Three Dog Night Complete Hit Singles CD

Three Dog Night: Michael Allsup (guitar); Joe Schermie, Jack Ryland (bass instrument); Chuck Negron, Danny Hutton, Jimmy Greenspoon, Skip Konte, Floyd Sneed, Cory Wells.
Personnel: Chuck Negron, Danny Hutton, Cory Wells (vocals); Mike Allsup (guitar); Patrick Sullivan (cello); Walter Parazaider (saxophone); Lee Loughnane (trumpet); James Pankow (trombone); Ron Stockert (Fender Rhodes piano); Gordon de Witty (organ); Jimmy Greenspoon, Skip Konte (keyboards); Floyd Sneed (drums, percussion); Mickey McMeel (percussion).
Additional personnel: James Pankow (trumpet); Walter Parazaider.
Photographer: Ed Caraeff.
Three Dog Night ran off a string of 21 Top 40 hits between 1968 and 1975, including three number ones: "Joy to the World," "Mama Told Me (Not to Come)," and "Black & White." Despite this, they are often written off as a lightweight band who couldn't write their own songs. Granted they were laid-back and very easygoing, but they had some heft. The vocals of Chuck Negron, Danny Hutton, and Cory Wells were surprisingly soulful and the band that backed them was solid, and even rocked pretty hard on occasion. They didn't write songs -- it is true -- but their genius was picking songs. Along with producer Richard Podolor, the group found songs by writers like Randy Newman, Harry Nilsson, Laura Nyro, Hoyt Axton, Paul Williams, and John Hiatt and turned them into hits. So the group had laudable credentials, but more importantly, the songs collected here play like the soundtrack to the '70s. If you were just a casual fan, listening to Complete Hit Singles provides moment after moment of "I didn't remember these guys did that song!" exclamations. The hits just keep coming one after the other: "Joy to the World," "Celebrate," "Shambala," "Liar," "An Old Fashioned Love Song," and "Let Me Serenade You." Never sappy, never overbearing, always settled into a low-key, hooky groove, these songs are about as good as early-'70s pop gets. Another impressive thing about Three Dog Night is that they never showed any signs of slowing down. 1974's "Play Something Sweet (Brickyard Blues)" is just as good as "Eli's Coming" from 1969. The only thing that stopped them was the inevitable bout of creative differences that split the band up in 1976. This collection basically supplants the excellent Best of Three Dog Night from 1983. It boasts improved sound and one more song, their last Top 40 hit, "Til the World Ends," from 1975. ~ Tim Sendra
One of the most commercially successful bands of its era, Three Dog Night had a remarkable run of more than 20 chart singles between 1969 and 1975, racking up nearly a dozen top-10 hits and, consequently, 12 consecutive gold albums. THE COMPLETE HIT SINGLES brings these 21 cuts together in a single-disc package. The band's soulful pop-rock, driven by the revolving, triple lead vocals of Danny Hutton, Chuck Negron, and Cory Wells, and sweetened by atmospheric keys, rock guitar, and tasteful strings, attest to their widespread appeal and sustained popularity.
Though the band focused on interpreting material by other songwriters, their taste was impeccable. Those with even a passing familiarity with the pop music of the time will recognize the Dog's cover of Harry Nilsson's "One," Paul William's "An Old Fashioned Love Song," and Randy Newman's "Mama Told Me (Not to Come)." Two Hoyt Axton songs, "Never Been to Spain" and "Joy to the World," provided the band with two of their biggest hits, with the latter dominating the top slot for six straight weeks. The Arkin/Robinson-penned song "Black and White" (another #1 smash) is also included. In all, the track list amounts to a definitive collection of the band's best moments.