Iron Butterfly: In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida

(1968)

The Legend of "Vida"

Pros: The title track and "Are You Happy" make a great team, classic Butterfly.

Cons: The sound isn't as "solid" as it is on "Ball..."

Full Review

When you mention Iron Butterfly to most people with a basic knowledge of classic rock, I'll bet that 10 out of 10 would automatically think of "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida." And why not? This is the album that contained their most well-known song, which most people consider a "one-hit wonder." Unfortunately, those same 10 people probably haven't heard any of the other material put out by Doug Ingle and company. This is a shame indeed. But before I digress, let me tell you about the tracks on this classic Iron Butterfly album.

1. "Most Anything You Want" (Ingle)
This is a nice way to start the listening experience here. It contains just enough gritty guitar licks and Gothic/classical-style organ so that you can really get a taste of what this band is all about. Basically a nice, light, rock love song.

2. "Flowers And Beads" (Ingle)
Feel free to call this track a flower-power artifact, because that's what it is. You can almost smell the incense (or cannabis?) burning in the background as this mellow tune rolls on, speaking of love rather than war. Two words: Far out!

3. "My Mirage" (Ingle)
Say what you will about this song, I myself find it very nice. Doug wrote it as a tribute to a recently-departed friend of the band's, and as such, is a solemn tune. I especially like Doug's organ work here, very classy. I like this one a lot.

4. "Termination" (Braunn/Dorman)
The sole track on the album written by Erik Braunn and Lee Dorman, this song has a Led Zeppelin-like quality to it. It speaks of Greek mythology and imminent destruction. It's an interesting song to be sure, and Erik gets some good riffs in here. The ending is nice, with the guitar, organ, and chimes fading out for a delicate finish.

5. "Are You Happy" (Ingle)
Ahhh, now we come to the heaviest song on the album, behind the title track, of course. I REALLY like this song, it's a great example of just how heavy the Butterfly could be. The band is tight here, the music raw and driving, this track just plain rocks! No two ways about it. A great cruising tune!

6. "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" (Ingle)
By now, most people have probably heard the legend of how this song got its psychedelic title. If you haven't yet, it's basically an under the influence pronunciation of "In The Garden Of Eden." No matter, this song is 17 minutes of pure psychedelic heavy music, almost bordering on primitive heavy metal. The ingredients are all there: screaming guitar a la Erik Braunn, deep, rich vocals and dark-sounding organ by Doug Ingle, solid basswork by Lee Dorman, and pounding, tribal drums by Ron Bushy. My favorite parts of this song are Erik's solo, and the part when the band charges head-on into the signature riff, but then churns on into the sprint to the finale. When it's all over, you have a feeling like you've just experienced something great and very memorable. It's definitely a classic.

With this all having been said, I have to give the members of the Butterfly credit for coming out with a monumental album. It deserves the reputation it has garnered. On the other hand, the "Ball" album (read my review) managed to take that same basic sound and distill it so that the album as a whole has a more solid feel to it. Which is not to put "Vida" down. I'd suggest you try and obtain some more albums by Iron Butterfly if you like this one. You won't be disappointed.

The Bottom Line:

A must-have in your classic-rock collection. It will grow on you!

PLEASE NOTE: This section is under construction until further notice.

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