Iron Butterfly: “In-a-gadda-da-vida”
Considered by some as the birth of heavy metal.
I am a product of the 1960s, having graduated high school in 1967. This morning I was thinking about the one and only song I’ve ever cranked the volume up really high on.
It was 1968, when a song came on the radio in my car and it took my breath away. To repeat, it’s the first song I ever remember rolling up my windows and cranking the volume way up —and I still do, especially for the drum solo in the middle.
The song is by Iron Butterfly and it’s considered by some as the birth of heavy metal. In my opinion, it’s one of the greatest songs written in the ‘60s. It was a long one, 17 minutes, 6 seconds, and featured solos from every member of the band.
The story goes that originally, it was named, “In the Garden of Eden”. The lead singer, Doug Ingle, was up all night drinking wine and writing it. He was still drunk the next morning when he tried to tell the other band members the title, “In the Garden of Eden”, but it came out “In-a-gadda-da-vida”. They chose to go with it.
Turn up your volume … "In-a-gadda-da-vida"
Poet/Writer/Author of 5 books.
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Right there with you, CJ. I graduated in '69, was a drummer and learned that solo. It was epic but not really difficult. By 1970 I was a radio dj and we had mind blowing speakers. This song is probably the main reason I have screaming tinnitus now. 😁
Great song indeed C J . I couldn't drive yet but blew out my speakers daily too it . I first saw them on the Dick Clark show , When they played two songs from their first album and there were 5 members ,even though I was young yes wondered why they needed a guy playing tambourine. Then they came back with the album in a gadda da vida which was an is an instant classic . Great taste in music C J , hugs and love to you and family