The guitar sound in this is a myth of it´s own. Even Mr. Greenbaum himself cant remember how it was done back then. Many tried to copy it.. himself too for live performances.. but noone ever got this special sound again.
No matter where we are, when this song plays, my oldest sister blasts it! She's made us all promise (5 siblings) that this will play on a loop at her funeral. lol Love your reactions! xox
Lex is right - the sound was done on purpose, using a "fuzz box" for the guitar, giving it a unique sound for its era. About halfway between gospel and hard rock.
um... IDK about what you said here... I dont know if there was a 'fuzz box' for guitar back then I'm pretty sure this was still the era where they would slice their speakers to get 'fuzz'
@@bustacap3791 Distortion equipment has been around for many decades. From Wikipedia: "Fuzz is a particular form of extreme distortion originally created by guitarists using faulty equipment (such as a misaligned valve (tube); see below), which has been emulated since the 1960s by a number of "fuzzbox" effects pedals."
@@centuryrox yes you state this as if it was widely available at the time... it wasnt. there wasnt a guitar center on every block and guitar accessories were not mass produced till the mid eighties
Fuzz and distortion both, maybe? That sounds a bit too broken to be just fuzz. Back then it was easy not to be able to replicate things because sometimes the electronics were acting as antennas for other things that would impact their sounds. I recall interviews as a teenager, with people like Paul McCartney and Santana, talking about finding great sounds they never could replicate.
There was a lot of Jesus rock around this time, or gospel rock as some know it. The fuzz tone of the guitar is epic in this, as is the clap track. Yes, this was a hit rock song. We loved it!
@@dewdewism That's so cool! I'm a leftover hippie Jesus freak, too. I met the Lord in a movie theater in the early '70's when l went to see "Jesus Christ Superstar". Remember that rock opera? I went to hear good music and be entertained, but l was so impacted by it that l repented and prayed silently in the theater! That's been about 50 years ago. God bless you, and have a great July 4th.
This song hits so close to home for me. My father, my hero a true gentlemen and gentle giant at 6’5 who set the standard for all men to come into my life loved this song. He always told me he wanted it played at his funeral. Unfortunately that time came sooner than we all thought and we made his wish come true. Air guitar happening and singing was heard throughout the church as we left to lay him to rest. Thank you reacting to this. 💜💜
Fuzz guitar was absolutely intentional, and not enhanced or engineered. Funny thing is, Greenbaum could never exactly duplicate what he did on this take in the studio. It is possible that something in the guitar amp was just a bit different that day, perhaps a dying vacuum tube, or the way it was miked to tape, nobody knows, even Norman. He got close on other occasions, but never exactly nailed it.
The funny thing is, Norman Greenbaum is Jewish. But he was such a fan of "Gospel rock" that he wanted to try his hand at it, and ended up creating of the greatest Christian rock songs of all time.
As a Jewish guy, the whole thing reads as Greenbaum mildly mocking the Jesus Freaks of that day, carefully disguising the mockery with lyrics that wouldn't offend outright devout Christians. A smart move that made him a lot of $$.
My son played this song with Norman at the memorial service for a mutual friend a few years ago. He said Norman is a really nice and down to earth guy. 💜💚💛✌️
@@deborahstrickland9845 which is just what happened as we exited the church when my father passed. Somehow a Catholic priest okay’d it and was played over the choir loft from my cousin’s DJ set up. Lol. I know my dad was happy looking down as everyone air guitared and sang on they’re way out. Still to this day people say they’ve never left a church in that way following a funeral mass. 🙏👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🥰🥰
I'm old enough to remember the Hippies and Jesus bands. Don't know if Norman did this tongue in cheek but this reminded me of the Doobie Brothers' "Jesus is Just Alright". I know you'll get a kick out of it.
You're so right James, except the real hippies called them "Jesus Freaks". I was at the original Woodstock, I remember the beginning and how religion tried to jump on the trend and you had mainstream kids in granny dresses and "Sears" ponchos handing out tickets for God every weekend! It's natural to makes music that crosses boundaries and makes you more mainstream. BTW I'm now an old hippie, but still hopeful that the freedom to be whomever you want to be, and everyone love each other. LOVE was our core and everything sprang from that. Your thoughts?
Not sure about this, but I was under the impression Norman Greenbaum was jewish... Don't know if "tongue in cheek" but always felt a bit off to me. As an ateist myself, I'm not too bothered...
they totally made the guitar sound like that on purpose! It's just a distorted guitar (again on purpose) back in the day guitar stores sold a little devise called "FuzzTone" so your guitar can sound all gritty, just like Norman's LOL ...you guy's ..."yer killying me Smalls!" oh thumbs up and more "one hit Wonders" please....
That sound that y'all love is called distortion. It's a gritty sound that you have an option of when you plug your guitar into an amplifier. I love your videos!!
The female background vocals also add to the nostalgic vibe. The Andrew Sisters inspired harmonies are reminiscent of the 40s not unlike the lyrics. Released in 1970, there's plenty of nostalgia in this tune through WWII
This is old school groovin`! Raw, Pure and exactly the way music is supposed to sound...no computers or autotune to interfere with real people playing real instruments.
This song has been a Number 1 single 3 times here in the UK. This version by Norman was in 1970. Doctor & The Medics took it to Number 1 in 1986. Gareth Gates (with The Kumars) took it to Number 1 in 2003 for Comic Relief.
It's kind of amazing that a "church song" got so much radio play over the years. I heard it a ton in my youth. Obviously it's because it's a really cool song, regardless of the religious lyrics.
One of my favorite songs. I taught my 10 year old granddaughter this song and she loves it. I listen to this song every week. Great song. I want it played at my funeral.
Lex you are an absolute genious. I love your interpretation of songs, so original and insightful. Been listening to these old classics for decades but you make me look at them in a different way. Love and peace to you both.
More info from an old man who did not read previous comments so,. you may know already,. but here goes,.. Once instruments became 'electrified' instead of all acoustical,. they also started experimenting with different gadgets to enhance the electric rock guitar sound. One was called a 'fuzz distortion box' which was a peddle in the floor that you simply stepped in the knob to turn it on and you got that fuzzy sound. Another very early gadget for the electric guitar was the Wah Wah peddle which was like a pump peddle (on the floor) that the guitarist could use to get the 'wah' wah, wah' sound. You have heard the Wah wah peddle many times before in the older (and even newer) song reactions. Most days rock bands go for natural volume distortion than using a fuzz box. Though I am old and stopped playing music almost 30 years ago so I do not know much about the musical equipment of the last 20 years. Spark one up and then listen to the song again and you will love the fuzz box sound. Lolol
It is an old-school sound. But I don't think it's the Recording Technology that makes it sound that way. That's just a fat and fuzzy guitar sound that was big in 60s and 70s. But maybe the background vocals might have been recorded with old techniques, since they sound kind of retro even for that time.
I loved this song as a youngster! But now at 62, I found out 42 years ago that I needed to have His Spirit in me to get up there! In The Sky. Great Reaction as always!
I played this song for my cousin and best friend Cliffy, who was all doped up by UCSF hospital staff to ease the pain of his colorectal cancer as he slipped into the next life. We was in that room jamming. They kept walking by, wondering where the music was coming from. Then they seen 2 black guys. Lol!!!🤣😂 I knew about this song ever since the summer of ‘70. My late great homie, Lamar turned me on to it, back home in Detroit.
I remember '69 one going two & my two oldest sisters brought two places lady singers from the 5th Dimension because my sisters mentioned our 100+ yr. old great grand mother heard "Age of Aquarius/ Let the Shine in " & loved it, we got a impromptu performance of that & " Up,Up & Away" we all knew the words even mw
This song is a little hippie Church and rock incorporated I was twelve years old when it came out in nineteen sixty nine used to hear it all the time on the radio.great music
This is a song that was designed to played on large speaker setups and loud, not on headphones. Preferably by live bands or DJ's with a wall of sound hitting you.
A friend of mine recently passed away. She requested this song be played at her interment.It was. Her husband and daughter danced around the casket, as per her wish. It added some levity to a very heavy and somber service.R.I.P. Diane R
Lex is right - this is different. The unique sound is due to guitar distortion. He had a friend who was good with electronics, install a switch on his guitar to use in place of a pedal. This caused the distortion. He later got rid of the guitar and lost track of it. He has tried, as have many others to replicate the sound with no success. So this is a one hit wonder with a one of a kind sound.
There’s no such thing as electric guitar without “doing something to it”. The tone is always a product of the rig you put it through. This was heavy distortion and fuzz tone - epic! I’ve loved this song all my life since I was a kid in the sixties.
Everything about this song was done on purpose. The fuzz box guitar, going away reverb, clap tract, they just maxed out the effects. This was one of those songs that got a lot play. From the first notes you knew what it was.
The end of the 60s and the beginning of Jesus rock. George Harrison - My Sweet Lord, Blind Faith - Presence of the Lord, Godspell, Jesus Christ Superstar. Norman is Jewish and said he was capitalizing on the trend. Modern music...clean sounding...often crushes the warmth out of a recording. Analog (old) > Digital (new).
Not disagreeing with you, but My Sweet Lord had nothing to do with Jesus or Christianity -- at least not according to the background singers chanting "Hare Krishna."
Lex is correct. It's simply how the song sounds. It's a very different kinda song both musically and lyrically. And one of my favorite Classic Rock songs. Always have fun listening to this one.
As Norman Greenbaum explained to Songfacts, he set out to write a religious rock song. He is Jewish, but instead of using a Jewish word for God, he used "Jesus" because he thought it would be more marketable. It took months for Greenbaum to finish the music, but the lyrics came really quickly. Interesting fact we also learned about Norman: he used to run a goat farm. The original inspiration for this was a song about a preacher by country singer Porter Wagoner. Greenbaum was also influenced by folk revival music and traditional southern blues.
"Norman Greenbaum was kind enough to tell us about this song. He set out to write a religious rock song, and he is Jewish. Instead of using a Jewish word for God, he used "Jesus" because he thought it would be more marketable. It took months for Greenbaum to finish the music, but the lyrics came really quickly. Interesting fact we also learned about Norman: he used to run a goat farm. The original inspiration for this was a song about a preacher by country singer Porter Wagoner. Greenbaum was also influenced by folk revival music and traditional southern blues." Greenbaum told Mojo magazine September 2011 the song is "timeless." "Most everyone else sees it that way," he said. "It appeals to one's inner self and the need for redemption, plus, heck, who wants to go to hell?"
Custom guitar with a home made over drive circuit built in to it, like a pedal. It's a holy grail guitar tone that nobody will ever really know exactly what it was, because the artist himself didn't know either and didn't think at the time to find out.
It's fuzz guitar, from the early days of guitar distortion effects. Specifically, that opening guitar sound is the sound of a 9-volt battery dying within the stomp box [a lot of guitar players like that sound]. Hendrix did the same thing often, but made it sing.
There's nothing wrong with the audio quality. The guitars are distorted and fuzzed on purpose to give that feeling. 🙂
Fuzz pedal all the way. Erick Clapton use a Wah-Fuzz pedal in most of his stuff.
Love it
@@dewdewism might not be. Remember the Rolling Stones took razors and slit their speakers to create that "fuzz" sound
Distortion and a synthesizer.
It's also tube amps, so it has that smooth unique sound. Tube amps are the way to go, especially on bass
"If you remember the 60s, you weren't there." - Norman Greenbaum
That's George Carlin's old joke
@@lipby had seen it attributed to Greenbaum in some article. But you know how the internet is lol
Vaguely.
I lived the 60's and always remember that quote as being coined by Country Joe McDonald.
You’re all wrong. That was said by my old af barber when I was 13 years old😂
Norman wrote this song in 15 minutes. He has lived solely off the royalties for 50 yrs.
Good for him!! 👍💖
check out the brain on Birth
For writing this masterpiece he sure deserved all the royalties he got and all the royalties he'll get !!!!!
He was on the Howard Stern Show years ago when he mentioned that this song has paid for his place in Manhattan, and a nice cabin in upstate New York.
@@MikeInMD1961 He lives in Sonoma County.
The guitar sound in this is a myth of it´s own. Even Mr. Greenbaum himself cant remember how it was done back then.
Many tried to copy it.. himself too for live performances.. but noone ever got this special sound again.
Blue Cheer came close.
Where do you think the riff from "La Grange" by ZZ Top came from?
I always thought it sounded like there was shrink wrap or something over the speakers.
No matter where we are, when this song plays, my oldest sister blasts it! She's made us all promise (5 siblings) that this will play on a loop at her funeral. lol Love your reactions! xox
I suspect that's a popular sentiment. I know, (and may be one of), a lot of people who want this played at their funeral.
Amen sister- same here! I love this song 🎵 ❤
Lex is right - the sound was done on purpose, using a "fuzz box" for the guitar, giving it a unique sound for its era. About halfway between gospel and hard rock.
um... IDK about what you said here... I dont know if there was a 'fuzz box' for guitar back then I'm pretty sure this was still the era where they would slice their speakers to get 'fuzz'
@@bustacap3791 Distortion equipment has been around for many decades.
From Wikipedia:
"Fuzz is a particular form of extreme distortion originally created by guitarists using faulty equipment (such as a misaligned valve (tube); see below), which has been emulated since the 1960s by a number of "fuzzbox" effects pedals."
@@centuryrox I dont think it was as common as you think it was.
@@bustacap3791 I never said it was common. I was simply stating that the technology was available in 1969, when this song came out.
@@centuryrox yes you state this as if it was widely available at the time... it wasnt. there wasnt a guitar center on every block and guitar accessories were not mass produced till the mid eighties
It’s very purposeful. It’s a fuzz setup that they haven’t been able to replicate. Super unique. Love it.
If only my guitar would make that sound. Sigh.
Fuzz and distortion both, maybe? That sounds a bit too broken to be just fuzz. Back then it was easy not to be able to replicate things because sometimes the electronics were acting as antennas for other things that would impact their sounds. I recall interviews as a teenager, with people like Paul McCartney and Santana, talking about finding great sounds they never could replicate.
Ironic they would call it out as sounding poor. It sounds fantastic to me.
Fuzz pedal, someone actually made me one for my bass out of a freaking VHS storage box way back in the day.
@@michaelrstover Exactly. That’s what makes this song incredible.
There was a lot of Jesus rock around this time, or gospel rock as some know it. The fuzz tone of the guitar is epic in this, as is the clap track. Yes, this was a hit rock song. We loved it!
I grew up around many Jesus Freaks back then. Hippies that believe in Jesus. I'm still one, but without the hair, I'm bald now. Lol!
@@dewdewism That's so cool! I'm a leftover hippie Jesus freak, too. I met the Lord in a movie theater in the early '70's when l went to see "Jesus Christ Superstar". Remember that rock opera? I went to hear good music and be entertained, but l was so impacted by it that l repented and prayed silently in the theater! That's been about 50 years ago.
God bless you, and have a great July 4th.
We all loved Jesus but none of us went to church. Why would we? Jesus wasn't a Christian.
Norman Greenbaum has made over 2 million dollars off of this song. Classic
That's all?
@@j.h.3777 right??!!
He made a lot more than that remember this song was used in movies and commercials.
Waaaaaaaay more than that.
Not wrong, I guess. He has made well over two million.
I LITERALLY had this song stuck in my head this morning out of nowhere and you guys uploaded it.. You're LEGENDS!!
You have good taste buddy
You may have connected with the Spirit in the Sky.
@@watchmanonthewall14 Maybe.. I might have a friend in Jesus.
This song hits so close to home for me. My father, my hero a true gentlemen and gentle giant at 6’5 who set the standard for all men to come into my life loved this song. He always told me he wanted it played at his funeral. Unfortunately that time came sooner than we all thought and we made his wish come true. Air guitar happening and singing was heard throughout the church as we left to lay him to rest. Thank you reacting to this. 💜💜
Fuzz guitar was absolutely intentional, and not enhanced or engineered. Funny thing is, Greenbaum could never exactly duplicate what he did on this take in the studio. It is possible that something in the guitar amp was just a bit different that day, perhaps a dying vacuum tube, or the way it was miked to tape, nobody knows, even Norman. He got close on other occasions, but never exactly nailed it.
I'm willing to put money down the the guitar amps speaker had a small tear in it...
It was the Spirit in the Sky that was responsible.
We played this at my dad's funeral. Love it.
Sorry to hear about your Dad! 😢 Lost mine in 2017 and I'm still Feeling it 😭😭
Played it last year at my mom's funeral, as well (her request);
some one there yelled "HAVE IT UP!!!"
(okay, it was me...)
The funny thing is, Norman Greenbaum is Jewish. But he was such a fan of "Gospel rock" that he wanted to try his hand at it, and ended up creating of the greatest Christian rock songs of all time.
I always hear this song with tongue planted firmly in cheek. Huh.
Norman Greenbaum is the most Jewish name I ever heard
As a Jewish guy, the whole thing reads as Greenbaum mildly mocking the Jesus Freaks of that day, carefully disguising the mockery with lyrics that wouldn't offend outright devout Christians. A smart move that made him a lot of $$.
@JJ8KK well, Christ was mocked as well when he was on earth. Guess we'll all see who gets the last laugh one day...
@@JJ8KK but, doctrinally speaking, Normon is not far off. If you are "a friend of Jesus", He will set you up with the Spirit in the sky.
My son played this song with Norman at the memorial service for a mutual friend a few years ago. He said Norman is a really nice and down to earth guy. 💜💚💛✌️
Love it..been to several funerals where this was played and we danced.
I want this played at my funeral!
I had just thought, this would be a great song as attendees exit.
@@deborahstrickland9845 which is just what happened as we exited the church when my father passed. Somehow a Catholic priest okay’d it and was played over the choir loft from my cousin’s DJ set up. Lol. I know my dad was happy looking down as everyone air guitared and sang on they’re way out. Still to this day people say they’ve never left a church in that way following a funeral mass. 🙏👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🥰🥰
@@stefaniebrauer128 Stefanie thanks for sharing the story of your dads funeral . I can picture the scene 🙏🏻❤️
@@BlowinFree aww thanks so much. 💜💜
I'm old enough to remember the Hippies and Jesus bands. Don't know if Norman did this tongue in cheek but this reminded me of the Doobie Brothers' "Jesus is Just Alright". I know you'll get a kick out of it.
You're so right James, except the real hippies called them "Jesus Freaks".
I was at the original Woodstock, I remember the beginning and how religion tried to jump on the trend and you had mainstream kids in granny dresses and "Sears" ponchos handing out tickets for God every weekend! It's natural to makes music that crosses boundaries and makes you more mainstream. BTW I'm now an old hippie, but still hopeful that the freedom to be whomever you want to be, and everyone love each other. LOVE was our core and everything sprang from that.
Your thoughts?
Not sure about this, but I was under the impression Norman Greenbaum was jewish... Don't know if "tongue in cheek" but always felt a bit off to me. As an ateist myself, I'm not too bothered...
PEACE LOVE n HIPPYNESS ✌☮
When he says - never been a sinner, I never sinned, sounds satirical as hell
@@ЯСмерть-ф5п lol yea! Thankfully I dont play with imaginary friends so I am not a sinner
No detune, no auto tune.
The sound the guitar is making was intentional, it had nothing to do with the recording quality of the time.
I have not seen many of your videos but every one has Lex with a smile on her face!!! Everytime and I love it! You guys are great Thank you
My funeral song! I want everyone to dance and celebrate the life I've spent with them - it's written in my Will and my daughters know.
This was a hit. They played this song on the radio from coast to coast.
It was a completely different world.
they totally made the guitar sound like that on purpose! It's just a distorted guitar (again on purpose) back in the day guitar stores sold a little devise called "FuzzTone" so your guitar can sound all gritty, just like Norman's LOL ...you guy's ..."yer killying me Smalls!" oh thumbs up and more "one hit Wonders" please....
Exactly! The fuzz!!! 🎸
This is one of the better one hit wonders of all time , for sure . I don't even believe in God but I be singing this song just in case .
hahaha same here just in case
Norman Greenbaum is Jewish. The song was supposed to a bit of a joke about Christianity but a lot of Christians love it.
Except a true Christian would never say "Never been a sinner, I've never sinned."
@Mathew Kelly I know you said you don’t believe. Never say never he will always forgive are sins all we have to do is ask.
@@dawnmclees who’s “he” ?
Lex is so intuitive! You have Ears like Tom Brady has Eyes... You see the Whole Field! Most enjoyable indeed.
That sound that y'all love is called distortion. It's a gritty sound that you have an option of when you plug your guitar into an amplifier. I love your videos!!
That sound is what makes this song ....what a groovy vibe 💯💯💯💯🔥🔥🔥❤️❤️❤️
They still can't duplicate that exact "Fuzz" effect that he used during this song. 50 years later.
The female background vocals also add to the nostalgic vibe. The Andrew Sisters inspired harmonies are reminiscent of the 40s not unlike the lyrics.
Released in 1970, there's plenty of nostalgia in this tune through WWII
This is old school groovin`! Raw, Pure and exactly the way music is supposed to sound...no computers or autotune to interfere with real people playing real instruments.
This song has been a Number 1 single 3 times here in the UK.
This version by Norman was in 1970.
Doctor & The Medics took it to Number 1 in 1986.
Gareth Gates (with The Kumars) took it to Number 1 in 2003 for Comic Relief.
Nina Hagen did not reach N°1, but ... Nina Hagen
Gonna go on the piss with Georgie Best!
It's kind of amazing that a "church song" got so much radio play over the years. I heard it a ton in my youth. Obviously it's because it's a really cool song, regardless of the religious lyrics.
I'm from the 60's and I love watching you kids discover tunes from when I was a kid. Keep on rockin' ✌🙂
One of my all time favorites songs. Mainly because it transports me to my childhood, a different time, where the world made sense.
Loved seeing both of you feel the groove. You two give great reactions. I love listening to both of you. Thanks.
One of my favorite songs. I taught my 10 year old granddaughter this song and she loves it. I listen to this song every week. Great song. I want it played at my funeral.
Thanks, great, unique song and nothing else sounds like it. Play it at my funeral, too! 🎸
My Mum's all time favorite song! She's still a hippy at heart
This came out during my early teens. I love it to this day at 67! It has appropriately appeared in many movie soundtracks since.
Song always reminds me of my old man that passed. He loved old school rock and roll, rhythm and blues…his type of jam. Love this song 🤘
There’s a terrific cover of this one by a band called Doctor and the Medics. I love both versions.
Was going to recommend the video version but since you’ve mentioned it will instead place here: ua-cam.com/video/VrUoDdS8lBc/v-deo.html
Lex, you have a very nice voice. Brad your smarter then heck! You two are so perfect for each other, I wish and hope for you two's success.
This song came out in the mid 60's I was a kid when this song came out it was more of a hippie vibe song.😊
This is what you play while cruising down the highway driving to go on vacation.
I was just thinking it would be a great riding song.
Well it's that or "Cheeseburger in paradise"......jus' say'n......hee hee
This is the kind of song that never gets old. Good choice to react to.
Lex you are an absolute genious. I love your interpretation of songs, so original and insightful. Been listening to these old classics for decades but you make me look at them in a different way. Love and peace to you both.
More info from an old man who did not read previous comments so,. you may know already,. but here goes,.. Once instruments became 'electrified' instead of all acoustical,. they also started experimenting with different gadgets to enhance the electric rock guitar sound. One was called a 'fuzz distortion box' which was a peddle in the floor that you simply stepped in the knob to turn it on and you got that fuzzy sound. Another very early gadget for the electric guitar was the Wah Wah peddle which was like a pump peddle (on the floor) that the guitarist could use to get the 'wah' wah, wah' sound. You have heard the Wah wah peddle many times before in the older (and even newer) song reactions. Most days rock bands go for natural volume distortion than using a fuzz box. Though I am old and stopped playing music almost 30 years ago so I do not know much about the musical equipment of the last 20 years. Spark one up and then listen to the song again and you will love the fuzz box sound. Lolol
FUZZ BOX on the guitar to give it a psychedelic touch. Rock and gospel fusion.
It is an old-school sound. But I don't think it's the Recording Technology that makes it sound that way. That's just a fat and fuzzy guitar sound that was big in 60s and 70s. But maybe the background vocals might have been recorded with old techniques, since they sound kind of retro even for that time.
He actually had a tech savvy friend of his install a fuzz box effect into his guitar. It had an off and on switch.
@@cloudedbyagonystoppinglies219 I get this feeling that 20% of guitarists in the 60s & 70s could have minored in engineering!
I loved this song as a youngster! But now at 62, I found out 42 years ago that I needed to have His Spirit in me to get up there! In The Sky. Great Reaction as always!
That was the jam back in the day. To you youngsters, that song and audio is and was perfect
I played this song for my cousin and best friend Cliffy, who was all doped up by UCSF hospital staff to ease the pain of his colorectal cancer as he slipped into the next life. We was in that room jamming. They kept walking by, wondering where the music was coming from. Then they seen 2 black guys. Lol!!!🤣😂 I knew about this song ever since the summer of ‘70. My late great homie, Lamar turned me on to it, back home in Detroit.
This has got to be one of my all time faves.
I remember '69 one going two & my two oldest sisters brought two places lady singers from the 5th Dimension because my sisters mentioned our 100+ yr. old great grand mother heard "Age of Aquarius/ Let the Shine in " & loved it, we got a impromptu performance of that & " Up,Up & Away" we all knew the words even mw
One of the best songs out of the 60"s! I was little but i remembered! 😊❤
One of the coolest songs.
Great song with an awesome message. We could use more songs like this on the radio these days
This song is a little hippie Church and rock incorporated I was twelve years old when it came out in nineteen sixty nine used to hear it all the time on the radio.great music
That song was one of a kind that cant be repeated today!! Classsic!!!!
Thank the goat farmer for having a awesome idea. 🤘🤘🤘❤️ its fuzz lex that cannot be replicated
I am 1000% non-believer. But when I listen to Norman Greenbaum Spirit In The Sky I have a friend in Jesus!
Me too! Jesus loves us!
I don't usually believe.....but when I do, I have a friend in Jesus
Yep...I worked with him for 39 years,cool dude
This is a song that was designed to played on large speaker setups and loud, not on headphones.
Preferably by live bands or DJ's with a wall of sound hitting you.
This song was on Rememeber The Titans, hell of a soundtrack that movie had 🔥
A friend of mine recently passed away. She requested this song be played at her interment.It was. Her husband and daughter danced around the casket, as per her wish. It added some levity to a very heavy and somber service.R.I.P. Diane R
This song came out in the movie The Sandlot 2. I know there has been other movies too but that's the one that came up in my mind.
This song was played nightly at every skating rink in America. Young kids skated and bobbed their heads to the beat.
COOLEST guitar intro EVER! Great one, guys! 😎💕❤✌☮ POSSIBLY the GREATEST rock & roll one-hit-wonder of all time! PEACE!
Great guitar music and they played in even tell to day great music
Lex is right - this is different. The unique sound is due to guitar distortion. He had a friend who was good with electronics, install a switch on his guitar to use in place of a pedal. This caused the distortion. He later got rid of the guitar and lost track of it. He has tried, as have many others to replicate the sound with no success. So this is a one hit wonder with a one of a kind sound.
Excellent choice of song 🎵 👌great reactions guys!! 🙌
Awesome song, absolute classic.
This used to be my old ringtone on my old cellphone 🔥💯🎸❤️😁 My go-to song when not feeling life!
That Intro Riff is so Classic 🔥
One of the greatest one hit wonders of all time
I second that motion.
The quality was actually very good! Lex will learn more about mixing as we go!
There’s no such thing as electric guitar without “doing something to it”. The tone is always a product of the rig you put it through. This was heavy distortion and fuzz tone - epic! I’ve loved this song all my life since I was a kid in the sixties.
First time I heard this song was in Rockband, instantly liked it, was so catchy.
It shows up in the movies "Contact", "Apollo 13", "Guardians of the Galaxy" and a few other films about "other spirits in the sky".
It was a great "get the crowd on the dance floor" song for a DJ host. Often heard in the 1970's at a weekend dance event.
Everything about this song was done on purpose. The fuzz box guitar, going away reverb, clap tract, they just maxed out the effects. This was one of those songs that got a lot play. From the first notes you knew what it was.
The roller rink in the late 60’s and beyond! Skate Ranch, Santa Ana, California ❤️❤️❤️
Classic 👌👌👌this was in probably about 100 films
My Mom asked us kids to remember her after she died whenever we heard this song. So... HI MA!!! 😁🥰
Lex is always right on with her comments. She connects themes from different songs and different music together, and she's usually right!
The end of the 60s and the beginning of Jesus rock. George Harrison - My Sweet Lord, Blind Faith - Presence of the Lord, Godspell, Jesus Christ Superstar. Norman is Jewish and said he was capitalizing on the trend.
Modern music...clean sounding...often crushes the warmth out of a recording. Analog (old) > Digital (new).
Not disagreeing with you, but My Sweet Lord had nothing to do with Jesus or Christianity -- at least not according to the background singers chanting "Hare Krishna."
@@jrepka01 he interposes it with the the Christian call to faith "Hallelujah".
Absolutely love this song ❤️ This will be played at my funeral.
Lex is correct. It's simply how the song sounds. It's a very different kinda song both musically and lyrically. And one of my favorite Classic Rock songs. Always have fun listening to this one.
I hear no problem with the sound.It sounds like it always has and is supposed to sound
A Jewish guy singing about Jesus. Pretty ironic. As an agnostic guy, I like it.
Look at most famous Christmas songs, same.
And Jesus was a Jew.😉
Not really that ironic. I am a jew who believes in jesus. My ancestors were the pre Christians.
Yo you guys love your reactions....this was a huge disco hit in the 70s Bear Hugs from Dublin Ireland....
Norman had a fuzz device built into his guitar to achieve this unique sound. Very few artists can replicate it.
As Norman Greenbaum explained to Songfacts, he set out to write a religious rock song. He is Jewish, but instead of using a Jewish word for God, he used "Jesus" because he thought it would be more marketable. It took months for Greenbaum to finish the music, but the lyrics came really quickly. Interesting fact we also learned about Norman: he used to run a goat farm.
The original inspiration for this was a song about a preacher by country singer Porter Wagoner. Greenbaum was also influenced by folk revival music and traditional southern blues.
Here again, Lex will a big smile from video beginning to video end!!! I love your videos and finally subscribed.
"Norman Greenbaum was kind enough to tell us about this song. He set out to write a religious rock song, and he is Jewish. Instead of using a Jewish word for God, he used "Jesus" because he thought it would be more marketable. It took months for Greenbaum to finish the music, but the lyrics came really quickly. Interesting fact we also learned about Norman: he used to run a goat farm.
The original inspiration for this was a song about a preacher by country singer Porter Wagoner. Greenbaum was also influenced by folk revival music and traditional southern blues."
Greenbaum told Mojo magazine September 2011 the song is "timeless." "Most everyone else sees it that way," he said. "It appeals to one's inner self and the need for redemption, plus, heck, who wants to go to hell?"
Custom guitar with a home made over drive circuit built in to it, like a pedal. It's a holy grail guitar tone that nobody will ever really know exactly what it was, because the artist himself didn't know either and didn't think at the time to find out.
He just wanted to bring the good news to a rock audience. He did good.
Love the ultra fuzz distortion🤘. Loved this one for decades.
2:09 😂 "...... _dust_ ehh!" I could listen to her say that for hours!
It's fuzz guitar, from the early days of guitar distortion effects. Specifically, that opening guitar sound is the sound of a 9-volt battery dying within the stomp box [a lot of guitar players like that sound]. Hendrix did the same thing often, but made it sing.
This was recorded in a small Texas studio and Lex picked up on that by the sound. Always been one of my favs, but can’t explain it
That sound always gets me to my bone marrow.