Customer Reviews

Three Dog Night/Suitable for Framing

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Three Dog Night appeared on the music scene in the late 60's and took the world by storm. Fronted by three lead singers Chuck Negron, Corey Wells and Danny Hutton (all who had their own unique style) and a terrific band featuring Floyd Sneed on drums, Mike Allsup on guitar, Jimmy Greenspoon on keyboards and Joe Schermie on bass, the band had more hit singles in the time they were together than any other band of the era. This excellent remastered cd includes Three Dog Night's first two albums "Three Dog Night" and "Suitable For Framing". Their debut album entitled simply "Three Dog Night" produced the hits "Nobody","Try A Little Tenderness" (a song originally sung by Otis Redding) and "One". The album was a combination of r&B and rock with numerous standouts (as well as the above mentioned hits) such as "Heaven Is In Your Mind" (written by Steve Winwood and Jim Capaldi), "Chest fever" which features Jimmy Greenspoon's superb organ/keyboards, and "The Loner" (written by Neil Young). Three Dog Night's second release "Suitable For Framing" produced the hits "Easy To Be Hard", "Eli's Coming" (written by Laura Nyro) and "Celebrate". Other excellent songs on the album included "Lady Samantha" (wriiten by Elton John and Bernie Taupin), "Feelin' Alright" (written by Dave Mason) and "Circle In For A landing" (written by Billy Preston). Included is a six page booklet with interesting information on the band and these two albums and colorful pictures. The sound quality is excellent due to remastering and the entire package is well put together in a jewel case which fits into a cardboard slip case. If you enjoy classic rock and/or are a Three Dog Night fan then this cd is a must have. Highly Recommended!

These Gott remastered discs sound decent, will probably sate the average person's TDN appetite, and being 2-fers, are a pretty good deal.

However, the TDN audio benchmarks are the 2002, 24-bit Universal Japan remasters of first five albums. If you are looking for THE best TDN audio, those CD's are a step above any and all other domestic and foreign versions available, including the Gott series.

Unfortunately, all five UJ-TDN titles went out-of-print shortly after their issue, and they have not been re-released. Hopefully, that situation will be rectified at some point in the future.

As all of the original TDN LP album covers were very creative & artistic productions, these albums would all also be a major candidate for CD LP-mini-sleeve packaging.

A sharp eye on eBay may turn these up. For reference, and double-checking with any potential seller, the OBI/spine catalog numbers are:

One - UICY-3370 Amazon link: One

Suitable For Framing - UICY-3371 Amazon link: Suitable for Framing

Captured Live At The Forum - UICY-3372

It Ain't Easy - UICY-3373 Amazon link: It Ain't Easy

Naturally - UICY-3374 Amazon link: Naturally

These masters may or may not be on UJ's TDN 2003 "The Collection", which is currently available, but I have not heard. The Japanese remasters are also superior to the domestic remastered 2004 "The Complete Hit Singles".

Again, as most people originally heard these songs coming out of an AM radio, they will probably be more than satisfied with the Gott's. They are certainly better than the horrid-sounding domestic MCA CD's, which are all derived from nearly 40-year-old LP-EQ'd masters.

However, while the spotlight was always cast on the singers, TDN had an amazing band, including an absolute genius in keyboard player Jimmy Greenspoon. The Japanese remasters allow the brilliance of that superb musicianship to be heard in greater detail and clarity than any other editions.

As an aside, while stars like Keith Emerson and Rick Wakeman however deservedly had the keyboard-god-limelight in that era, when you think about it, it's probably safe to state that no other keysman was heard by more people in that generation than Jimmy Greenspoon. Yes, the TDN vocals were unique and timeless, and I take nothing from those three talented cats, but JG was the glue that brought everything together.

I own approximately 5000 CD's, and "Out In The Country", with JG's evocative B3 melody, is in my top ten favorite songs of all time. The next time you listen to any TDN album, focus on his playing, and you'll get it.

I've also read his tell-all book. It's quite amazing that TDN was able to function, much less generate the top studio performances that comprised all those monster hits, in the virtually permanent drug-addled state they were in.

It is fortuitous that Jimmy Greenspoon not only conquered and survived his addictions, but that he still performs with TDN to this day, because there is no Three Dog Night without him.

***2009 UPDATE***: European label BGO has released the first four TDN albums as "2-fer's" (2 albums on one CD). On Three Dog Night/Suitable For Framing, I am happy to report that the remastering job by BGO is ever so slightly but noticeably better than the 2002 Japan remaster. However, the subsequent release, It Ain't Easy/Naturally is not as good as the '02 Japan remasters.

It was very hard to find the version of Three Dog Night - "A Change Is Gonna Come" on the Suitable for Framing album. It is only available in an album but it was well worth it to get the double cd of two seperate albums. Great sound and value. We love it!

This compilation of Three Dog Night's first two albums are some of the best songs that got them started on their rise to stardom. They have some of the best harmonies from that era, this cd is a must for any Three Dog Night fans and also for anyone who enjoys listening to rock & roll, rhythm & blues, soul & funk all from one group. Very Highly Recommended......... Buy It Already

I was so glad to find Three Dog's Night music on CD. I used to go to their concerts in the seventies. The music sounds great and I play it in my car while I drive. It brings backs memories of simpler times, but at the time, I din't know it.

This CD is good classic rock from a great band. The singing harmony is nicde to listen to.

This CD is as much fun to listen to now as it was when it first came out. Brings back a lot of memories.

Three Dog Night/ Three Dog Night & Suitable for Framing (BGO - two albums on one CD): Three Dog Night made the most enjoyable and radio friendly interpretations of other people's songs in Rock history. Many times their interpretations became the true hit, being far more popular than the original artist's version. This CD shows their talents admirably. For most, a good single disc anthology will bring them all the songs they really want. However, to hear their original albums is to get a much fuller experience of their talents, even if the original albums don't produce the same kind of excitement that a hits album will achieve.

"One" is their first album and their best. It sounds dated today and the covers are great songs--"Chest Fever";"The Loaner" and the title track-- but they do not top the originals. Still though this is a good album and an honest effort. Afterwards they became a hit singles machine. If you want that just get one of their ten million compilation packages. But if you want to hear a complete album this is the "One."