When I did some research on Three Dog Night, a band that was formed in 1967 and is still actively touring, I was amazed at how many hits they had. There was a whole slew of them. Songs like "Eli's Coming," "Never Been to Spain," "Shambala," "Mama Told Me Not to Come," "Easy to Be Hard," 'Joy to the World," and so many more. Per HubPages, "From 1969 to 1975, you literally could not turn on the radio without hearing a Three Dog Night song." Great band!
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Three Dog Night Amassed Some Remarkable Stats
They Recorded Music Crafted By Many Legends
According to their web site, they chalked up some really staggering stats that indicate their consistent success and popularity. How about 12 albums that went gold as certified by the RIAA, 7 singles that sold one million copies, nearly a dozen Top 10 singles, and 21 songs that landed in the Top 40. There is plenty more but you get the idea.
These guys have been around for a long time, but there is not one speck of dust on them, so to speak. Three Dog Night's songs are as terrific right now as they were back in the day. They were visionary about recording the work of people who later became superstars. Among them were Hoyt Axton, Elton John, Harry Nilsson, Randy Newman, Laura Nyro, and others.
Band member Cory Wells said per HubPages via Soul Picnic: The Music and Passion of Laura Nyro by Michele Kort, "That was our forte,basically. We would take songs that either were not palatable to the public, like Randy Newman stuff, and change it and make it commercial, or we'd do it in a completely different direction to sort of give it another character."
So let's give another well-earned listen to four of the band's tunes. They beautifully represent the enduring caliber and quality of Three Dog Night. Climb aboard our time machine and we'll swoop back to the 1970s!
'Liar'
This has always been a favorite track of mine. It dates back to 1970 and is dramatic and intense. There is a fun story behind the recording of the song as well. Per theyearinmusic.wordpress.com, "Liar" was written by Russ Ballard and first recorded by the band Argent. The song didn't have any "oomph" behind it at that point; that version never charted. Then Three Dog Night availed themselves of it the next year, maybe sensing its potential. They were on the money, alright.
The song claimed the number 7 spot on the chart and was a solid hit for them. Oh and by the way, per the outlet, "The echo on the 'Liar' refrain was captured by recording the lead vocals in a bathroom." So don't feel weird if you like to sing in the shower!
'Shambala'
This song appeared on the band's album Cyan in 1973. Per Songfacts, "The word 'Shambala' has a spiritual meaning in the Buddhist religion, and some Tibetan Buddhists believe that it is a mystical land hidden somewhere in the Himalaya mountains." The band first got wind of the song from a publisher named Lindy Blaskey. The members of Three Dog Night and their producer liked the tune very much. So did their fans. "Shambala" made it to the number 3 position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
'Joy To The World'
Who doesn't recall the first catchy, surreal lines of this song written by Hoyt Axton? "Jeremiah was a bullfrog / Was a good friend of mine / I never understood a single word he said / But I helped him drink his wine / And he always had some mighty fine wine"? The tune snagged a Grammy nom, was a chart-topping smash, received a coveted gold certification from the RIAA, and was taken to the hearts of Three Dog Night fans. Per HubPages, "Joy" also turned up in movies like Forrest Gump and The Big Chill, and in TV shows such as Friends.
'Easy to Be Hard'
The tune was written for the popular Broadway musical Hair. Three Dog Night expertly transformed it into a Billboard Hot 100 number 4 hit. Bluesy and soulful, it found favor with their fans. The tune showed up on the band's sophomore album, Suitable for Framing, in 1969.
