Memories of Three Dog Night

I’m at the age where just about every week brings news of the death of an old friend or acquaintance or of an actor or musician I admired in my younger days. Today’s sad tale was the passing of Chuck Negron, one of the founders and vocalists of Three Dog Night, among the hottest rock acts of the early 1970s.

Negron was 83 and led an eventful life that encompassed rock stardom, international fame, drug addiction, and homelessness. Eventually he turned to spirituality and faith, which he credited with helping him overcome his addictions and renew his musical recording and performing career.

Three Dog Night’s third album, Captured Live at the Forum, released in 1969, was the first live album I ever purchased, I think in late 1970. Recorded when the band was performing as an opening act for Steppenwolf, the album rose to #6 on the rock charts.

Unlike many bands of their era that performed mostly original material, Three Dog Night in its early years didn’t write their own songs. But the band’s distinctive three-part vocal harmonies gave their performances a flair and energy that rivaled and often exceeded that of the originals. And to be fair, songs by writers like Laura Nyro and Harry Nilsson, represented on Captured Live with excellent versions of “Eli’s Coming” and “One,” often found their greatest success when performed by better-known musicians.

Other notable songs on the album include Traffic’s “Heaven is In Your Mind,” Dave Mason’s “Feelin’ Alright,” soon to become a classic thanks to versions recorded by nearly everyone, and a stirring version of The Band’s “Chest Fever.” There’s even a Lennon-McCartney song here, “It’s for You,” although it was written for English singer Cilla Black and I don’t believe was ever recorded or even performed by the Beatles.

Three Dog Night broke up in 1976 due to drug problems and other friction within the group, and while varying members of the band reunited sporadically over the years, they never regained their early 1970s popularity. But their earlier work is still impressive and well worth your time to track down. I imagine oldies stations will be playing some of those songs today in memory of Negron.

I haven’t seen my copy of Captured Live in years, although I expect it’s still around the house, certainly well worn from many hundreds of plays on turntables of varying quality over the decades. I should probably seek out a copy on compact disc and refresh my familiarity with an old favorite.

Also, as I’ve written before: Many of the most popular musicians of the 1970s are still around, still performing, and – in some but not all cases – still quite musically talented. They’re not making any money from streaming, so go hear them live if you get a chance.