Deep Tracks: Three Dog Night

Three Dog Night really got a bad rap back in their heyday. Saddled with the (mis)fortune of being a non-stop hit machine for a good six or seven years, critics dismissed them because they didn’t write a huge majority of their recordings. Call it the “Monkees Syndrome,” perhaps.

I never understood that pitiful attempt at reasoning. How many orchestras or opera singers wrote their own material? Not that I’m comparing Three Dog Night’s vocal abilities to Pavarotti or anything like that, but it’s the same basic argument. According to the “professional” reviewers back then, if you didn’t write it, you’re just a cover band who somehow got lucky. Don’t even get me started on how these “critics” could diss TDN, but rave about Elvis “I Don’t Write ‘Em, I Just Sing ‘Em” Presley’s best work. By the way, I actually dig Elvis as well.

What makes a TDN fan even more aggravated with this school of thought is the complete lack of appreciation for the abilities these guys had for picking a good song and then arranging it to make it their own. Nothing against the obvious talents of writers like Randy Newman or Laura Nyro, but if you compare their versions of “Mama Told Me Not to Come” and “Eli’s Coming” to the versions Three Dog Night created, you can see — or rather, hear — the band’s knack for recognizing a song’s hit potential, even if the original wasn’t quite as radio-friendly. To quote the title of their third studio album, it ain’t easy.

Anyway, to calm myself down, here are some TDN tunes that were never acknowledged by the naysayers or the radio. Each of their studio albums from 1968 through 1974 had two or three Top 40 singles — no small feat, no matter who you are or how much you wrote. What’s important to note is these albums weren’t just a bunch of filler material padding out a couple of hits. Each album was rounded out with a nice variety of material. Some were songs that could have been hit singles, while the rest were relegated to the B-side of a single or hidden away as an album cut. In all cases, the group put a lot of thought into picking and arranging everything they released.

Let’s give the Dog their due, shall we?

1) “It’s For You,” Three Dog Night (aka One), 1968

Three Dog Night’s first LP was probably their most eclectic. They covered songs originally recorded by the likes of Traffic, Randy Newman, the Band, and Neil Young, among others. They also recorded a version of Cilla Black’s “It’s For You,” written by Lennon and McCartney but never recorded by the Beatles. I chose this tune because it’s mostly a cappella, the arrangement is tricky, and it really shows off the vocal skills of Danny Hutton, Chuck Negron, and Cory Wells. They were able to pull it off in concert as well. Spiffy stuff.

2) “Lady Samantha,” Suitable For Framing, 1969

Here’s a case where the boys really knew a diamond in the rough when they heard it. Written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, “Lady Samantha” was recorded and released by TDN before Sir Elton broke through as a recording star. Granted, John & Taupin wrote many other songs of higher quality, but this is a good song nonetheless, and TDN made a great version of it. This is a tune that could have been a hit single; alas, it remains hidden away on the first side of their second album.

3) “Good Time Living,” It Ain’t Easy, 1970

This is a lesser known song written by super spectacular songwriters Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. From what I can tell, nobody else recorded this except for TDN. It’s a nice little tune, but not on the songwriting couple’s A-list. The reason it’s listed here is to once again show off the vocal skills of Messieurs Hutton, Negron, and Wells. Check out the “gotta got got to get back living” bit they do at the end. More spiffy stuff.

4) “Fire Eater,” Naturally, 1970

Despite the name’s implication, Three Dog Night was a seven-man band. The focus was on the singers most of the time, but the guys in the band played a huge part in giving the group their top notch sound. “Fire Eater” is one of the rare times you hear the band perform an instrumental, and it’s a fun listen. Check it out and appreciate the talents of guitarist Mike Allsup, keyboardist Jimmy Greenspoon, bassist Joe Schermie, and drummer Floyd Sneed.

5) “My Impersonal Life,” Harmony, 1971

This is a personal fave from their fifth studio album. It’s listed here to give Danny Hutton a little bit more of the spotlight. Most of Three Dog Night’s hits that have one main vocalist feature Chuck Negron (“Joy to the World”) or Cory Wells (“Mama Told Me Not to Come”). Danny Hutton sings lead on a couple of their hits (“Black and White” and “Liar”), but overall he didn’t step into the solo spotlight as much. My understanding is he was fine with that, because he thought the other two were stronger singers. Each of these guys had a specific sound, and while Hutton’s voice might not be as distinctive, he still held his own.

6) “Freedom for the Stallion,” Seven Separate Fools, 1972

If you had the “Black and White” single back in 1972 and decided to flip it over, you would find this gem on side two. Sometimes TDN would choose a song where each member would sing a verse. Hearing their different styles in the same song was a great way to appreciate the individuals both by themselves and as pieces of a puzzle, and “Stallion” demonstrates this very well. It’s a gentle, lovely song written by the amazing Allen Toussaint, who composed countless other songs such as “Mother-in-Law” and “Working in the Coal Mine.” While “Black and White” celebrated the beauty of racial equality, “Freedom for the Stallion” was a more somber reminder that the world wasn’t quite there yet. The messages in both songs still ring true today.

7) “Happy Song,” Cyan, 1973

The Cyan album was an anomaly for Three Dog Night. Three of its nine tracks were written by band member Mike Allsup. Maybe the whole “why don’t they write their own songs” nonsense finally got to them, or perhaps Allsup just decided to present some of his material to see if any of the tunes would make the grade. Cyan is one of TDN’s best albums. Once again, they chose some quality material from outside sources — highlighted by “Shambala,” easily one of their best songs and a high mark for music in 1973 — but Allsup’s contributions held their own. It’s a shame he didn’t contribute more during their time together. “Happy Song” kicks off the album, and it’s exactly as the title suggests. Life is great, so the song is a celebration. ‘Nuff said.

8) “On the Way Back Home,” Hard Labor, 1974

By the time Hard Labor was recorded, the cracks were starting to show in the Three Dog Night camp. Non-stop recording and concert appearances over the past few years — not to mention drugs and egos in some cases — were affecting the band and breaking apart the camaraderie that founded the group in the first place back in 1967. Despite the impending doom on the horizon, they were able to produce another fine album. “On the Way Back Home” is spiritual in nature, with the singer — or singers in this case — asking the good Lord to “light up the road on the way back home.” In hindsight, given where Three Dog Night ended up after this album came and went, it sounds like a plea from the group in general, given the troubles that were starting to really bog them down. Even if you don’t read too much into it, “On the Way Back Home” is a lovely song and performance.

At this point, everything starts to go south for Three Dog Night. They released two more albums over the next couple of years and managed to make the top 40 one more time, but the quality of the albums decreased dramatically. It was obvious that their hearts weren’t in it anymore, and they broke up in 1976. They came back together in 1983 and released the EP It’s a Jungle. For a 1983 release, it’s not bad, but it really doesn’t compare to their salad days.

Since then, Three Dog Night has become part of the oldies touring scene, albeit not as the unit they used to be. Disagreements that show no signs of ever being resolved resulted in Hutton and Wells touring as Three Dog Night, while Chuck Negron performs as a solo act. It’s a crying shame, because together these guys really had something special. In their separate camps, even on their best nights, it’s not the same. Such is life.

Since we’re talking about their live performances, let’s wrap this up with a concert performance recorded back when the group was younger and still a cohesive unit.

9)  “Try a Little Tenderness,” Captured Live at the Forum, 1969

Three Dog Night released two live albums during their original incarnation: Captured Live at the Forum in 1969 and Around the World with Three Dog Night in 1973. I always preferred the Forum album because it has a much rawer sound, both in the performances and in the overall recording. They end the album with their version of “Try a Little Tenderness.” Granted, it’s mostly a Cory Wells performance with just a little input from the other two singers, but you can feel all seven guys getting into it. Hearing the announcer’s excitement at the end and the audience screaming as loud as humanly possible really documents what they were once capable of as a group.

What are your favorite Three Dog Night deep tracks? Let us know in the comments or on Facebook!

George Brandon

George Brandon is the office manager of a large bookstore in Tennessee. In his spare time, he lives, breathes, reads about, writes about, and listens to rock, pop, and soul music from the 1950s through the 1970s. He has more records and CDs than he probably needs, but he’s always looking for more musical treasures.