Naturally...

Three Dog Night - "Naturally" (1970) - Dunhill

Hello Friends,

Naturally is Three Dog Night's fifth record.  Not a great record, but certainly not terrible.

For the most part definitely sounds dated and, at its worst, sounds like a bunch of white guys trying to sound soulful.

Except for the side one instrumental, "Fire Eater" the album is comprised completely of cover songs.  (Actually, we believe all of this band's hits were either cover songs or written by non-band members.  The band became a sort of proving grounds for lots of burgeoning songwriters of the era-- including Bernie Taupin, Leo Sayer, Harry Nilsson, Paul Williams, Laura Nyro, etc.)

The Hoyt Axton-penned, "Joy to the World" was obviously the big hit from this record, but our album winner is without a doubt their take on the Russ Ballard song, "Liar"-- a rollicking, bad ass, sort of sleazy early 70's anthem.

This song is amazing and heads-and-shoulders beyond anything else on the LP.  (With covers of Spooky Tooth's "I've Got Enough Heartache" and Free's creepy "I'll Be Creeping" a distant second and third.)

And yes, friends, that's the same Russ Ballard who wrote the songs "New York Groove" & "God Gave Rock & Roll To You"!

Fun Fact: Hey kids, a three-dog night is an expression that originated in the Australian outback referring the to the temperature at night.  A one dog night is cool.  A two dog night is cold.  A three dog night is fucking freezing and you will therefore need three dogs to sleep in the tent with you.  Crikey!

RATING: 3.5 fishes in the deep blue see out of 5