Three Dog Night is just warming up

The band is using orchestras to give new life to its many hits.
By JOHN PATRICK GATTA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
Working with a live orchestra used to be viewed as the most un-rock 'n' roll thing that a band could do. But as more acts took the plunge, the concept of being backed up by strings, woodwinds and timpani turned into just another way to add new shades and colors to a musical catalogue.
Three Dog Night feels that way. Since a 1992 concert with the Tennessee Symphony Orchestra, the band has occasionally added the classical element as a break from its usual performances.
"It's a good change. Flesh out the songs. You always wonder what it would be like," said Danny Hutton, co-founder of the group, during a recent phone interview.
Hutton explained that it takes a lot of work to bring off a concert mixing a symphony and his band. Rehearsals begin in the morning between the classical musicians and the group's personal conductor, Larry Baird. Hutton wanted to work with Baird due to his arranging and conducting for the Moody Blues.
Later in the day, the members of Three Dog Night do a sound check, and then rehearse with the symphony. Because of the technical aspects involved -- music charts that must be played note-for-note with no improvisation -- the band members must play with a discipline not needed at their other shows.
"It's like an ocean liner. Once it starts, you can't turn it around. So, you've got to remember sometimes on certain songs where we ad lib, we can't space out. Larry's following these big charts, so you've got to be careful not to wander," Hutton said. "Believe me, I'm not dreaming about a hamburger after the show. When you're onstage, you're totally focused."
Harmony
The band's name comes from an Aboriginal tale of sleeping with a dog next to you in the cold outback. A very cold evening under the stars could turn into a three-dog night.
It's also a reference to Hutton's original intentions. Three-part harmonies appealed to him. He used that during his producing work prior to starting the band. Along with Cory Wells and one-time third vocalist Chuck Negron, the group created a rock and soul hybrid that, between 1969 and 1975 had 21 consecutive Top 40 hits, 11 Top 10s, three No. 1's and 12 straight gold-certified albums.
Using songwriters who, at that time, were relatively unknown worked out in their favor. Songs such as "Mama Told Me Not To Come" by Randy Newman, "Joy to the World" by Hoyt Axton, "One" by Harry Nilsson and "Eli's Coming" by Laura Nyro consistently supplied Three Dog Night with quality material.
Because of its many hits and lack of songwriting credits, Three Dog Night is rarely heard on album rock radio or considered a candidate for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
"All we did was we went into the studio and cut the 10 or 12 songs that we really liked; the best songs that we could find and put out an album," Hutton said. "We never picked singles. We always put out albums except for the very first song on the very first album that was put out.
"We never felt like a singles band but a lot of people perceived us that way."
As with so many others, the volatile mix of success, excess and ego tore the band apart. Only two more albums of new material came out from 1976 to 1983, while its line up changed. Since that time the group featuring original members Hutton, Wells, keyboardist Jimmy Greenspoon and guitarist Michael Allsup has toured consistently behind its recorded legacy.
Compilations
Another best-of collection, "Complete Hit Singles," came out earlier this year. Then, last month it released, "35th Anniversary Hits Collection," which features the band in the studio with London Symphony Orchestra as well as a few live tracks with the Tennessee Symphony and two brand new numbers.
The recording became a good excuse for the members to travel to London and work in the famous Abbey Road Studios, once the musical home of the Beatles, with musicians who not only worked with the Fab Four but also on the soundtracks to "Star Wars" and "Harry Potter."
Since the band arrangements remain the same, the symphony's role is to give the songs depth and a fuller sound. Baird mixes the two genres most prominently during preludes to "Liar" and "One."
The addition of the two new numbers should be most exciting for Three Dog Night's longtime fans. For Hutton, they are the initial small steps towards producing an all-original studio effort.
"We just got our feet wet. We've got some more stuff in the can, but I think we want to be very careful when we put it out. People are going to be waiting and a lot of people have only heard the hits, the best of the best. It's going to be very hairy putting out a full out album because they're going to be expecting a lot."