“In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” – Single by Iron Butterfly from the album In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
B-side “Iron Butterfly Theme”
Released: June 14, 1968 (album); July 31, 1968 (single)
Recorded: May 27, 1968
Studio: Ultrasonic Studios, Hempstead, New York, U.S.
17:05 (album version)
2:52 (single version)
Label: AtcoAtlantic
Songwriter: Doug Ingle
Producer: Jim Hilton
Charted No.30 in US
The title was supposed to be “In The Garden Of Eden.” Drummer Ron Bushy wrote it down as “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” because he couldn’t understand was vocalist Doug Ingle was singing. Their record company was OK with the title because it sounds exotic and Eastern spirituality was big at the time, with The Beatles going to India and The Rolling Stones experimenting with Indian instruments.
As for the meaning of the song, it’s just a guy affirming his love for his special girl.
The band’s original guitar player quit before this was recorded. He was replaced by Eric Braun, who had only played the guitar for three months.
This was the first hit song that could be classified as “heavy metal.” The phrase was introduced that year in the Steppenwolf song “Born To Be Wild.”
Iron Butterfly would have performed this at Woodstock, but they didn’t make it because they were stuck at the airport.
At slightly over 17 minutes, it occupies the entire second side of the album. The lyrics, a love song from the biblical Adam to his mate Eve, are simple and are heard only at the beginning and the end. The middle of the song features a two-and-a-half-minute Ron Bushy drum solo.
A 2-minute-52-second 45-rpm version of “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” was Iron Butterfly’s only song to reach the top 40, reaching number 30, while the album itself reached number four on the album chart and has sold over 30 million copies. An 8-minute-20-second edit of the song was included in the soundtrack to the 1986 film Manhunter. In 2009, it was named the 24th-greatest hard rock song of all time by VH1. It is also often regarded as an influence on heavy metal music and one of the firsts of the genre.
Iron Butterfly
Erik Brann – guitar, backing vocals; lead vocals
Ron Bushy – drums, percussion
Lee Dorman – bass guitar, backing vocals
Doug Ingle – Vox Continental organ, vocals
The video track was recorded on May 27, 1968, at Ultrasonic Studios in Hempstead, Long Island, New York. – 17:02 Minutes
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, honey,
don’t you know that I love you?
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, baby,
don’t you know that I’ll always be true?
