Three Dog Night, the #52 Artist of the Rock Era, Part One

"What an incredible catalog!"

"Unforgettable songs."

"Gotta' be one of the greatest groups of all-time."

"Dig this music, man."

"Their three voices were each unique yet blended in perfectly!"

"The magnificent seven!"

"Three Dog Night was phenomenal."

"Great music, singers and a great backing band."

"Awesome tunes!"

"This band is one of the best ever."

"Groundbreaking stuff. God bless us with their talent."

"They sang about topics that mattered, like loving your fellow man--a lesson that people today could really learn from."

"Just great music."

"This band is completely fantastic. What a legacy of smokin' music they have left us to enjoy!"

"Amazing group after all these years."

"Classic, very classic!"

Back in 1976, this act ranked #13.  Times have certainly changed, and many artists have passed them, but they are still solidly in The Top 100*!

This great group with three prominent lead singers formed in 1967 with Danny Hutton, Cory Wells and Chuck Negron.  The three started with the name of Redwood, but the name did not stick.  They hired keyboardist Jimmy Greenspoon, guitarist Rex Morgan, bassist Joe Schermie and drummer Floyd Sneed.  Morgan left soon after to join the Electric Prunes ("I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night") and was replaced by Michael Allsup.  

The group named itself after reading about the indigenous people of Australia.  On cold nights, those people slept in a hole in the ground hugging a dingo, or a wild dog.  If it was really cold, they slept with two dogs, but on the coldest night of all, it was "a three dog night".

Three Dog Night wrote some of their own songs, but often, they turned to others to give them enough material for their albums.  Harry Nilsson, Laura Nyro, Paul Williams and Hoyt Axton are just some of the songwriters who contributed to their success.

 

In 1968, the band released their debut album, which went Platinum.  The lead single, "Nobody", went nowhere, but their next one became a classic, underrated even at #4.  "One" sold over one million copies.

Suitable for Framing, released in 1969, also went Gold.  "Easy To Be Hard" reached #2 in Canada and #4 in the U.S. It is one of The Most Important Songs of the Rock Era*.

 

The single "Eli's Coming" peaked at #8 in Canada and #10 in the United States.

 

Three Dog Night pulled another hit from the album with "Celebrate", #8 in Canada and #15 in the U.S.  

The band released the album Captured Live at the Forum, another Gold album.

 

Three Dog Night released the album It' Ain't Easy in 1970, another Gold album.  The single "Mama Told Me Not To Come" hit #1 in the United States, #2 in Canada, #3 in the U.K. and #4 in Australia and sold over one million copies.

 

"Out In The Country" was another underrated hit, #9 in Canada and #15 in the U.S.

 

"One Man Band" climbed to #6 in Canada and #19 in the United States.

 

The band released Naturally later in the year, their fourth consecutive Gold album.  The group achieved their biggest career hit with "Joy To The World", #1 for six weeks and a million-seller.  It is The #43 Song of the Rock Era*!.

 

"Liar", written for them by Russ Ballard, reached #4 in Canada and #7 in the U.S.

 

The compilation album Golden Bisquits went Gold, as did Harmony in 1971.  The great song "An Old Fashioned Love Song" jumped to #2 in Canada, #3 in New Zealand and #4 in the United States.  It also sold over one million singles.

Join us for more amazing music from Three Dog Night in Part Two!