Tag Archives: Three Dog Night

Music Monday: January 6, 2025

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Hi, everyone. Welcome to the first edition of Music Monday for the new year.

Blog 2025

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Welcome to 2025, everyone.

If you have been here for a while you know I am not much for resolutions. I try to find a word or a phrase to guide me for the year. Not surprisingly, I usually find said inspiration in a song. This year is no different.

My process is to think about it for most of December and once I have chosen my song, I know it will be the first one I listen to in the new year to start it off right. The track I chose for 2025 alludes to a state of mind of peace and happiness as well as the path to get there. And the older I get the easier it is to see I have the choice and ability-albeit temporarily-to keep MY world as safe and as peaceful as possible by limiting the amount of time I let THE world in.

That is a powerful force to realize and utilize which I plan to do a lot more this year. I started doing this during the pandemic lockdown and it really helped me cope. I continued keeping myself fairly isolated in the figurative sense since then but there is a lot more I can do to improve on it. Plus, this year’s song also takes me back to an absolutely glorious scene from one of my favorite shows of all time. It drives the point home about our ability to make the choices that are best for us.

“Wash away my troubles
Wash away my pain
With the rain in Shambala
Wash away my sorrow
Wash away my shame
With the rain in Shambala“.

lost-van-scene
Lost van Jin and Sawyer

Above: The sublime van ride scene in “Lost” S3 E10, “Tricia Tanaka Is Dead”. Top: Charlie (L) and Hurley (R) (Dominic Monaghan and Jorge Garcia). Center: The ride. Bottom: Jin (L) and Sawyer (R) (Daniel Dae Kim and Josh Holloway). (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Elvis Aaron Presley was born 90 years ago on January 8, 1935. At 19 years old he recorded his first record which put him on the path that led to his throne as The King. He changed music, pop culture and how we saw ourselves reflected back in the world he created. And we were all the better for it.

Singer, actor, Army veteran, entertainer, legend. He not only introduced rock & roll to the mainstream, he also brought it to life. What more can be said that has not already been said about this stunning mountain of a man except that he is missed every single moment there is air around us. And thank you seems like such a small phrase which does not come close to the amount of gratitude he is due.

All hail 90 years of The King.

Elvis A
Elvis B
Elvis C

Top: Elvis at the beginning circa 1957 when he introduced the world to his hip shaking moves. Middle: The King and his guitar circa 1958. Bottom: A moment from the 1968 TV special. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Three Dog Night: “Shambala” (1973, written by Daniel Moore).

Elvis Presley: “That’s All Right” (1954, written by Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup).

Elvis Presley: “Can’t Help Falling In Love” (1961, written by Luigi Creatore, Hugo Peretti and George David Weiss).

Elvis Presley: “Suspicious Minds” (1969, written by Mark James).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: October 23, 2023

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Hi, everyone. Welcome to another triple play edition of Music Monday.

Bruce quote 2023

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Our first feature turned 50 years old earlier this year. It was released in May of 1973 and peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in July 1973. It later appeared on Three Dog Night’s ninth studio album, Cyan, which came out in October 1973. Led by an incredible vocal by group co-founder Cory Wells, it is not only my top pick of theirs but also one of my favorite songs of all time. I was overjoyed when it was featured in one of my most beloved shows in 2007. So if this track does not give you “Lost” vibes picturing Hurley, Charlie, Sawyer, Jin and Vincent enjoying a van ride on a not so deserted island, then we cannot be friends.

Three_Dog_Night_1972
Lost Tricia Tanaka

Top: Three Dog Night circa 1972. Back L–R: Joe Schermie, Floyd Sneed, Michael Allsup and Jimmy Greenspoon. Front L–R: Danny Hutton, Cory Wells and Chuck Negron. Bottom (L-R): Vincent the Lab, Charlie, Jin, Hurley and Sawyer in front of the VW van which would transport them back to 1973, courtesy of the first of today’s three songs. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

A song turning 35 this year was covered by Phil Collins for his 1988 movie, Buster. I never saw the film but adored this version of the track from the very first note. It was originally recorded by The Mindbenders in 1965. If you are a “Friends” fan, you know that Chandler was escorted down the aisle by his parents to a beautiful string instrumental version of this tune at his & Monica’s wedding. But even before that I loved Collins’ take on this pretty romantic ballad.

Buster 2

The movie poster for the 1988 film, Buster. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Another track turning 35 in 2023 is from the debut album from what is arguably music’s most premier super group. Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 was released October 25, 1988 and reacquainted us with five enormous musical powerhouses: Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne & Tom Petty. What these five men accomplished on their own, in prior bands and together is one of the best chapters of rock music’s history.

Traveling_Wilburys

The Traveling Wilburys (L-R): Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, George Harrison and Tom Petty. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Three Dog Night: “Shambala” (1973, written by Daniel Moore).

Phil Collins: “A Groovy Kind of Love” (1988, lyrics by Carole Bayer Sager and Toni Wine, music by Muzio Clementi).

The Traveling Wilburys: “Handle With Care” (1988, written by The Traveling Wilburys: Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne & Tom Petty).

Stay safe and well.

Music Monday: November 22, 2021

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Hi, everyone. Welcome to this week’s edition of Music Monday.

Music Monday

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

This is a short week for many of us thanks to the upcoming holiday. If it is not for you, maybe today’s track will lift your spirits anyway. If you are a fan of the show, “Lost”, then this song is probably stuck in your head with images of Hurley, Charlie, Sawyer, Jin & Vincent enjoying an unexpected van ride in the middle of a not-so-deserted island. It was a great scene with a great tune to underscore the whole feel good vibe. So enjoy the song & have a great week, everybody. Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Lost van scene

Three Dog Night 1972

First picture: Our gang from “Lost”: Top image: Charlie & Hurley (Dominic Monaghan and Jorge Garcia). Center image: The ride. Bottom image: Jin, Vincent the Dog & Sawyer (Daniel Dae Kim and Josh Holloway). Second picture: Three Dog Night circa 1972. Cory Wells, pictured center in front row, was the lead singer for today’s song. He shared lead vocal duties with Danny Hutton (front row, left) and Chuck Negron (front row, right). Back row L-R: Joe Schermie, Floyd Sneed, Michael Allsup and Jimmy Greenspoon. 

(Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Three Dog Night: “Shambala” (1973, written by Daniel Moore).

Stay well.

Let’s Take A Moment Day 326

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Hi everyone.  Hope you are all well and continue to stay that way during this global health crisis we are facing.  But in addition to protecting your physical wellness, what are you doing to stay mentally healthy today?

Feb 2021 Blog

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I know we are still facing a serious situation but a new year gives us hope for the new days, seasons, opportunities & moments ahead. Still, music is something that will never change for me. It is my refuge, the most comforting part of my life & the one thing I consistently count on. So until a more normal semblance of life returns, I am going to share a song I listen to that helps me escape the current state of things, if only for a few minutes each day. And if this helps anyone else, even better.

In 2007 I was deeply obsessed with the TV show “Lost”. In a particularly fun episode during season 3 (#10, “Tricia Tanaka Is Dead”), Hurley discovered (with Vincent’s help) an old vehicle lying on its side buried in a remote part of the jungle. When he & a couple of the other guys flipped it on to its wheels, it was easy to see it was a circa 1970’s VW van, similar to the one Kevin Costner drove in “Field Of Dreams”. Hurley was convinced he could get the van started with some help. So he climbed into the driver’s seat, Charlie rode shotgun and Sawyer & Jin gave the vehicle a push. Miraculously it shifted into first gear much to the delight of all four men. And when the van started, an 8-track in the dash radio started playing today’s song. If there was any doubt as to what decade the vehicle originated from, that perfect bit of nostalgia was the only clue you needed.

The show took it one step further by playing a gorgeous symphonic version of that track as the men returned to camp. The song was by the band Three Dog Night who were all over the radio in the 1970’s with songs like “Joy To The World”, “One”, “Just An Old Fashioned Love Song” & “Black & White”, to name a few. I cannot say they were one of my favorite groups, but their songs were different enough to pique my interest. What made their sound unique were the three lead singers: Danny Hutton, Chuck Negron & Cory Wells. The one song by them that I adore was sung by Wells, who was born 80 years ago today on February 5, 1941. And when it started playing in that van during that “Lost” episode, it was a fabulous salute to a great decade & a great song.

“Wash away my sorrow
Wash away my shame
With the rain in Shambala“.

Lost van scene

3 dog night

Top: A few snapshots from the “Lost” episode with the van: Charlie & Hurley (top), The four men driving around in the van (middle) & Sawyer, Jin (purple shirt) and Vincent the Lab running towards the working van. Bottom (L-R): Chuck Negron, Danny Hutton and Cory Wells of Three Dog Night circa 1972. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Three Dog Night: “Shambala” (1973, written by Daniel Moore).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.