Ten Favorite Songs by Three Dog Night

Three Dog Night was a Los Angeles based rock band, very popular in the early 1970's with over twenty Top 40 hits. The band featured three incredible lead singers, Cory Wells, Danny Hutton, and Chuck Negron. Each vocalist contributed brilliant harmonies to each and every one of their songs, making Three Dog Night, one of the most successful bands in the modern rock era. The band's first album, 'One' was released in 1968, and the band still tours at oldies shows and county fairs to this day. ,

Here is a look at ten favorite songs by Three Dog Night with sample lyrics and commentary.

ONE - Written and recorded by eccentric musical artist, Harry Nilsson, One was the Dogs first top ten song in the United States, and the title of their first album.

Lyric: '...one is the loneliest number, one is the loneliest...'

EASY TO BE HARD - A song from the hit Broadway musical, Hair. I always believed the Dogs version of this great musical number was the best version ever recorded. Listen yourself and you'll probably agree!

Lyric: '...how can people be so heartless, how can people be so cruel, easy to be hard...'

MAMA TOLD ME NOT TO COME - Written by Randy Newman, Mama... tells the story of a paranoid partygoer, at a party filled with drinks, smoke, and assorted mayhem.

Lyric: '...this is the craziest party there could ever be, don't turn on the lights 'cause I don't wanna see...'

JOY TO THE WORLD - The number one song in the U.S. for six weeks in 1971. This is NOT the Christmas carol. This is a song about a frog named Jeremiah, who liked to drink wine, and the joy of all the fishes in the deep blue sea. Written by Hoyt Axton.

Lyric: ' ...you know I love the ladies, I love to have my fun...'

AN OLD FASHIONED LOVE SONG - Written by the fabulous, vertically challenged, Paul Williams, the single was another top ten hits for the Dogs in 1971.

Lyric: '...to underscore our love affair with tenderness and feelings we've come to know...'

NEVER BEEN TO SPAIN - Another top ten hit song written by Hoyt Axton. Never Been to Spain was the first song on the album, Harmony. My favorite version is the one featured on the album, Around the World With Three Dog Night, released in 1973.

Lyric: '...they say the ladies are insane there, and they sure know how to use it...'

BLACK AND WHITE - Another number one hit by the Dogs, From their 1972 album, Seven Separate Fools, the song challenges all to live together in harmony, regardless of the color of their skin.

Lyric: '...a child is black, a child is white, together they grow to see the light, to see the light...'

PIECES OF APRIL - From the album, Seven Separate Fools, Pieces... cracked the American Top 40, peaking at number 19 on the charts. Written by Dave Loggins (Please Come to Boston ). One of my favorite Three Dog Night songs ever.

Lyric: '...I've got pieces of April, I keep 'em in a memory bouquet, I've got pieces of April, it's a morning in May...'

SHAMBALA - Great spiritual song of the mythical kingdom of Shambala , popular in Buddhist teachings of old. Shambala is a sort of Utopia or Utopian feeling associated with the rewards and gratifications of inner peace. From the Three Dog Night album, Cyan.

Lyric: '...everyone is helpful, everyone is kind, on the road to Shambala...'

THE SHOW MUST GO ON - One of Three Dog Night's last hits, from the album, Hard Labor. The song has a circus theme and featured new keyboardist, Skip Konte (The Wizard).

Lyric: '...cause I've been blind (oh so blind), I've wasted time (wasted so much time)...'

Compilations of Three Dog Night can be found on Golden Bisquits, and Joy to the World: Their Greatest Hits, or online downloads at iTunes, Rhapsody, or your favorite MP3 venue.

Happy listening!

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