Released June 14, 1968 Producer Jim Hilton | Length 36:15 Release date 1968 | |
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Recorded First half of 1968 (side two was recorded on 27 May '68) at Gold Star Studios, Hollywood, CA and Ultra-Sonic Studios, Hempstead, New York Similar Iron Butterfly albums, Rock music albums | ||
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida is the second studio album by the American rock band Iron Butterfly, released in 1968. It is most known for the title track which occupies the whole of Side B. The album is also available in a deluxe edition CD.
Contents
The In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida LP peaked at number 4 on the Billboard albums chart and became the first album to be awarded platinum status when the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) began that achievement level in 1976. It has since been certified 4× platinum album in the United States, and achieved worldwide sales of over 30 million copies. It was the biggest selling album for the year 1969 in the US. It was also Atlantic Records' biggest selling album until it was surpassed by Led Zeppelin IV.
Reception
Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic rated In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida four-and-a-half out of five stars. He called the title track "the epitome of heavy psychedelic excess". He also stated that the rest of the songs "qualify as good artifacts". Jim Pomeroy of Rolling Stone was less enthusiastic, calling Ingle's singing "inflexible and sterile" and wrote that he played a "strictly chicken shit organ". The writer also called out the length of the title track, which "managed to bore me to death".
Original LP
All tracks written by Doug Ingle except where noted.
Singles
Personnel
Production
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida Deluxe Edition
A "Deluxe Edition" of In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida was released in 1995. It included material from newly discovered first-generation master tapes, bonus recordings, and a 36-page booklet with photos. This re-release includes three versions of "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida": the 17:05 studio version; the 19-minute live version from Iron Butterfly's Live (which includes a short organ intro), and the 2:52 single edit. The Deluxe Edition also includes a new cover, similar to the original, but with a moving butterfly flapping its wings and the band members jamming to the song.
Songs
1Most Anything You Want3:43
2Flowers and Beads3:07
3My Mirage4:53