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From the Vault...
05/13/2001
#733 |
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info
Three Dog Night
"Seven Separate Fools"
© MCA Records
Year of Release: 1972
Rating:
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track listing
Black And White
My Old
Kentucky Home
Prelude To Morning
Pieces Of April
Going To Circles
Chained
Tulsa Turnaround
In Bed
Freedom For
The Stallion
The Writings
On The Wall
Midnight Runaway
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Three Dog Night
"Seven Separate Fools"
As explained in my previous
Steppenwolf review,
finding original albums by certain rock acts are virtually impossible.
In the beginning of the CD craze, many original albums were indeed re-issued
on compact disc. MCA Records has fallen into this category of discontinuing
original albums on CD, as such talents as The Mamas and the Papas,
Steppenwolf, and this week's review group/artist, Three Dog Night, did get
their catalogues re-issued on the CD laser beam, but in later years, were
discontinued. Discovering the great hits, lost hits, and interesting album
tracks are always a treasure when listening to a group or artist's massive or
moderate repertoire of music recorded. We can easily say this for this
week's review, Three Dog Night's Seven Separate Fools, released in 1972.
Kicking off the album is their #1 song, "Black And White" a
well-known AM favorite, as I had this single, on their original label
Dunhill. It's B-side is also featured later in the album, "Freedom For
The Stallion," a beautiful pop song, and for those around in the days
of the standard 45 RPM records, it's always a treat to see the big hits and
their B-sides when released on CD.
Giving an almost country-pop feel to an old song standard, "My Old
Kentucky Home" is quite impressive. It's different in the common pop sound
of Three Dog Night, and can easily be treasured as a lost album track, that
could easily turn heads when heard everytime.
"Prelude To Morning" has the common cheesy pop sound, yet it's an
instrumental. And as nice as it sounds, this song would of been better if
vocals were provided; leaving the listener hanging at the end. "Pieces Of
April" and "Going To Circles" are beautiful pop songs, as it features
Three Dog Night's vocalist Chuck Negron at his usual best, likewise the
harmonies of his fellow Dog Nighters, Danny Hutton and Cory Wells.
"Chained" on the other hand, has a more harder rock feel, as the
music could be compared to that of Steppenwolf, yet it has the sweet vocals
and harmonies of Three Dog Night. "Tulsa Turnaround" is very different;
a rougher vocal approach, and can easily be compared to ragtime, New Orleans
Jazz, and the music of Leon Russell, The Band, and Little Feat.
"In Bed" has a more rock feel, than the common pop, yet it still
features what Three Dog Night does best: the three-part harmonies, as in their
hit "Family Of Man" on this one. "The Writings On The Wall" also
features their great harmonies, and this song has a funky approach, as heard
in songs by Sly and the Family Stone. A rougher funk style is heard on the
album's closer, "Midnight Runaway," and it also could be compared to
the rougher style of Steppenwolf, but the vocals are that of Three Dog Night.
Once again, discovering the "other songs" of Three Dog Night, rather than
the common favorites are worth mentioning. Their other songs do feature their
familiar pop style, with the ballads of pop tunes written by the likes of
Elton John and many others, and their are the other songs that feature a more
harder edge than the standard Three Dog Night hit singles. It's always
fascinating to play a particular tune, like say "Midnight Runaway" and
play the trivia game "Who Sang This Song?" Many would probably not guess that
it's Three Dog Night, and when the answer is revealed, we can imagine the
surprise looks on people's faces when they realize the true identities.
VH-1's Behind The Music has covered The Mamas and the Papas, and
even Steppenwolf. It would be great to see a Behind The Music program
on Three Dog Night. VH-1 has mentioned Three Dog Night in their Where Are
They Now series, yet Behind The Music is much better as it
provides an hour dedicated to many of the great talents who recorded great
music in their careers. Chuck Negron was argued as the main lead singer of
Three Dog Night, where Danny Hutton and Cory Wells were originally credited as
lead singers as well. But it was Chuck Negron's lead vocals that supplied many
of their hits. Chuck Negron has recoverd from a drug addiction, and is currently
recording again, on his own. Is there a comeback for Three Dog Night, with the
original members? That question is yet to be answered. But for now, we can
enjoy their music on CD (Greatest Hits packages, no doubt), but if you
can find their original releases on CD, it will be worth the listen.
© WSVNRadio.net. All rights reserved.
Review or any portion may not be reproduced
without written permission. Cover art is the
intellectual property of
MCA Records
and is used for reference purposes only.
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