Psychedelic Rock Music
The song was written by Norman Greenbaum and released on his debut 1969 album titled Spirit in the Sky and as a single. By 1970, the song was an international charting success and earned an RIAA gold record. It rose to #3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It went to #1 in Canada, Australia, The U.K., Ireland, and Germany. It was #2 in Belgium and Norway and #4 in Austria, The Netherlands, and Switzerland.
Greenbaum had been with the psychedelic jug band Dr. West’s Medicine Show and Junk Band (e.g., “The Eggplant that Ate Chicago). After they disbanded, he contracted with producer Erik Jacobsen, who had worked with The Lovin’ Spoonful. Lead guitarist Russell DaShiell helped to devise the spacey fuzzy sounds and the beep beep fills. Also on the track were Doug Killmer (bass) and Norman Mayell (drums). The result was a sort of gospel and psychedelic rock.