In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (album)



In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida is the second studio album by the American rock band Iron Butterfly, released in 1968. It is most known for the title track which occupies the whole of Side B. The album is also available in a deluxe edition CD.

The In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida LP peaked at number 4 on the Billboard albums chart and became the first album to be awarded platinum status when the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) began that achievement level in 1976. It has since been certified 4× platinum album in the United States, and achieved worldwide sales of over 30 million copies. It was the biggest selling album for the year 1969 in the US. It was also Atlantic Records' biggest selling album until it was surpassed by Led Zeppelin IV.

Reception
Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic rated In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida four-and-a-half out of five stars. He called the title track "the epitome of heavy psychedelic excess". He also stated that the rest of the songs "qualify as good artifacts". Jim Pomeroy of Rolling Stone was less enthusiastic, calling Ingle's singing "inflexible and sterile" and wrote that he played a "strictly chicken shit organ". The writer also called out the length of the title track, which "managed to bore me to death".

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"

Personnel

 * Erik Brann – guitars, backing and lead (4) vocals
 * Doug Ingle – organ, lead vocals (all but 4)
 * Lee Dorman – bass, backing vocals
 * Ron Bushy – drums, percussion

Production

 * Arranged by Iron Butterfly
 * Produced by Don Casale
 * Recorded and engineered by Jim Hilton
 * Mixed by Bill Cooper

In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida 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 19-minute live version from Iron Butterfly's Live (which includes a short organ intro), and the 2:52 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.