelReprise
Songwriter(s)Norman Greenbaum
Producer(s)Erik Jacobsen
Official audio
"Spirit in the Sky" on YouTube
"Spirit in the Sky"
Song
A-side"Spirit in the Sky"
"Spirit in the Sky"
Song
B-side"Milk Cow"

"Spirit in the Sky" is a song by American singer-songwriter Norman Greenbaum, originally written and recorded by Greenbaum and released in late 1969 from his album Spirit in the Sky.[3] The single became a gold record in the United States, selling two million copies from 1969 to 1970, and reached No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100[5] where it lasted for 15 weeks in the Top 100. Billboard ranked the record as the No. 22 song of 1970.[6] It also climbed to No. 1 on the UK, Australian and Canadian charts in 1970.

Rolling Stone ranked "Spirit in the Sky" No. 333 on its list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Cover versions by Doctor and the Medics and Gareth Gates have also made the No. 1 spot in the UK. The song was voted one of the top ten one-hit wonders in a Rolling Stone reader's poll.[7]

  1. ^ Leeuwis, Jermy. "Jason Mraz – Spirit In The Sky". MusicRemedy. Archived from the original on November 3, 2014. Retrieved June 24, 2013. "Jason Mraz's new song is a bluesy, gospel-influenced version of Norman Greenbaum's 1970 psychedelic rock anthem 'Spirit in the Sky.'"
  2. ^ Casalena, Em (November 1, 2024). "4 Hidden Gems From the World of One-Hit Rock Wonders". American Songwriter. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c McNichol, Tom (December 24, 2006). "A 'Spirit' From the '60s That Won't Die". The New York Times. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  4. ^ Unterberger, Richie. "Spirit in the Sky on Allmusic". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved June 24, 2013. "The handclaps and riffs ... simmered down a little to allow Greenbaum to sing a tune which really did sound like a genuine gospel song ..."
  5. ^ "Spirit In The Sky by Norman Greenbaum | Billboard The Hot 100 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  6. ^ Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1970
  7. ^ Greene, Andy (May 4, 2011). "Poll: Top 10 One-Hit Wonders". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 6, 2021.