I Got a Line on You

"I Got a Line on You" is a rock song by American rock band Spirit, originally recorded during the sessions for their second album, The Family That Plays Together, between March 11 and September 18, 1968. Widely considered to be a rock classic, the song was composed by guitarist/singer Randy California and produced by Lou Adler. The single credits engineering by Eric Wienbang. Released as a single ahead of the album by Ode Records in the US in October 1968,[2] it began a slow rise up the charts.

"I Got a Line on You"
Single by Spirit
from the album The Family That Plays Together
B-side"She Smiles"
ReleasedOctober 1968
RecordedMarch 11–September 18, 1968
Genre
Length2:37
LabelOde
Songwriter(s)Randy California
Producer(s)Lou Adler
Spirit singles chronology
"Mechanical World"
(1968)		 "I Got a Line on You"
(1968)		 "Dark Eyed Woman"
(1969)

It was picked up by college radio in late November.[3] It was the second single released by the band. The B-side was "She Smiles" (Ode catalog number ZS7-115).[4] 2:37 in length, the song finally peaked at No. 25 on the U.S. Top 100 on March 15, 1969, and No. 28 in Canada, March 24.[5]

Some international versions were released later in 1968 and early 1969, distributed by CBS Records or Columbia Records. Some were produced in psychedelic colored vinyl patterns, while the Ode release was on plain black vinyl with a plain yellow label.[6] The album version was slightly longer at 2:39, while the greatest hits version is timed at 2:41. A 7:34 version appears on the band's final reunion album, 1984's The Thirteenth Dream.

Reviews

A Billboard review brief called it "the near definitive rock single".[7] Matthew Greenwald of AllMusic said it is "Driven by a fabulously funky guitar riff and some very accessible lyrics, the song is a rock classic from beginning to end."[8]

Cover versions

The song has been covered by Blackfoot, Chagall Guevara, Patrick Cowley, Alice Cooper, Jeff Healey, Juicy Lucy, Who Watchiz Ze Watchmain,[9] Ile Kallio,[10] Kim Mitchell, Mushroom with Gary Floyd,[11] The Woggles,[12] and the supergroup Hollywood Vampires. Cover versions by Joe Moss[13] and the Danish band Lost and Found were released as "I've Got A Line On You".[14] Country band 1880 released a version titled "I Gotta Line on You".[15] Because of the lyrics, occasionally "Babe" has been added to the end of the song title.

The song was used in the Trailer for the Coen Brothers 2008 film Burn After Reading.[16]

References
  1. Eddy, Chuck (March 22, 1997). "Pomp Up The Jam". The Accidental Evolution of Rock 'n' Roll: A Misguided Tour Through Popular Music. Da Capo Press. p. 145. ISBN 0-306-80741-6.
  2. "45cat – Spirit – I Got A Line On You / She Smiles – Ode – USA – ZS7 115". 45cat.com.
  3. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. November 30, 1968.
  4. "B". badcatrecords.com.
  5. "RPM" (PDF).
  6. "45cat – Spirit – I Got A Line On You / She Smiles – CBS – Germany – 3880". 45cat.com.
  7. "Billboard Album Reviews". Billboard. July 8, 1972. p. 45. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  8. Matthew Greenwald. "I Got a Line on You – Spirit – Listen, Appearances, Song Review – AllMusic". AllMusic.
  9. "Tent of miracles – the unofficial Spirit homepage – CoversUnreleased". erjobe.info.
  10. "Ile Kallio". secondhandsongs.com.
  11. "Mushroom with Gary Floyd". secondhandsongs.com.
  12. "Discogs reference". Discogs. 2005.
  13. "I've Got a Line On You / Build Me Up Butter Cup by Joe Moss [60s] (Single): Reviews, Ratings, Credits, Song list – Rate Your Music". rateyourmusic.com.
  14. "Lost and Found* - I've Been Hurt / I've Got a Line on You". Discogs. 1969.
  15. "1880". secondhandsongs.com.
  16. {{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jksnxStXol0
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