I Got a Line on You

"I Got a Line on You"
Single by Spirit
from the album The Family That Plays Together
B-side"She Smiles"
ReleasedOctober 1968
RecordedMarch 11–September 18, 1968
Genre
Length2:37
LabelOde
Songwriter(s)Randy California
Producer(s)Lou Adler
Spirit singles chronology
"Mechanical World"
(1968)
"I Got a Line on You"
(1968)
"Dark Eyed Woman"
(1969)

"I Got a Line on You" is a rock song by American rock band Spirit, originally recorded during the sessions for their second album, The Family That Plays Together, between March 11 and September 18, 1968. Widely considered to be a rock classic, the song was composed by guitarist/singer Randy California and produced by Lou Adler. The single credits engineering by Eric Wienbang. Released as a single ahead of the album by Ode Records in the US in October 1968,[2] it began a slow rise up the charts.

It was picked up by college radio in late November.[3] It was the second single released by the band. The B-side was "She Smiles" (Ode catalog number ZS7-115).[4] 2:37 in length, the song finally peaked at No. 25 on the U.S. Top 100 on March 15, 1969, and No. 28 in Canada, March 24.[5]

Some international versions were released later in 1968 and early 1969, distributed by CBS Records or Columbia Records. Some were produced in psychedelic colored vinyl patterns, while the Ode release was on plain black vinyl with a plain yellow label.[6] The album version was slightly longer at 2:39, while the greatest hits version is timed at 2:41. A 7:34 version appears on the band's final reunion album, 1984's The Thirteenth Dream.

  1. ^ a b Eddy, Chuck (March 22, 1997). "Pomp Up The Jam". The Accidental Evolution of Rock 'n' Roll: A Misguided Tour Through Popular Music. Da Capo Press. p. 145. ISBN 0-306-80741-6.
  2. ^ "45cat – Spirit – I Got A Line On You / She Smiles – Ode – USA – ZS7 115". 45cat.com.
  3. ^ Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. November 30, 1968.
  4. ^ "B". badcatrecords.com.
  5. ^ "RPM" (PDF).
  6. ^ "45cat – Spirit – I Got A Line On You / She Smiles – CBS – Germany – 3880". 45cat.com.