#IronButterfly #InAGaddaDaVida #ClassicRock #RecordingStudio #FunFacts
Did you know that the iconic band Iron Butterfly had no idea they were being recorded in the studio for a whopping 17 minutes when they played their now-hit song In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida? 🎸 This classic rock track went on to sell over 30 million copies worldwide, making it one of the most influential songs of its time. Let’s dive into the fascinating story behind this epic piece of music and explore the band’s journey to success.
## The Genesis of In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
– Iron Butterfly, originally formed in 1966, was a prominent psychedelic rock band known for their intricate sound and experimental style.
– In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida was released in 1968 as the title track of their second album. The song’s cryptic title was actually a result of a mispronunciation of the phrase “In the Garden of Eden.”
– When the band entered the studio to record this 17-minute long masterpiece, little did they know that it would become a defining moment in their musical career.
### The Magic of Unplanned Recording
– During the recording session, the band members were simply jamming and having a good time without any intention of creating a hit song.
– It wasn’t until the tape was played back that they realized what they had captured. The raw energy and spontaneous creativity of that moment were truly unmatched.
– In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida’s distinctive sound, featuring extended instrumental solos and fuzzed-out guitars, captivated audiences and solidified the band’s reputation as trailblazers in the world of rock music.
## The Impact of In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
– Upon its release, In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida immediately resonated with fans and critics alike, catapulting Iron Butterfly to fame and fortune.
– The song’s length, unconventional structure, and psychedelic vibes set it apart from other rock anthems of the time, garnering widespread acclaim.
– In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida became a cultural phenomenon, with its hypnotic rhythms and mesmerizing solos becoming a soundtrack for the counterculture movement of the late ’60s.
### Enduring Legacy
– Even decades after its release, In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida continues to be a beloved classic rock staple, inspiring new generations of musicians and fans.
– The song’s enduring popularity is a testament to Iron Butterfly’s enduring influence on the music industry and their innovative approach to creating music.
– From its humble beginnings as a spontaneous studio jam to its status as a timeless rock epic, In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida stands as a testament to the power of musical improvisation and artistic freedom.
As we revisit the iconic tale of Iron Butterfly and their legendary hit In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, we are reminded of the enduring power of music to inspire, captivate, and transcend time. 🎶 Let this classic rock anthem be a reminder of the importance of embracing creativity, taking risks, and seizing the moment to create something truly extraordinary. So, next time you press play on In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, remember the serendipitous magic that brought this timeless masterpiece to life.
Side note, just for some perspective:
>he offered me a job for $75/week
adjusted for inflation that’s close to $750/week or just over $38,000 per year
In the Garden of Eden.
Priceless
[Here’s some great context](https://500songs.com/podcast/episode-121-the-leader-of-the-pack-by-the-shangri-las/) (thank you, Andrew Hickey, most awesome podcast ever):
“Morton apparently also served as the uncredited producer on a record by a new group called Iron Butterfly, who he thought were too tight in the studio and needed to play sloppier. He told them the equipment was malfunctioning and just to practice the song and jam a bit, while secretly recording them. The seventeen-minute result made up one side of their album, while the three-minute single edit became their biggest hit.”
This song makes me dance madly backwards on a sea of air
Slayer had a great cover of this on the Less than Zero soundtrack.
Ftfa: “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida,” sold more than ***30 million copies***, was named the first Platinum record ever and stayed on the Billboard magazine charts for nearly three years.
Yeah, that’s some weapons grade balonium there.
The Iron Butterfly wiki page repeats this claim, but their cite only says 4 million.
[https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=iron+butterfly#search_section](https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=iron+butterfly#search_section)
I feel like there’s multiple versions of this story https://www.loudersound.com/features/in-a-gadda-da-vida-the-improbable-story-of-a-17-minute-one-hit-wonder
> And even though Casale had just been offered a job at Grumman Aircraft for many times that amount, his fascination with sound recording won out…
That was 1965, which means the engineering job at Grumman would have likely been for the [Apollo program’s lunar lander](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Lunar_Module). Talk about a once in a lifetime opportunity.
By the early 1970s, if the band was in a studio, there was generally a straight mixdown to 2-track deck, which just kept going .. while the 8/16/24 track deck was for official takes.
“… it went on to sell 30 million times” Fucking AI
Wait… Youtube has video of them playing the song in the studio, as it’s being recorded – and there are at least 2 cameras rolling the entire time. Methinks the story is partly bullshit!
Philip Kramer, the bassist for Iron Butterfly, had a whole conspiracy thing going on when he went missing. He was supposed to pick someone up and suddenly changed his mind and started calling people and telling them “O.J. is innocent” before he disappeared.
[Story](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Taylor_Kramer)
TIL that the song isnt actually called “In The Garden of Eden”…
I always thought he said, ‘In the garden of eden.’ Holy crap
Since my dad and his friends always listened to ‘classic rock’ when I was growing up, you always imagine these bands at the parent’s then current age. Had an idea they were like 40-something year old guys.
As I got older I learned that a lot of these bands were like only in their late teens and early 20’s. Which makes sense. Same thing with biker guys. Weird seeing a Harley Davison rider in old photos being like 20y/o…I’ll always imagine HD guys as the 50+ y/o beat down, greyed hair, Middle Aged, beer belly, old guy.
But you know…kids these days, am I right?
How do you get a band to stop playing? Press record
Neato, I didn’t know that. I had their album on cassette as a kid, and that song was the entire B side.
Rev. Lovejoy: And now, please rise for our opening hymn “In The Garden Of Eden” by I. Ron Butterfly.
[Gertie Feesh plays opening riff]
Congregation:
In the Garden of Eden, honey,
Don’t you know that I love you?
In the Garden of Eden, baby,
Don’t you know that I’ll always be true?
[Bart laughs evilly]
Homer:
Hey, Marge, remember when we used to make out to this hymn?
[Marge giggles and then shushes Homer]
[Gertie Feesh plays the lengthy instrumental interlude until the congregation comes back in]
Oh won’t you come with me-ee-ee,
And take my ha-a-and?
Oh, won’t you come with me-ee-ee,
Reverend Lovejoy:
Wait a minute, this sounds like rock and/or roll!
And walk this land
[Gertie Feesh plays the rest of the 17-minute song and then faints, collapsing on the keyboards]
Did Nas sample this?
Except for a couple of short breaks, Iron Butterfly has stayed playing this whole time
That’s the magic of a raw take – sometimes the imperfection is what creates a classic. Can you imagine if he had nailed the title? We might have never gotten the iconic “In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida”. It’s like the whole song was a beautiful accident waiting to happen.
And now I understand the title of the episode “In-A-Gadda-Da-Leela”
30 million times? So who owns it now?
Here’s the [LINK](https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=XSr5wTycG_WOIUqr&v=Tfpn3wHoNGA&feature=youtu.be) to the song.
Turns out George was already recording
That song was so ahead of its time
How do you surprise someone in a recording studio by recording them?
17 minute song? Amateurs…
– Grateful Dead
Another interesting story about the song is that the original title was “In a Garden of Eden.” But the lead singer was so fucked up while recording, he couldn’t say that. Hence, In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida, and they kept it.
It sounds like rock and or roll.
Of course everyone talks about the drum solo but the bass player was 17 at the time.
He must have been very popular in high school.
Edit: I have been informed that I was mistaken and it was not the bass player that was 17 but rather the guitar player.