In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida is the second studio album by the American rock band Iron Butterfly, released in June 1968. It is most known for its title track, a 17-minute composition that occupies the entirety of Side B.
A massive commercial success, In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida peaked at number 4 on the Billboard albums chart. It was officially certified a Gold album in 1968 in the United States, and on January 26, 1993, it was certified 4ÃÂ Platinum. In Canada, it was on the charts for 91 weeks between October 14, 1968, and July 18, 1970.
The tracks on the album's front side are psychedelic in style, while the album's back side is entirely composed of its closer, "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" a 17-minute track that has been described as an "unprecedented epic." The tracks "My Mirage" and "Flowers And Beads" have been characterized as representing "the dark side of hippie ideology."
In a retrospective review for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine calls the title track "the epitome of heavy psychedelic excess," and feels that the rest of the songs "qualify as good artifacts." It was voted number 783 in Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums.
All tracks are written by Doug Ingle, except "Termination", by Erik Brann and Lee Dorman.
Side one
Side two
1995 deluxe edition bonus tracks
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 live version from Iron Butterfly's Live (which includes a short organ intro); and the 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.
Iron Butterfly
All arrangements by Iron Butterfly
Technical
US singles
Overseas singles