50 Years Ago: Iron Butterfly Release Epic 'In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida'. (Ultimate Classic Rock)
The album of the same name debuted on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart for the week ending July 20, 1968. It spent 140 weeks on the chart, peaking at #4. The 17-minute album cut was drastically reduced to 2:52 for the single version.
Related article:
Iron Butterfly Stretches Its Wings On 'Fillmore East'. (NPR, 11/25/2011)
"In-A-Gadda-Da Vida" is both Iron Butterfly's monument and its prison. But a new release called Fillmore East 1968 includes all the usable parts of two shows from April of that year and provides the best chance in decades for a fresh look at the band. The album offers fascinating reminders of what the rock 'n' roll marketplace was like almost 45 years ago. For one thing, every band — especially those just signed to a major label, like Iron Butterfly — was expected to come up with a snappy tune that might get played on Top 40 radio. "So-Lo" seems to be Iron Butterfly's not-wonderful attempt at a pop hit.
Related post:
Aretha Franklin's two-sided hit single among the newcomers on Billboard Hot 100 for the week
ending August 17, 1968.