Three Dog Night : Their Great Singles

I have a sealed original copy of the forum album from Record Club Of America.
I found it at a local record store 30 years ago.

 

This thread inspired me to give this classic a spin. I've
heard these songs a million times and they never get old.

 

I agree, and when my sister came home one day with an 8-track of some guy
named Elton John I heard "Your Song" and thought he was playing a TDN song.
Their version was released first because Elton requested that they record it. They
declined to release it as a single so Elton could have a chance with it and the rest
is history.

 

Wasn't this on the Greatest Hits album? I recall listening to this song often and I don't own Hard Labor.

They were also big at a time when singles success was considered selling out, and album success was a sign of coolness. They were probably the definitive example of a 70s singles band. Think about all the acts who dominated the early 70s singles charts. Are any of them in the Hall? And if they are, they had to work hard to get in there. Three Dog Night, Guess Who, Carpenters, ABBA, Neil Diamond for a few examples. Even Chicago and Blood Sweat and Tears, who both had some album success, had that barrier to entry.

 

It's on the 2-CD Celebrate: The Three Dog Night Story 1965-1975. Not sure if it's also on any of the greatest hits albums.

 

Superb single to be sure, but that clip underscores one occasional issue with 3DN, that the stereo LP version and the mono 45 single version of some tunes are so different in edits and arrangements, and nowhere is this more evident than with "Liar." The clip is the version from the 1970 LP Naturally (which is usually heard in stereo, although the clip of the TV appearance is in mono). It's very different from the mono 45 single, which (to me) has a stronger sonic punch, and the guitar solos are prominent as the song fades (although Greenspoon's keyboards on the album version add a nice mysterious tone). Another 3DN tune where this happens is "An Old Fashioned Love Song," where the 45 single has a vocal break in the chorus that's missing from the LP version. The single mix of "Joy to the World" is also slightly different, again in the prominence of the guitars.

I appreciate that the 2-CD Celebrate collection and the 20th Century Masters disc feature the single mix of "Liar" (and I think OFLS too). The '80s MCA "Best of" disc includes the LP versions.

 

The other day I was listening to Miracles by Jefferson Starship on YouTube. I realized that I had never heard the album version. It is so much longer than the single version I love, and IMO somewhat formless, missing the beautiful dramatic build until about 4 minutes in. The single version focuses all the strength of the tune perfectly, at least in my opinion.

So I'm guessing this sort of strategy (reworking and tightening a song for single release) commonly happened in the 70s.

 

Again , “Liar” is a great example of TDN covering a song that most likely gave the original artist (in this case, Argent) a boost in exposure at a great time in their career.

 

"Happy Song"...The first cut on the 1973 "Cyan" album. It (and two other cuts, "Storybook Feeling" and (my favorite TDN track) "Into My Life". My three favorites on "Cyan".

 

This was my introduction to TDN (my cousin had a copy). Sure wish I could come across the CD of it, but since it was only available in Japan, those odds are not in my favour. My vinyl copy will do until then, I guess.

 

I love the opening guitar riff of Happy Song.

 

Maybe the only band that had not 1 but two "objectionable" album covers withdrawn and replaced.

 

Actually now that I think about it many of their regular albums are as well

 

What was wrong with them?

 

Did that album have a different alternate cover? I could swear I've seen a different design before, possibly with a beige cover?

 

Nothing really although somebody must have objected. They were tame compared to what gets released today.

According to the 'Hard Labor' wiki page, the original album cover, depicting the birth of a record album, was deemed too controversial." By whom?

 

Probably my favorite lp, great opener.

 

And that guitar tone is so uniquely memorable.

 

Ah yes now I remember. Must have been one of those banned covers

 

Yeah - this "Wizards Of Orange" It Ain't Easy cover was banned because they're nude in the photo, and the Hard Labor birth-of-a-LP cover was banned as well and replaced with either file folder or band aid coverings over the birth.

 

Three great original songs written by guitarist Michael Allsup. Nice choices.

 

Another vote for "Out In The Country".

Other favs of mine include "Celebrate", "One Man Band", "Liar", "An Old Fashioned Love Song", "Shambala", The Family of Man", "One" and "Easy To Be Hard" (which, imo, is much better than the original).



PS -- Chuck Negron and "the pizza guy" from Fast Times at Rudgemont High are cousins.

 

I’d like to interject and say that their version of Easy To Be Hard is one of the best hit records of the late sixties/early seventies.

 

Suitable For Framing and It Ain't Easy were the first two 8-tracks I owned.
I didn't have a clue nor did I care who wrote the songs and 8-tracks had no
credits on them. Elton had met them in England and wanted them to record
this song because he knew it would get massive exposure in America. I'm a big
Elton fan but I still prefer this version I heard first. Chuck just has the magic
vocals and the band is just so great.