Hi everyone it is Sunday again and time for Jim Adam’s Song Lyric Sunday. I was not well enough to post last Sunday and not really at full par yet but here we go , I am back. Anyway this week 12 June 2022 – the prompt is Excitement, Pleasure, Sentiment, Spirit suggested by Melanie B Cee aka Sparky of Sparks From A Combustible Mind.
In 1969 I was an almost free spirit, already going out this hubby and I was a trainee window dresser. I really loved this song and of it came on at work I be dancing around the window, shopfloor or stock room to it . I loved the words, I loved the music .I loved Norman Greenbaum! Well there is a lot of information on this song and I think it’s all relevant so settle back and enjoy 💜💜
“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 the album of the same name. The single became a gold record, selling two million copies from 1969 to 1970, and reached No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 where it lasted for 15 weeks in the Top 100. Billboard ranked the record the No. 22 song of 1970. 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.
“Spirit in the Sky” makes several religious references to Jesus, although Greenbaum himself is Jewish. In a 2006 interview with The New York Times, Greenbaum told a reporter he was inspired to write the song after watching Porter Wagoner singing a gospel song on TV. Greenbaum said: “I thought, ‘Yeah, I could do that,’ knowing nothing about gospel music, so I sat down and wrote my own gospel song. It came easy. I wrote the words in 15 minutes.”
Greenbaum had previously been a member of psychedelic jug band Dr. West’s Medicine Show and Junk Band. When they split up he won a solo contract with producer Erik Jacobsen for Reprise Records. Jacobsen had previously worked with The Lovin’ Spoonful and the song was included on Greenbaum’s first solo album. The song’s arrangement came together in the studio in San Francisco where lead guitarist Russell DaShiell, bass player Doug Killmer from the band Crowfoot and drummer Norman Mayell from the band Sopwith Camel worked with Greenbaum. According to The New York Times article, Greenbaum used a Fender Telecaster guitar with a fuzz box built into the body to generate the song’s characteristic guitar sound.
The resulting sound was an “oddly compelling” combination of gospel and hard rock music, with loud drums, distorted electric guitar, clapping hands, and tambourines. The production team brought in the Stovall Sisters, an Oakland-based gospel trio, to sing backing vocals. Because of the song’s length and lyrics, the record company was initially reluctant to issue it, but it was finally released as a single after two other singles from the album had poor sales.”Spirit in the Sky” became a worldwide hit, and was at the time the best-selling single ever for the Reprise label.
There is a music video with Greenbaum singing the song.
About the song, Greenbaum has been quoted as saying, “It sounds as fresh today as when it was recorded. I’ve gotten letters from funeral directors telling me that it’s their second-most-requested song to play at memorial services, next to ‘Danny Boy‘.”
The song was featured in the soundtrack to the 2013 film This is the End and was included in the soundtrack for the 2014 film Guardians of the Galaxy.
When I die and they lay me to rest
Gonna go to the place that’s the best
When I lay me down to die
Goin’ up to the spirit in the sky
Goin’ up to the spirit in the sky (spirit in the sky)
That’s where I’m gonna go when I die (when I die)
When I die and they lay me to rest
I’m gonna go to the place that’s the best
Prepare yourself you know it’s a must
Gotta have a friend in Jesus
So you know that when you die
He’s gonna recommend you
To the spirit in the sky (spirit in the sky)
Oh he’ll recommend you to the spirit in the sky
That’s where you’re gonna go when you die (when you die)
When you die and they lay you to rest
You’re gonna go to the place that’s the best
Never been a sinner, I never sinned
I got a friend in Jesus
So you know that when I die
He’s gonna set me up
with the spirit in the sky
Oh set me up with the spirit in the sky (spirit in the sky)
That’s where I’m gonna go when I die (when I die)
When I die and they lay me to rest
I’m gonna go to the place that’s the best
Go to the place that’s the best
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Norman Greenbaum
Spirit in the Sky lyrics © Concord Music Publishing LLC
**********
This next song is from the same year so I was still doing the same things. This song by Herman’s Hermits could not be more different but I loved it just as much and again I would be dancing at work … I don’t know how I got away with it but I did.
“My Sentimental Friend” is a song written by Geoff Stephens and John Carter and performed by Herman’s Hermits. Released in 1969. The song is Herman’s Hermits’ second highest charting song in the UK, reaching No. 2 in the UK chart. It also reached No. 2 in Ireland, No. 3 in Australia, No. 6 in New Zealand, and No. 1 in South Africa.
On the floor, the people dancing round
Moving close together
But there over low in the corner
There’s the girl I once knew
Who broke me in two
So won’t you please play a song
A sentimental song
For my sentimental friend over there
We’ve been so long apart
Make it go right to the heart
Of my sentimental friend over there
Bring the tears to her eyes
Help to make her realize
The love we had was just beyond compare
And if the time is right
Maybe I’ll hold her tight
My sentimental friend over there
I recall the way she used to feel
When we heard a sad song
The teardrops would fall
And she’d hold me
And tell me, she’d be for ever with me
So won’t you please play a song
A sentimental song
For my sentimental friend over there
We’ve been so long apart
Make it go right to the heart
Of my sentimental friend over there
Bring the tears to her eyes
Help to make her realize
The love we had was just beyond compare
And if the time is right
Maybe I’ll hold her tight
My sentimental friend over there
Oh won’t you please play a song
A sentimental song
For my sentimental friend over there
We’ve been so long apart
Make it go right to the heart
Of my sentimental friend over there
Bring the tears to her eyes
Help to make her realize
The love we had was just beyond compare
And if the time is right
Maybe I’ll hold her tight
My sentimental friend over there
So won’t you please play a song
A sentimental song
For my sentimental friend over there
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Geoff Stephens / John Carter.
********
I’m so excited by the Pointer Sisters is one of the greats such a great song and what a video it puts me in mind of the Black Eyed Peas video for Tonight’s Gonna be a Good night
But I digress back to 1982 and I am still dancing but now I am expecting our youngest 💜
“I’m So Excited” is a song by American vocal groupthe Pointer Sisters. Jointly written and composed by the sisters in collaboration with Trevor Lawrence, it was originally released in September 1982, reaching number 30 on the US Billboard Hot 100. This was followed by a remixed re-release in July 1984, reaching number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. Billboard named the song number 23 on their list of “100 Greatest Girl Group Songs Of All Time”.
The song was originally recorded for and appeared on the Sisters’ 1982 album, So Excited!, and was subsequently released as a single. Upon its release, the single charted at No. 28 on the Billboard Dance Music/Club Play Singles chart, No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 46 on the Billboard R&B Singles chart.
Two years later, on the group’s RIAA certified multi-Platinum album Break Out, a slightly remixed and edited version of the song was included and re released as a single. This time, it peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 25 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.
In March 2001, the song was included in the RIAA and National Endowment for the Arts project Songs of the Century, a list intended to “promote a better understanding of America‘s musical and cultural heritage.” The song was ranked #264 out of 365 songs.
Tonight’s the night we’re gonna make it happen
Tonight we’ll put all other things aside
Give in this time and show me some affection
We’re goin’ for those pleasures in the night
I want to love you, feel you
Wrap myself around you
I want to squeeze you, please you
I just can’t get enough
And if you move real slow, I’ll let it go
I’m so excited, and I just can’t hide it
I’m about to lose control and I think I like it
I’m so excited, and I just can’t hide it
And I know, I know, I know, I know, I know I want you
And we shouldn’t even think about tomorrow
Sweet memories will last a long, long time
And we’ll have a good time, baby, don’t you worry
And if we’re still playin’ around, boy, that’s just fine
Let’s get excited, we just can’t hide it
I’m about to lose control and I think I like it
I’m so excited and I just can’t hide it
And I know, I know, I know, I know, I know I want you, I want you
Oh yes I do
Oh boy, I want to love you, feel you
Honey wrap myself around you
I want to squeeze you, please you
No I just can’t get enough
And if you move real slow, I’ll let it go
I’m so excited, and I just can’t hide it
I’m about to lose control and I think I like it
I’m so excited, and I just can’t hide it
And I know, I know, I know, I know, I know I want you, I want you
Look what you do to me
You got me burning up (Burning up)
How did you get to me?
I’ve got to give it up
And I’m so excited (Look what you do to me)
Oh boy (You got me burning up)
I’m burning up yeah, oh I think I like it (Yeah)
You, you, you, you, you got me (I’ve got to give it up)
(Oh oh oh oh) Oh, ooh I like it boy
And I’m so excited (Look what you do to me)
And I just can’t hide it (You got me burning up)
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: June Pointer / Anita Pointer / Trevor Anthony Lawrence / Ruth Pointer
I’m So Excited lyrics © Emi Blackwood Music Inc., Anita Pointer Publishing, Leggs Four Publishing, Ruth Pointer Publishing.
********
Finally let’s jump to 1986 and Queen and Pain is so close to pleasure. The boys had to like my music and like to dance or die of embarrassment, great song and an interesting video too I think.
“Pain Is So Close to Pleasure” is a song by Queen, included on their 1986 album A Kind of Magic. In Canada, Germany, the Netherlands and the USA, it was released as the sixth single from that album.
The song began as a riff idea by Brian May. Then Freddie Mercury and John Deacon turned that into a song, with Deacon playing rhythm guitar. The single reached #43 on the Dutch charts. The title also appears as a line in “One Year of Love“. As with most Mercury songs, it has prominent keyboards and, like most Deacon songs, it has a prominent bass line. It is also one of the few songs in which Mercury sings all the vocals in falsetto.
The version which appears on the single is a remix, rearranging much of the backing track from the original elements. The 12″ single features an extended version of this remix, rather than an extended version of the track as it appears on the album. “Pain Is So Close to Pleasure” has more than 58,000 hits on Lastfm.
Happy Sunday 😁😌😁
willowdot21 