1970 - December: Three Dog Night “Naturally”

What the Riff?!?

By the end of 1970 Three Dog Night was in the middle of their most prolific and successful period of their career. The group would land 21 Billboard Top 40 hits between 1969 and 1975 with three of these taking the top slot. The group was formed by three vocalists in 1967 - Chuck Negron, Cory Wells, and Danny Hutton. The other members of the band for this album are Mike Allsup on guitar, Joe Schermie on bass, Jimmy Greenspoon on keyboards, and Floyd Sneed on drums. All of the instrumentalists in the band also provide backing vocals on at least one of the songs from the album.

Naturally is the fifth album from the band and the second released in 1970. Three singles from the album entered the Billboard top 20, with "Joy to the World" topping the charts. As with contemporaries like the Beach Boys and Crosby, Stills, and Nash, you get an abundance of vocal harmonies with Three Dog Night. Given the origins with three vocalists, perhaps this is not surprising.

Three Dog Night takes its name from the Australian Outback, and how the Aborigines would keep warm at night by sleeping with a dingo - dogs native to the continent. A very cold evening would be known as a three-dog night. While the group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2000, they have not yet been inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Much of their work was composed by others, and this has been used as an excuse for their lack of recognition.

Three Dog Night continues to produce music today, though Danny Hutton is the only original member still with the group.

Wayne takes us through this album for today's podcast.

One Man Band
The first single released from the album went to number 19 on the Billboard charts. The lyrics describe a man who wants to be the only one for his lover - her one man band. There are great close harmonies and work on the Hammond organ in this one.

Joy to the World
The big hit from the album went to number 1 on the Billboard charts and remained there for six weeks. It was not expected to be a hit, but was instead expected to just be a "filler" song for the album with nonsensical but catchy lyrics. Singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actor Hoyt Axton wrote the song. Chuck Negron is the lead singer on this hit.

Liar
Russ Ballard of Argent wrote this song, and released it as Argent's first single off their self-titled album. While that version did not chart, the Three Dog Night rendition went to number 7 on the Billboard charts, benefitting from its release after their number 1 hit with "Joy to the World." The haunting lyrics describe a relationship in trouble.

I Can Hear You Calling
This song leads off the album and appears as the B-side to "Joy to the World," but was never released as a single itself. The funky grooves feature heavy use of the Hammond organ and a big drum beat. The lyrics reflect a person who keeps getting called on the phone by a lover he has left behind.

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

Main theme from the television series “H.R. Pufnstuf”
This odd children's show from Sid and Marty Krofft left the airwaves in October 1970.

STAFF PICKS:

Fire and Rain by James Taylor
Rob starts off the staff picks with this soft rock hit. Taylor wrote the song after the suicide of a friend. It was the second single from Taylor's second album, "Sweet Baby James." It peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

It Don't Matter to Me by Bread
Bruce brings us another soft hit. Bread was a soft rock group formed and fronted by David Gates, along with Jimmy Griffin and Rob Royer. Gates, a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, ran in the same circles as Leon Russell in Tulsa bar bands before moving to California. The song reflects an openness in the singer's relationship, wanting only the best for his love.

Knock Three Times by Dawn
Lynch features a group which would later be known as Tony Orlando and Dawn. Orlando was working as an executive at April-Blackwood Music, and released the song without listing his name to protect his position from accusations of a conflict of interest. The song went to number 1. The lyrics reflect a secret romance between a man and his neighbor from the floor below.

Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go by Bettye LaVette
Wayne's staff pick is a bit of a James Brown song with a female voice. Bettye LaVette came out of Detroit but was signed by Atlantic Records rather than their competitors in Detroit, Motown Records. LaVette is a long time singer of blues, soul, and R&B starting in the early 60's and continuing today. This song is about letting loose and having a good time living in the moment.

COMEDY TRACK:

Bridget the Midget by Ray Stevens
We wrap up the podcast with the comedy stylings of Ray Stevens singing about Bridget the Midget, the Queen of the Blues.

Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?”

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