Three Dog Night: It Ain't Easy CD Track Listing
Three Dog Night
It Ain't Easy (1970)
Originally Released April 1970\nCD Edition Released 1988 ??\nJapanese 24-bit Remastered CD Edition Released August 26, 2002\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: After a remarkable string of hits through 1969, Three Dog Night released It Ain't Easy, its fourth album in less than 18 months. Once again, it was a hot seller, going to number eight. Once again, it consisted primarily of songs written by some of rock music's best, but as yet unheralded, composers. And this time, the group had its first number one hit, a memorable version of Randy Newman's fear-of-partying song "Mama Told Me (Not to Come)." Although much more melodramatic than Newman's own understated take on his 12 Songs album, Three Dog Night's rendering was cleverly orchestrated and impossible to escape. It Ain't Easy also included another Newman composition, "Cowboy," the song he'd written for Midnight Cowboy, which was rejected by the filmmakers in favor of Fred Neil's "Everybody's Talkin'." The album also provided a taste of Free with "Woman," Paul Williams' attractive "Out in the Country," and a Cynthia Weil-Barry Mann composition, "Good Time Living." The Elton John classic "Your Song" makes its first appearance on this album as well, predating his own recorded version by several months. Considering how dependent Three Dog Night was on outside songsmiths to provide them with the material they popularized, it is surprising that none of the album jackets of their first four albums contained printed writing credits. The curious listener had to look to the labels on the records in order to track down who had written these first-rate compositions. -- Jim Newsom\n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nA perfect mix 'n match of various musical styles, December 2, 2002 \nBy David Hugaert (Honolulu, HI United States)\n"It Ain't Easy" is most likely the most veritable title in the Three Dog Night catalogue, as far as musical stylings go. The CD opens with a ballsy rocker titled "Woman", plus there are other finely laid-out rock arrangements as well. "Rock & Roll Widow" contains a beautifully textured mixture of Michael Allsup's lead guitar and Jimmy Greenspoon's rangey and dynamic keyboard playing - the perfect balance to the above track. The third and final rock composition, the Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil-penned "Good Time Living", has Chuck Negron, Danny Hutton & Cory Wells singing together in upstanding fashion, with a uniquely interwoven style of three part harmony which can't be found anywhere else on this planet. Hutton, Negron & Wells each contribute solo lead vocals on three tracks, with Negron contributing a teary-eyed vocal on the Randy Newman-penned "Cowboy", and with Hutton contributing an equally impressive vocal performance on the Elton John/Bernie Taupin written "Your Song". Although TDN's version of Elton's ballad entered the charts the same time as "The Master('s) Himself", Elton John's version quickly reached Top 20 status before the TDN version slowly made it up the far reaches of the Billboard charts in December 1970/January 1971. What makes TDN's version of "Your Song" unique in its own special way, is the bluesy instrumental passages that the band craftfully put in place of the last omitted verse - a Three Dog Night trademark found in other TDN album non-singles. Wells makes excellent use of his gruff, soulful vocals on the other Newman-penned single "Mama Told Me (Not To Come)" - TDN's first number one single. The title track emits several bluesy pulsations that are all over the place, as well. There's a special place in the guys' heart for 1950's music too, as is the heir apparent in "Good Feeling (1957)". There's a funny little story featured in the booklet of the double CD "Celebrate 1965-1975" collection, as Danny Hutton stated about this track: "We stuffed rags and paper into our mouths, ears and noses, trying to make the funniest noises we could." To this, Cory Wells stated: "That was the happiest moment I remember. I remember going home at 7:30 in the morning after we recorded it. I was up for days." After hearing "Good Feeling (1957)" the guys truly were enjoying themselves, as per Hutton and Wells' above comments, and it shows. "Out In The Country" showcases a mixture of folk & rock influences put to good measure. So, to sum it all up, "It Ain't Easy" makes for wholesome "easy listening" pleasure at that, which makes it essential for your all-important Three Dog Night collection. Although this title went out of print in the U.S. long ago, many of the selections found on "It Ain't Easy" are also located on the "Celebrate..." collection mentioned above. Who knows how much longer this import of "IAE" will be made available to the public. You would be most wise to pick up a copy soon, otherwise it'll be one "hard sell"! IN LOVING MEMORY: Joe (Schermie) Schermetzler (1946-2002). R.I.P. Thanks for many musical memories, Joe. \n
This rock cd contains 9 tracks and runs 32min 56sec.
Freedb: 8607b609
Buy: from Amazon.com
Category
: Music
Tags
: music songs tracks rock Rock
- Three Dog Night - Woman (04:45)
- Three Dog Night - Cowboy (03:46)
- Three Dog Night - It Aint Easy (02:50)
- Three Dog Night - Out In The Country (03:11)
- Three Dog Night - Good Feeling (1957) (03:37)
- Three Dog Night - Rock And Roll Widow (03:01)
- Three Dog Night - Mama Told Me (Not To Come) (03:23)
- Three Dog Night - Your Song (04:06)
- Three Dog Night - Good Time Living (04:10)
