Greenbaum’s most famous song is “Spirit in the Sky.” Reprise Records released the song in 1969, with its mix of ‘heavy’ guitar, handclapping, and spiritual lyrics. In 1969 and 1970, it sold two million copies and was awarded a gold disc by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It has since been featured in several films, commercials, and television shows.
Despite the fact that “Spirit in the Sky” has a strong Christian motif, Greenbaum was and continues to be a devout Jew. Greenbaum claims that watching country artists perform a song on television prompted him to write the tune. In an interview, Greenbaum revealed that “Spirit in the Sky” was inspired by western movies.
