Poll: What is your pick for the GREATEST GUITAR SONG of the ROCK ERA?

@peterd.9978

22 күн бұрын

Black Magic Woman

@sweet--richard.4981

22 күн бұрын

Frampton Comes Alive. Do you feel like we do

@mournblade1066

22 күн бұрын

1950s: "Rebel Rouser" by Duane Eddy (R.I.P.) 1960s: "Bombora!" by The Original Surfaris (no, NOT the band that did "Wipe Out") 1970s: "Time" by Pink Floyd 1980s: "Surfing With the Alien" by Joe Satriani

@aspalovin

22 күн бұрын

Money for Nothing - Dire Straits

@randytessman6750

22 күн бұрын

ooooh .... guitar song - BACK in BLACK !!!

My mother casually mentioned to me (age 15) back in 1970 that she would like to have this song played at her funeral service... 2016 and her request was honored Love you mom

@montyrayza7220

19 күн бұрын

RIP to your mom.

@earthlingjohn

19 күн бұрын

@@montyrayza7220 Thank you 🙏

@butchjohnson40

17 күн бұрын

Thank you for sharing, I believe your mother was smiling down at you.

@earthlingjohn

16 күн бұрын

@@butchjohnson40 Thank you

@seagertblack

16 күн бұрын

Very Kool.

My uncle died back in December and he requested this song be played at his funeral. So it was.

My husband loved this song. He told me almost jokingly that he wanted it played at his funeral. He died in an accident in 2001. I made sure that this song was played at the very end of the service as the pallbearers carried him out. Everyone was on their feet, clapping to the beat. We rocked it out! It was awesome!

@TheOriginalRick

21 күн бұрын

Most any funeral director will admit that this song is in the Top Five of requested songs at sometime during the service.

@TWayneD1020

21 күн бұрын

Awesome !!

@nicholasdalessandro1958

21 күн бұрын

🙏🙏💖💖

@patrickbullock2136

21 күн бұрын

Awesome! What a wonderful way to end his service. Thanks for sharing.

@ronh.798

21 күн бұрын

Great story.

I'm 70 and every time I hear this song, I crank it up (if I can). I love this song.

@1crazypj

11 күн бұрын

you got me beat by a few years but 100% agree

@cathiwim

11 күн бұрын

Me too! 68 here!

@javiercarrasco4496

2 күн бұрын

I’m 67, I still remember going to the music store and buying the 45 rpm vinyl record.

The fact that Norman Greenbaum watches Professor of Rock on KZread and knew who Adam is was awesome. You, Adam, were looking all over for him and here he is seeing you with Kenny Loggins and he comes up to you... that's fate. That's proof this interview was meant to be.

@splenderella9

13 күн бұрын

It's fortunate he was still living - he's 81!

That fuzzy guitar tone is absolutely EPIC. If an artist is only going to have one hit in their lifetime, this is the quintessential one.

@ProfessorofRock

22 күн бұрын

That's right!

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

22 күн бұрын

He just struck GOLD.

@haroldhaywardiii9226

21 күн бұрын

Demands to be cranked up to “eleven.”

@user-vk4el9oy6m

21 күн бұрын

Black Betty also comes to mind.

@franklee2683

4 күн бұрын

Also..."Schleedleschlagle's Train Song...." Epic....

Agreed. He should be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

I was born in 1960 so my teenage years were the 70s. And I remember that we didn't realize that spirit in the sky and put your hand in the hand were religious songs. We just knew that we really loved them. So thank you Norman, for being part of my teenage years.

@splenderella9

13 күн бұрын

Wow - you must have had NO religious education at ALL!

@melodymakermark

13 күн бұрын

@tomkeffer9861, me too! High school class of ‘78. Great time to grow up musically.

@boominator64

12 күн бұрын

@@splenderella9yeah, many people had zero religious experience growing up. I didn’t until I got into college. My parents were good moral people but never went to a church. I too was born in 1960 and my teen years were in the 1970’s. Possibly the best years of rock & roll in my humble belief.

@boominator64

12 күн бұрын

@@melodymakermarkme too. Class of 1978. We would say that “78 was great!” I have nothing but great memories of my life back then in HS.

@1crazypj

11 күн бұрын

Came to comments to say pretty much exactly what you said even though I'm a few years older. I didn't have a particularly religious upbringing, did go to church Sundays for several years but mainly because friend was vicars son (pastor?). Sang in choir for years as well but had no clue Spirit was religious until years later when I actually listened to ALL the words

30 years ago we had a 13 year old babysitter whose parents were extremely strict baptists and wouldn't let her listen to ANY rock music. They had never heard "Spirit in the Sky" and after I introduced them to it and the lyrics - they loosened their beliefs for her.

@DashCrashCam

22 күн бұрын

Ah yes, the religious extremist kinds unfortunately. Where racism was totally okay, but rock music was of the devil. Glad they loosened up a bit after hearing this song.

@Yesica1993

22 күн бұрын

That doesn't even make sense. The song is explicitly UN-biblical: "Never been a sinner, I never sinned I got a friend in Jesus"

@jongilbertson2106

22 күн бұрын

@@DashCrashCamthe abolitionists were religious extremists.

@tomforsythe7024

22 күн бұрын

​@@DashCrashCamWhy do you assume that they were racists? That's not really fair.

@kelseymariel2127

22 күн бұрын

@@tomforsythe7024It’s assumed by certain people who believe others are the intolerant ones, when in reality it’s them that are the ones slapping a label on others they’ve never even met.

When I die And they lay me to rest I hope someone plays this song.

@justJelene

22 күн бұрын

Same!!

@bowtoyoursensei554

21 күн бұрын

Make sure people know you want it played at your funeral.

@Keyspoet27

20 күн бұрын

This and "Speak to the Sky" by Rick Springfield, which came out two years later. Self-professed pseudo-Christians turned me off years ago, so I call myself a follower of Yeshua rather than Christian, because I do my best to follow his actual teachings. Life is wonderful!!!

@Brian_L_A

19 күн бұрын

@@Keyspoet27 John 16:12 “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now." If you look at the context, there were spiritual truths that could not be revealed while Jesus was on Earth. You are missing out.

@jeffreydavis4277

18 күн бұрын

We played this one at my Father in law's funeral, per his request. It was awesome!

It doesn't matter where you are, when this song comes on you can't listen to it at normal volume. It's gotta be loud enough they can hear it in heaven!!!❤️😘🇨🇦

@johnkelly425

21 күн бұрын

So true. Maybe we could see an episode on songs that people turn up when they come on. It’s a legit category!!!

@SailorAllan

18 күн бұрын

hell ya--I keep a list of songs that I HAVE to turn up to eleven when I hear them !

What a great and humble person! Wow, this guy is 82 now and vivid as a twen, just look at his face with barely no wrinkles and his hands without any age spots; he is a truely blessed person, may he live on healthy and long

That was nice of him to say he saw your original show on this song and loved it. What a truly down to earth guy

@ProfessorofRock

22 күн бұрын

So cool!

@gojade3968

22 күн бұрын

I think he was even fanboy-ing a little. I can't blame him.

@gojade3968

22 күн бұрын

(NG for PoR, I mean)

@thetitleisours1

22 күн бұрын

@@gojade3968 Mutual respect :)

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

22 күн бұрын

He’s such a sweet guy.

If there was ever a song that was in it's own genre, it's Spirit In The Sky. There was nothing like it before and hasn't been anything like it since.

I had coffee with Norman about 20 years ago. What I noticed is he is very friendly and generous. Thanks for the great songs!

For you to be looking for Norman Greenbaum for 10 years and he finds you. That's the very definition of serendipity. When Spirit in the Sky comes on the radio (all too rarely these days) the volume will always go up. My family is well aware that this is the one song that must be played at my funeral.

@justachristian4072

16 күн бұрын

Not serendipity, fate. That’s how God does things!

"I'm mixing this for the car because that's where everyone's going to hear it." So, it's the summer of 1970 and my wife at the time and I are just miserable, driving from Boston to Guadalajara Mexico, packed into a 1966 VW bus with everything we own after my parents talked me into going to medical school down there, against my better judgement and wishes. We had the AM radio going pretty much all the time, channel surfing from station to station as we moved south searching for something other than country music and farm reports. The trip had many, many low points, but the highlight each and every day of the trip was the fact that multiple times during the day, we would find a station we could listen to and without fail "Spirit in the Sky" would come on. We would smile at each other, sing along, and for a few miles, forget all our cares. The coolest part was hearing the DJs on Mexican stations with their great radio voices announce our spirit-saving summer song was about to be played one more time.

@grausound

20 күн бұрын

That is awesome

@rosemaryabbott1020

19 күн бұрын

That is a great story! I could feel myself in it! I am 68 so I remember it being in the summertime.

@MegaSnakegirl

15 күн бұрын

So did you finish Mexican med school?

@tonylaudin3777

15 күн бұрын

@@MegaSnakegirl Nope. Knew it was a mistake. Left after one semester. Came home and got a PhD in Biochemistry instead. Had a long, happy, and successful career in healthcare. 😊

@cathiwim

11 күн бұрын

@@tonylaudin3777good for you! Not everyone is meant to be a doctor!

I wasn't raised in a religious family, didn't have a church background, but Spirit in The Sky spoke to me on a deep level. To this day, I count 3 songs as planting seeds of faith, or maybe making me aware anyway of Jesus. They're not religious songs, Per se, yet something about them sparked faith in me that later impacted me: Mrs Robinson (Jesus loves you more could know), Spirit in the Sky (Gotta have a friend in Jesus), and Jesus is just Alright (Jesus, he's my friend..took me by the hand...). Norman is right. He was chosen. Norman, thank you for the song, it's still one of my favorites. Great to see and hear you share your story.

@73cgreene

16 күн бұрын

Isn't it great that a jewish man was among those who inspired you to look to Jesus?!? I love it. Doobie Brothers helped me along as well!!

@MaxPower-js1sk

15 күн бұрын

@@73cgreenefantastic! 😁👍

@lagodifuoco313

15 күн бұрын

You do realize it was hippies mocking religious beliefs, right? Oh, and Jesus was at most a wacky preacher. At the least, a fictional character.

@dpixvid

12 күн бұрын

Great share!

Well, I can tell you one thing for sure. When I die and they lay me to rest I wanna go to the place that’s the best. Thank you, Norman for those immortal words.

I'm 74 and I want to thank you for reintroducing me to Norman Greenbaum. Memories are past and past is memories. Thanks.

@davidtaylor954

18 күн бұрын

75 and totally agree.

Talking about hearing "Spirit in the Sky" at work... I'm a pastor and one day I was in a room in the nursing home keeping vigil with some of my members as their mother/MIL was dying. The hospice nurse came in and sat with us for a bit. Her phone rang, and her ringtone was "Spirit in the Sky"!

@ProfessorofRock

22 күн бұрын

Wow! Such a cool story!

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

22 күн бұрын

That’s amazing!

@BBQDad463

20 күн бұрын

That is totally off the hook!

@franklee2683

4 күн бұрын

​@@ProfessorofRockno,not really..

I'm 59 and I have heard Spirit in the Sky on AM radio a million times over the years and I always wondered whatever happened to him Thanks for the meet up with Norman Greenbaum.🎵🎶🎼🎼🎶🎵

@DashCrashCam

22 күн бұрын

Always puzzling why AM radio lasted so long for music... sound quality is terrible and laughable and only in mono. Great song though, and I remember older music was designed to sound better on AM so maybe that's why it was tolerable.

@ramosel

22 күн бұрын

@@DashCrashCam If you went from a hand held Japanese transistor radio with a single speaker smaller than the palm of your hand... or worse yet, a crystal (piezoelectric) earpiece in only one ear.... on larger, sometimes multiple speakers in a car...it was glorious!! And, even an 8track on a car stereo really wasn't that much better.

@SmallSpoonBrigade

22 күн бұрын

@@DashCrashCam It's because of the range it can cover, has more bandwidth and the massive install base of radios.

@seanswinton6242

22 күн бұрын

I remember hearing "Spirit In The Sky" as a kid, two versions. I heard the original and later an 80s remake by a British band, "Doctor & The Medics." Their appearance was like Robert Smith of the Cure and the band Dead Or Alive.

@LazyIRanch

22 күн бұрын

I'm happy to learn that I share something with Norman Greenbaum, I'm a goat "farmer" (it's rancher, actually since goats don't grow out of the ground) and I live in S. California, leading a simple life off-grid.

My dad's favorite song. Yes, I played it at his funeral. Thank you Norman. And Thank you Adam for bringing us this great interview.

I remember loving that song when I was 16, driving to school. I’m 70 now and still love hearing it. Thanks for the insight.

My Mom, wanted this song played at her memorial. And I'm sure she got to meet the Spirit in the Sky! RIP Mom

@leemontree1

22 күн бұрын

Praise the Name of Jesus.

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

22 күн бұрын

May she RIP.

@judgedrekk2981

22 күн бұрын

My mom had one of Bob Seger's songs played at her service, the song Like A Rock, we tried to think of the best song to play and that came up cus my mom was our rock....the port in storm, the glue that held us together, my dad was the fire, the calamity that drove us away lol

@patrickbullock2136

21 күн бұрын

I'm sure she did!

I remained friends with my first boyfriend (since the late 80's), we became more like brother & sister to each other. I'm Christian, and he's Native American and worships Great Spirit. One day, we were having a conversation, and I began to say to him, "I know that we dont worship the same God, but..." when he interrupted me and asked me, "What makes you think that we dont worship the same God?" He began to explain to me and went into great detail how that we do worship the same God, but that I as a Christian refer to Him as Holy Spirit and he refers to Him as Great Spirit, but that we are both referring to the same One. He passed away in 2018, he had a seizure while he was asleep and never woke up, at least, not here in his earthly body. I was utterly impacted by that conversation we had that one day. Probably one of my most favorite conversations I've ever had with anyone. I'm certain that I'll see my "brother" again one day. This song, has always reminded me of him and that significant conversation we had. ❤

@carlacook5181

22 күн бұрын

I do believe that you will see your dear departed friend again.

@Winter-Lake

22 күн бұрын

@carlacook5181 Aww, thank you! We will all meet in everlasting joy!

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

22 күн бұрын

So sorry for your loss and he seemed like a wonderful man.

@marklennard9503

22 күн бұрын

Awesome story and thanks for sharing

@danbardos3498

22 күн бұрын

I once heard a story about the first settlers in America sharing Christ with a certain tribe of natives. As they were sharing, the natives said, "Yes, we know already this." When asked how, the natives said, "It is written in the sky." The Gospel is written in the stars. God did that so every man could be saved without directly hearing from his prophets. So when someone tries to discredit God by saying, "What about the people who had never heard of him?" You can tell them, "All they had to do was look up." Now many used the stars to gain power from Draco the dragon, aka Satan... but not all. Some got it.

During my high school rock band days, my dad always used to tell us we should play this tune. It was one of his favorites. When my dad passed away last month, the guitar player from that band reached out on Facebook & reminded me of this fact. I put together a playlist of some of my dad’s favorite music to play during the visitation. This was absolutely on it! Thanks for a great episode about an amazing classic song! 🙏💛😇 🎶🎸

I used to be a serious Christian. This song was up there with Dust In the Wind, Jesus is Just Alright, and a few others that were rock songs that talked about religion. I'm no longer Christian (I don't care if you are or not), but these songs still bring me joyful memories of my youth. Some songs are priceless to me. This is among them. Thank you Professor for keeping the music off my youth alive!! JJ -South Alabama

@teejayryan1

9 күн бұрын

JJ - Jesus will welcome his child back with open, loving arms. Prayers for you brother.

The #1 Lightning In A Bottle song of all-time !!!! How serendipitous you ran into Norman!

@ProfessorofRock

22 күн бұрын

Right?

@ronaldnelson6692

22 күн бұрын

@surlechapeau And ran into him at such a milestone for the channel.

@sleepyhollow783

22 күн бұрын

I would say it is Providence. Quite proper to call it #1. It is the greatest because about Who the song is. 🕊

I have a friend who tragically lost her son who suffered from addiction and mental health issues. He had a good heart. H3 wouldn't hurt a fly but was self destructive. She came to me for advice on music to play at his funeral. I didn't even have to think about it this song immediately came to mind.

In 69 through 73 we lived in Cotati and my mom drove out to Norman's farm to buy eggs every week. End of the beginning was the little bar in town and the tunes were the regular Thursday night band, the dead did surprise shows, that place was magical back then

Generally, I find old hippies that have tried to keep their glory days hair to be a bad look. Norm, you've kept it glorious.

@jackm6307

13 күн бұрын

Hair? What hair? But seriously, I have just enough for the bad look...very bad.

WHO doesn' love his "Masterpiece"?

@SeaDanceDream

22 күн бұрын

It’s iconic! 🤌

N.G.: "I didn't write anything about the weather. I left that to the Turtles." LOL! I actually got that reference. (The line in "Happy Together's" outro: "And how is the weather?")

@ProfessorofRock

22 күн бұрын

He is so witty. Really enjoyed this interview.

@irishgrl

22 күн бұрын

I caught that too! That was my mom & step-dad’s song “Happy Together!”

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

22 күн бұрын

Yup, that was a great pun!

@D-Fens_1632

19 күн бұрын

Wasn't he famous for a song about early morning rain?

I was 9 years old when Spirit in the Sky hit the airwaves and I was absolutely blown away when I heard it. I have been a raging fan ever since. I still crank my stereo to the max whenever it comes on my iPod/cellphone. Drives my wife nuts because I don’t want to talk, just sing my “Hippy Music”! It really takes me back. Thank you Norman!

@monicacall7532

21 күн бұрын

Same here!!!

I grew up in Oak Park, IL and knew Erik Jacobsen the producer. He was older than me in our high school years but we shared a love for the American Folk scene in the early 60's. By 1970 I had hitchhiked to California. A benign hippy cult called Jews for Jesus discovered me on the beach at Bodega Bay and invited me to crash with them on a chicken farm in Petaluma. That farm turned out to belong to Norman Greenbaum bought with the money he made from the settlement with Jacobsen (a long story you probably already know). When we discovered we knew many mutual acquaintances I was overcome by the aura of serendipity that surrounds him. Now you have experienced that sense of predestination and the cyclical nature of the universe. Peace

@bobanderson3881

19 күн бұрын

Norman was a cult leader?

@dogstar7

19 күн бұрын

Good question and I should clarify. Norman’s chicken farm was known as an open place to camp on the land if you were in the area. The cult was well known and would hold parties in the fields. Norman was the flip side to Manson sort of thing, chaotic good

@bobanderson3881

18 күн бұрын

@@dogstar7 Yeah there were a lot of cults back then. Moonies, Children of God, Hare Krishna. "Gotta have a friend in Jesus" lyric makes sense if he was with the Jews for Jesus. On the Mason note would you be suprised to find out Mason and his crew are crisis actors and to this day the whole thing was a fabricated psyop operation. Miles Mathis has a long 95 page document easily proving it. Search... Miles Mathis/ tate.

Lightning in a bottle. It was meant to be. Thank you for the interview. And thank you Norman. Love your song. May it live forever. It’s on my playlist and will be played at my funeral.

@danatowne5498

22 күн бұрын

Thank you for writing what I feel too. :)

I remember when Spirit in the Sky” came out, and you couldn’t walk a block without hearing it blasting out of a store, car, or apartment window. One of my Top 3 One Hit Wonders, thanks Professor!

The number of times he expressed gratitude

I always stop to listen and respect that song, thank you Norman, a truly a masterpiece.

One of the greatest songs of his era, and it's because it's unique.

@ProfessorofRock

22 күн бұрын

For sure1

@robertsherman871

22 күн бұрын

Of ANY era!

Man, don't know what is cooler... the interview or just how you finally were able to connect with him in the first place!

YES...Norman Greenbaum definitely needs to go to the Hall with this song. One of the most intense energetically fulfilling songs EVER. The best version is Mr. Greenbaum's...Favorite among the songs reminding of 'David' dancing in worship and thanks in God.

Hold a Contest to award someone who gets the closest to the original sound. A Guitar with Norman's signature for the prize will probably bring out many hopefuls...

What a great score. He was famously a recluse.

@ProfessorofRock

22 күн бұрын

That's right!

@SmallSpoonBrigade

22 күн бұрын

@@ProfessorofRock It's a testament to the job you're doing in terms of covering these songs with dignity.

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

22 күн бұрын

Not surprising at all!

@robertcuratolo5339

21 күн бұрын

20:39

@MARRANCA2

20 күн бұрын

Dignity and respect. And the full honor that they deserve for entertaining the world

Great song. Great guy. 81 years old. God bless him. Hope he's around for many more years.

Great story and great song I loved Porter Wagoner and I'm a native Ute, Comanche and Apache North American 41% and am a born again Christian Love this song.

@suzanmcgaw888

14 күн бұрын

❤

@randyman1739

13 күн бұрын

Amen n halleluYah! All glory to God for reaching you. 🙏✝️💞

@celestearellano3720

13 күн бұрын

@@randyman1739 Thank God for the white race for making America great and bringing Christianity,

@celestearellano3720

13 күн бұрын

@@randyman1739 Without the beauty of the JudeoChristian values we the American Native Americans would be pagans. The constitution is beautiful,

The Gods of music came down and touched this song, this production. All Hail the spirits in the sky.

Norman and his wife Bonita are some of the nicest people you'll ever meet. It was an honor to play with them on the On The Blue cruise recently. I grew up listening to Spirit In The Sky and it has special meaning for me.

What a great way to celebrate a million! Thank you Professor!

My Great Aunt, who was a devout Catholic, passed away some years back. After the graveside ceremony, we got back in our car, and as soon as we started the car, this song started playing on the radio on the first note.

I always wondered what Norman looked like, I loved that song I was one of the million buyers, I'm still listening to it now I'm 70, it reminds of my youth what a cool guy you are Norman thanks for the song. 😃😃

There is nothing else like this song , definitely way ahead of it's time. So glad you finally got an interview with Norman, that guitar sound is just ear candy. Congrats on 1 mil by the way! Such an amazing accomplishment.

@ProfessorofRock

22 күн бұрын

Thank you so much! He is such a great guy!

@brandontingley7059

22 күн бұрын

Not ahead of its time. Just timeless. That's better.

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

22 күн бұрын

It’s just a cool sounding guitar.

I was only 13 at the time and this was a HUGE hit on the radio. 54 years later and I've never heard anyone replicate this sound. Literal lightning in a bottle. Thanks for the wonderful childhood memories Mr. Greenbaum.

My eight year old niece loved this song in the early 70's. Mid-70's she was diagnosed with leukemia and passed away a couple years later, 12 years old I think. Very special kid. I still think of her when I hear this beautiful song. Great interview. I always wondered what happened to Mr. Greenbaum, and he sounds like a very cool person.

@MrTrailerman2

22 күн бұрын

Sorry 😞

I'm 77 and I love this song, the riff, the lead, the vocals, all of it. It will be what people hear when they come to my funeral.

In '08 and '09 when I was deployed to Iraq with an MP Unit here in Indiana. I was a Driver and my TC (Truck Commander). would play, Spirit in The Sky, every morning before we started our mission for the day. Hearing this today, first brought a smile to my face and then made me emotional. Myself, the gunner, and the medic would occasionally ask the TC to play a different song. He wouldn't do it. We heard this song or no song at all. Thanks for this episode! 🥂BTW. I would like to see you do your own top 10 episode.

@ProfessorofRock

22 күн бұрын

So cool! Thank you for sharing!

@hgodvilla00

22 күн бұрын

There is a great cover of the song from the 1980s as well. How ironic you had a medic listening to the song with you. The only person missing from your group was a doctor.

@richardchambers3533

22 күн бұрын

@80s-el Thank you for your service!🫡

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

22 күн бұрын

This is awesome!

@johnkelly425

21 күн бұрын

Adam’s top 10 episode would be three hours long because I’ve kept track and he has named 87 songs to be in his top 10 or higher.

Yeah, "Spirit in the Sky" by Norman Greenbaum and "Driver's Seat" by Sniff 'n' the Tears are tied for #1 in my list of greatest one-hit wonders.

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

22 күн бұрын

Two great ones!

@caseyjones6197

20 күн бұрын

I’d add Black Betty by Ram Jam to your list. Great music.

I don't know about anywhere else, but where I grew up back in the day, we were pretty much all churchgoers. And this song, was visceral, to the bone. I still love it. There was nothing like it, back then, and even now. I am talking the 70s, of course. That 70s Show, pretty much captures how it was, back then. And this song was on our playlist, after we left church on Sunday summer days, and headed for the mountains to truly find our personal G-d.

This was one of my favorite songs played at a funeral until I heard a talented guitarist play “I can only imagine.” Brought tears to my eyes. This is the song I want played at my funeral. GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!

I worked with a lady whose mother had that played at her funeral, what a better song to have telling everyone there she was going to a better place.

@ProfessorofRock

22 күн бұрын

Thanks!

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

22 күн бұрын

It’s a perfect funeral song.

Finally, somebody who correctly refers to foods that are good for you as “healthful” as opposed to “healthy”. Thank you, sir.

I had this played at my son’s funeral I think of him when I hear it I was a kid when it first came out I loved it

Why not try to have him inducted for this song. A letter write in bombardment with your Acknowledgement that this is the best one hit wonder that spans the decades. Jim from Cincinnati

1969 6 years old going on 7 still living on Oahu!! One of 20+ songs that takes me back there. A couple others; BAND ON THE RUN, BENNIE AND THE JETS, MY SWEET LORD, BLACK WATER!! Those were the days my friend!! Thanks Professor!! Peace 🕊️☮️♾️😎

@vixstert.5642

22 күн бұрын

I was born in late 1969 & I know every song you listed. 🤘 Music was so much better back then, in my humble opinion. 😉 Lived on Oahu (Hickam AFB) from 75 to 79.

@LazyIRanch

22 күн бұрын

That sounds like an amazing childhood! I've never been to Hawaii, but it was my parents' favorite place to go to rekindle their romance during their 40 years together, and Oahu was their favorite island. I was 8 years old in 1969, and I love the music we grew up with.

@user-lh3dq4zt7u

22 күн бұрын

What's it like to be in your early 60s like me?

@allengray5748

22 күн бұрын

@@user-lh3dq4zt7uThankful I can stand! ☮️

@allengray5748

22 күн бұрын

@@vixstert.5642 Cool!! I lived straight up from Barbers Point and Ewa Beach in Makakilo before the school was built.☮️

One of the greatest songs ever made. I love this song.

@ProfessorofRock

22 күн бұрын

Amen to that statement!

Truly one of my all time favorite songs

I have been providing karaoke in bars since 2003 and I am the only person in 12 years who performed "Spirit in the Sky" always absorbing the applause and appreciation. There are very few who don't let the message and thrill enter their hearts...and make it to their faces!

Must have been a "Spirit in the SKY" moment to meet Norman and have 1 million subscribes. Here's to many more of both, Professor! I somehow picture you, your dad and Norman riding on the open plains to "Spirit in the Sky" someday.

@ProfessorofRock

22 күн бұрын

Thanks!

@LazyIRanch

22 күн бұрын

That's a beautiful image! It was definitely serendipity that brought Adam and Norman together for this wonderful interview.

“Even though it’s a song about dying”…. yep but it’s about dying and not ending. There’s hopefulness in that, so it’s a hopeful song. “Death is only the beginning”…. Another great background song from my youth.

PORTER WAGNER!! Never in a million years would I have thought that there was any connection between this song and Porter Wagner.

This guys memory is incredible. You can live the songs development day by day.

One of the most iconic guitar riffs ever created and it can't be reduplicated because the parts aren't made anymore!!?? I know I have never heard that sound before or since! So mind-blowing Norm found you because of my favorite channel, Norman is great, tons of personality and I'm glad I got to hear his story behind the song the spirits gave him. One of a kind episode, Mr. Greenbaum looks great and is a blast to listen to. ❤

@SmallSpoonBrigade

22 күн бұрын

That's probably going to be more common over time. There's a lot of retro things that have their own characteristics based on old time technology. And it's really a range, from technical devices to just simple things like twinkle christmas lights.

@LazyIRanch

22 күн бұрын

I love his description of how the song gives the listener chills from the first note. That's my experience too, makes my scalp tingle and gives me goosebumps. About 28 years ago, my boyfriend and I had gone camping at the Red River in Texas when some ugly dark clouds came rolling in. We quickly packed up our stuff in his van and headed for home near Dallas, 60 miles South of that campground. We each had a son , both 4 year old little boys, and didn't want them to be frightened. We saw a funnel cloud behind us, and the reports on the radio were dire. There were several tornadoes that had hit Southern Oklahoma. We were idiots to try to outrun a tornado, but we did! I changed the radio from the scary reports to an oldies station, and this song came on! To this day, when I see a storm front moving in, I hear this song in my head. It has such power, and seemed to both illustrate the drama of the moment while giving us a sense that we were going to be okay. That campground we left was wrecked, trees uprooted everywhere.

@MyName-pl7zn

22 күн бұрын

@@LazyIRanch wow! What a wild and amazing story, it could not be more fitting of someone or something watching over you all that day!

@MyName-pl7zn

22 күн бұрын

@@SmallSpoonBrigade very true but will they ever be able to capture the feel of it

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

22 күн бұрын

He really had a competitive advantage with this song. A HUGE one.

This great song, Ma Belle Amie, by Tee Set, Ride Captain Ride, by Blues Image, and so many others. These were all part of the soundtrack of 1970.

@ProfessorofRock

22 күн бұрын

Such a great time!

@loginregional

22 күн бұрын

And Where do you do to, my lovely? Je t'aime... moi non plus. We radiated mour music.

@stevecrescini2081

22 күн бұрын

You got that right! Throw in The Rapper by Jaggerz, Instant Karma by John Lennon, In The Summertime by Mongo Jerry, Spill the Wine by Eric Burden and War, and Maybe I’m Amazed by Paul McCartney and it was a great year for the radio

@davidknight2749

22 күн бұрын

My Senior year. Throw in Tighter, Tighter and Galveston

@shuroom57

22 күн бұрын

​@@stevecrescini2081"Go Back", Crabby Appleton, "Indiana Wants Me", R. Dean Taylor, "Long, Long Time", Linda Ronstadt, "Joanne", Michael Nesmith & the First National Band, "1900 Yesterday", Liz Damon & the Orient Express, "Looking Out My Back Door", Credence Clearwater Revival, "What's Going On"/"Mercy Mercy Me", Marvin Gaye, "Your Song", Elton John, "One Man Band", Three Dog Night, "Hang On To Your Life", the Guess Who, "Soul Shake", Delaney & Bonnie and Friends, "Who Needs Ya", Steppenwolf, "Our House", CSNY; 1970 was/is very near and dear to me. I was 13; my transistor radio was my best friend.

One of my all time favorites. God bless Norman and crew for bringing us this classic.

Timeless song!!! As relevant today as the day it first hit the airwaves!

Hi POR❣️❣️❣️ I really needed this right now. Thank you for all the hard work you do🙏❤️🙏 I really appreciate you🥰🙏❤️ Norman is such a sweetheart❤️❤️❤️ We need more famous people like him in our world 🙏❤️🙏 I would love to sit with him and hear all his amazing stories ❣️❣️❣️

@LazyIRanch

22 күн бұрын

Norman is a beautiful soul! I love this interview, and I can see why Mr. Greenbaum chose Adam to do this interview. It sounds like he's a fan of POR for the same reasons I am. Adam is a gifted interviewer who doesn't ask cringey questions and always shows such respect to artists and true appreciation of their music. This is a special treat today!

I remember my born again church singing this song as a kid growing up in the 80s. Good ole Norm

@ProfessorofRock

22 күн бұрын

Awesome!

@em7dim9

21 күн бұрын

It isn't a Christian song though. "I've never been a sinner; I've never sinned" pretty much does away with that notion entirely.

@robertsettle2590

21 күн бұрын

​@@em7dim9...you're wrong.

@robchit1

21 күн бұрын

@@em7dim9 I noticed that and I can't seem to come up with an alternative to that, except maybe "I used to be a sinner, I used to sin..." Yes, we are ALL sinners but forgiven.

@gregorymoore2877

21 күн бұрын

@@robchit1 Whenever I've played it I changed it to "I'm just a sinner whose been forgiven" or "I'm just a sinner, I've been forgiven."

This guy is real deal and very humble.

I saw him in 1969 at the Honolulu International Center. He was the opening act and he said that he also played on a novelty song called "The Eggplant That Ate Chicago". He played that song too. Real catchy tune. Humble guy.

You never forget it once you hear it.

Thank you for this interview with Norman Greenbaum. I loved this song when it came out (I'm 70 years old now) and he certainly is deserving to be the subject of your Million subscribers channel. PoR, you're our very own Kasey Kasem today. I'm so glad that your Dad was able to instill the love of music and the history and stories of the artists. I love the way you honor his memory.

@davej.meister5421

22 күн бұрын

John Beaudin from Rock History Music claims he's the new Casey Kasem. He's good, but I don't agree. Adam is CK.

@craigw.scribner6490

21 күн бұрын

I'm 69 and I've loved this song from the very first time I heard it!

Another one-hit wonder which has been completely forgotten is "Tragedy" by Thomas Wayne. It reached no. 5 on the charts in early 1959. He was only 19 when he recorded it in late 1958. His girlfriend was still in high school and she formed a group with two of her high school friends and they called themselves The DeLons. They backed him on this song, which was recorded in a garage on Fernwood Ave. in Memphis, on the Fernwood label, and the only instrumental backing was one guitar. Their vocals were so haunting that's all they needed.

"... I'm going to mix it for the car...." WOW That's where I listened to it almost all the time!

The 70’s produced some mysterious guitar tones for sure. “American Woman” still trips me up to this day.

Norman Greenbaum, was and is a Blessing from God.

That dude has a vibe where you just wanna be his friend. Very cool. Congrats on the M, Professor.

From late 1968 through 1972, I was working at Woody's Smorgasburger in Westwood Village and going to Santa Monica College. By 1970, I was a shift supervisor and had the job of 'opening' the restaurant on Sunday mornings. Now the radio stations in LA frequently used Sunday mornings to meet their 'public service' requirements mandated then by the F.C.C. One rock station in particular had a fairly cool 'talk guy' who would intersperse his interviews and/or 'sermons' if you will, with some appropriate songs. It was driving into work on Sunday mornings when I discovered 'Spirit In The Sky'. I had been brought up in the Lutheran church but had drifted away as so many youth had done, but those thoughts and ideas about God and Jesus were still in my head, and years later when I returned to faith, I think listening to 'Spirit In The Sky' so much back when had something to do with that. Thanks, Norman.

Even today if I hear it it gets cranked up! It's a great song!

@bongopirate0672

22 күн бұрын

💯

@stubby8663

22 күн бұрын

Same here, I'm 65 now and my Hearing is almost gone, But when This song comes on Everyone Else Better Cover their ears Because "I'm Gonna HEAR IT" !😉

Oh my gosh you found him!! Man i have never been able to find anything on him! Thanks Professor! T.C.B. ⚡ 🤟

Every time I hear Spirit in the Sky, it still gives me the chills (in a good way) and a feeling of inspiration as well as a feeling that all things must come to an end, and we should live the best life we can, because there's someone watching us, and he has a place for those who try to do the right thing.

Love this song and great interview. My 81 yr. old mother still calls this " that Indian song". And we both turn up the volume for this.

I love Norman, he seems content with his life❤

Greenbaum is a legend

@ProfessorofRock

22 күн бұрын

Amen!

Spirit in the sky, a beautiful song , still played everywhere

The Guardians soundtrack went so fast because it had ALL miraculous music. Spirit in the Sky was an absolutely perfect addition to the album.

Words cannot describe finding a person like Norman Greenbaum while just doing whatever you love and getting a chance to talk to him. And the song is like a 3-minute interview with anyone contemplating what happens after life. Maybe the subject matter makes it to where that song tone is unique and only touchable by those who understand.

One of the best interviews I have seen. I really like how you let him talk. Thanks!!!

I'm 66 years old and I remember at 10 years old. That I would roll escape to this song. And it was my favorite song every time I roller skated. I would request this song from the guy to play the music in the roller rink. Thank you, thank you, thank you.😊