Track Listing

1. Joy to the World
2. Shambala
3. One
4. Black and White
5. Mama Told Me (Not to Come)
6. Old Fashioned Love Song
7. Never Been to Spain
8. Liar
9. Eli's Coming
10. Easy to Be Hard
11. Celebrate
12. Show Must Go On

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #133430 in Music
• Released on: 2000-05-16
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

Three Dog Night Has Always been a Guilty Pleasure For Me
Why? Well, they were sort of a precursor of the boy bands - multiple-part harmony, performing songs written by others, became an easy listening (cough) err.... adult contemporary act near the end of their run, and were a hit machine.

When I saw this collection, The Best Of Three Dog Night at the local Coconuts for half price, I snapped it up, hoping it would be good. I don't have any other CDs by this band; my LPs (I think I have 4 or 5 of theirs and several hundred others) languish in the basement waiting for me to get a decent turntable and find a place for it.

They were a pleasure: my first album, my first rock concert (8th grade, circa 1968-1969 at the Northbrook (IL) Ice Arena), my first good argument with my parents about music, etc.

My parents saw the cover from one of their albums and announced that I shouldn't listen to them because they had long hair and a decadent lifestyle. Of course, they said nothing about my musical idol a few years later, Charlie Parker, who died of old age at 35 after a brilliant musical career and an even more prodigious career as a substance abuser. Well, my parents weren't going to tell ME what to do. I listened to the albums a lot.

Back to TDN. Their lead singers could really belt it out - singly and together. They had a very competent supporting band of keyboards, guitar, bass and drums and were well-produced and well-recorded. Even though they didn't do a lot of their own compositions, they performed songs from some very heavy writers:

Hoyt Axton: Joy To The World, Never Been To Spain
Harry Nilsson: One
Laura Nyro: Eli's Coming
Randy Newman: Mama Told Me Not To Come
Paul Williams: An Old Fashioned Love Song

(Among others)

The 12 songs here include most of their mega-hits throughout their meteoric pop music run from 1969-1974. At the beginning of that run, they had a well-deserved reputation as hard rockers. In particular, their first two studio albums, Three Dog Night and Suitable For Framing each had several tremendous rocking cuts that were not huge single hits, like Circle For A Landing, Feelin' Alright, Try A Little Tenderness and Chest Fever. Later, they branched into easy listening/adult contemporary and I lost interest in them a bit.

By 1973, their albums had gotten tired, as had their live performances - I saw them at the U of I in the fall of 1973, freshman year. It was a really boring show. There was no magic. My recollection was that they did their easy listening songs. It was also pretty poorly attended. I've since found that two of the lead singers apparently had serious drug problems and that could have contributed to the lackluster show. (see Chuck Negron's book, Three Dog Nghtmare" for details.)

I did like their last studio album, American Pastime in 1976. It had some interesting music on it, including a piece composed by Anita O'Day, and other cuts that signalled that the band was trying something new - whether desperation or artistic expansion. However, it flopped and the band broke up soon thereafter.

Mirroring their career, his CD includes a transition from the compelling Eli's Coming, issued in 1969 to the vapid The Show Must Go On , issued in 1974, the latter complete with a circus music intro.

At their best, they could be a compelling band, and much of that is represented here. However, it is a short 41 minutes. Given current CD technology, there really should be more. I undeerstand that there is a greatest hits album with 68 minutes available.

Half-baked "Night"
There's nothing wrong with the music here--what little there is of it. This CD earns its one-star rating for being a random selection of HALF of Three Dog Night's hits, thrown together as quickly and as cheaply as possible in a crass attempt to cash in on the "millennium" craze. If you want a single-disc collection of Three Dog Night's hits, pick up the similarly-titled "Best of Three Dog Night" (the one with three colorized close-up photos against a white background) instead. For just a couple of dollars more, you'll get all of TDN's hits except "'Til The World Ends."

Great band; but not enough air time here!
Three Dog Night enjoyed tremendous success for several years. Between the years 1969 and 1974, they released their own songs as well as cover songs that rose to the top of the pop and adult contemporary charts rather frequently. The music on this CD is incredible; and it holds your interest the entire way through. Their music remains remarkably fresh and strong even to this day.

The CD starts with the infectiously happy "Joy To The World." This song wishes happiness and peace not just to humans but to all creatures on our planet. It's the best antidepressant around! SMILES The musical arrangement exemplifies classic rock--YES!!!!

Shambala, the nest track on this CD, has another potent rock flavor. The song may have a somewhat more "laid back" feel to it than "Joy To The World;" but it works very well.

Other classic Three Dog Night songs on this CD include "An Old Fashioned Love Song;" a tragic ballad about a love gone awry entitled "The Song Must Go On" and "Easy To Be Hard" from Hair.

"Black & White" reminds us to love our fellow man regardless of the color of his or her skin; I remember this song fondly from my grade school years. We had a 45 rpm record of this song and at recess we played it so much we practically wore the grooves off the record! "An Old Fashioned Love Song" has a great intro with the organ playing; and the band performs this number with great sensitivity. "An Old Fashioned Love Song" is both romantic and hauntingly beautiful. People will remember "An Old Fashioned Love Song" for a long time to come. "I've Never Been To Spain" rocks and stuns you with its sensitivity. Excellent!

One of Three Dog Night's other hits was "Celebrate." The musical arrangement showcases the band's incredible sound with their singing and a solid musical arrangement.

Unfortunately, I have one complaint. Other reviewers have written that the CD is just too brief--and they are right. It is shameful that such a talented band does not get its proper due on this CD. I agree with the reviewer who writes that the other CD entitled The Best Of Three Dog Night is a much better buy; you can enjoy much more music from Three Dog Night. Go for it!

Three Dog Night will always be remembered as a band that produced remarkably fine rock hits while they worked together. Their music stuns you with its passion and the melodies are catchy and instantly memorable.

I recommend this CD for Three Dog Night fans or for people who want to become more familiar with the fine artistry of Three Dog Night. Diehard fans will want The Best Of Three Dog Night and other CDs by this unforgettable band. People who enjoy 1970s rock music will enjoy this CD, too. Great job, Three Dog Night!