In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (album)
1968 studio album by Iron Butterfly
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In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida is the second studio album by the American rock band Iron Butterfly, released in June 1968. It is most known for its title track, a 17-minute composition that occupies the entirety of Side B.
| In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | June 14, 1968 | |||
| Recorded | First half of 1968 (side two was recorded on May 27, 1968) | |||
| Studio | ||||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 36:15 | |||
| Label | Atco/Atlantic Records | |||
| Producer | Jim Hilton | |||
| Iron Butterfly chronology | ||||
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| Singles from In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida | ||||
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A massive commercial success, In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida peaked at number 4 on the Billboard albums chart. It was officially certified a Gold album in 1968 in the United States, and on January 26, 1993, it was certified 4× Platinum. In Canada, it was on the charts for 91 weeks between October 14, 1968, and July 18, 1970.
Composition and music
The tracks on the album's front side are psychedelic in style, while the album's back side is entirely composed of its closer, "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" a 17-minute track that has been described as an "unprecedented epic."[1] The tracks "My Mirage" and "Flowers And Beads" have been characterized as representing "the dark side of hippie ideology."[2]
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| Rolling Stone | Negative[4] |
| Encyclopedia of Popular Music |  [5] |
In a retrospective review for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine calls the title track "the epitome of heavy psychedelic excess," and feels that the rest of the songs "qualify as good artifacts."[3] It was voted number 783 in Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums.[6]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Doug Ingle, except "Termination", by Erik Brann and Lee Dorman.
Side one
- "Most Anything You Want" – 3:44
- "Flowers and Beads" – 3:09
- "My Mirage" – 4:55
- "Termination" – 2:53
- "Are You Happy" – 4:31
Side two
- "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" – 17:05
1995 deluxe edition bonus tracks
- "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" (live) – 18:51
- "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" (single version) – 2:53
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 live version from Iron Butterfly's Live (which includes a short organ intro); and the 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.
Personnel
Iron Butterfly
- Erik Brann – guitar, backing vocals; lead vocals (track 4)
- Ron Bushy – drums, percussion
- Lee Dorman – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Doug Ingle – Vox Continental organ, vocals[7]
All arrangements by Iron Butterfly
Technical
- Jim Hilton – producer, engineer
- Bill Cooper – mixing engineer
- Don Casale – engineer
- Loring Eutemey – artwork
- Stephen Paley – photography
Charts
| Chart (1968–1970) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[8] | 14 |
| Canada (RPM)[9][10][11][12] | 8 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[13] | 5 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[14] | 11 |
| US Billboard 200[15] | 4 |
| Chart (1969) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[16] | 1 |
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" | US Billboard Hot 100[17] | 30 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[18] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
| Canada (Music Canada)[19] | Gold | 50,000^ |
| France (SNEP)[20] | Gold | 100,000* |
| Germany (BVMI)[21] | Platinum | 500,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[22] 2001 release |
Silver | 60,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[23] | 4× Platinum | 4,000,000^ |
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* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
Singles
US singles
- "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" b/w "Iron Butterfly Theme" (both are edited versions) – Atco 6606
- "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" b/w "Soul Experience" – Atlantic Oldies Series 13076
Overseas singles
- "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida", "Flowers and Beads" b/w "My Mirage" (EP release)
- "Termination" b/w "Most Anything You Want"