Jonmc defends the (semi) defensible. →[More:] This band was one of the biggest outfits of the 1970's (selling on the order of 11 million records)and are considered little more than an 'oldies' footnote these days, but for awhile they were omnipresent. Hell, even my parents (possibly the least hip baby-boomers of all time had a copy of their Greatest Hits album). I'm talking about the Three Dog Night. Whatever else you want to say about them they cranked out some great singles and whoever picked their songs had excellent taste.

Mama Told Me Not To Come- penned by Randy Newman, this tale of a naif invited to an orgy was pretty weird top 40 fare for 1973, but it somehow clicked, mainly due to a great vocal hook, I guess.

One - A truly great piece of I'm-so-lonely-I-could-just-die self pity.

Liar-penned by Rod Argent (former Zombie and leader of hard rock pioneers Argent of 'Hold Your Head Up" fame) was behind this nasty little spitfire of a number.

Eli's Coming-penned by blue-eyed soulstress Laura Nyro, this was probably the most soulful number the Night ever did and was really popular during the NY Giants playoff drive last year.

and finally, Joy To The World. This (penned by country legend Hoyt Axton)may be the ultimate "If this dosen't make you smile, at least a little bit, you have no soul" songs. I remember sitting next to blinged out gangsta type at a bar. For about an hour he had done nothing but sip his drink and glower at everyone. When this tune came on the juke, he immediately grinned and started singing along word for word and dancing like a mad fool. This, of course, means that this song is key to solving the worlds problems.

Fun trivia: One of the vocalists, Danny Hutton, was rejected by the Monkees and one of the others managed to somehow blow all the money he made during those days on his heroin addiction. Still, they made some great singles.