After six studio albums, beginning in 1969, a single "in concert" disc Captured Live at the Forum, from Los Angeles, September 12, 1969, and the first of many "greatest hits" packages (Golden Biscuits), came the superstar band's ninth album, the double-disc live album from 1973, Around the World With Three Dog Night. Recorded on the tour that supported the 1972 Seven Separate Fools LP, the record label this time gives no indication of the place or date of recording (more cryptic than 1972's Steppenwolf Live), though that album at least informed the listener it was "recorded live at various concerts during early 1970." Around the World With Three Dog Night has most of the major classics in the band's life before the release of "Shambala," "The Show Must Go On," and the group's other four final hit recordings. This is the same crew that created Captured Live at the Forum -- the same band lineup, Bill Cooper still engineering, Richard Podolor producing, even photographer Ed Caraeff's work continuing to grace the cover and gatefold. The recording is much clearer than Captured Live at the Forum, and the band is totally on. The Laura Nyro tune "Eli's Coming" is the only duplicate from the previous live LP, and along with the majority of their hits not included on the Forum live album, there's the Ted Myers/Jaiananda song "Going in Circles" from the 1972 film X, Y and Zee, as well as "Midnight Runaway," "Good Feelin' 1957," a Floyd Sneed drum solo, keyboard riffing from Jimmy Greenspoon, and the concluding number written by all seven members of the group, "Jam," which rocks, but is an odd way to end a very good LP from an important Top 40 group. By this time, Three Dog Night had become superstars, and the slick recording and performance reflects that, making the previous disc almost underground by comparison. Gabriel Mekler's production of Steppenwolf Live and Jack Richardson's brilliant presentation of The Guess Who Live at the Paramount were classic "peer" albums from this time period to go along with this effort from producer Richard Podolor. Not the definitive live disc from this group, the sublime "Celebrate" is strangely missing, it does contain 11 of their hit songs and six additional tracks. Would be nice to see it expanded to a double CD with more material and maybe some credits as to where it was recorded. There are some great photos of all of the bandmembers inside, and it does remain a snapshot of this vital hit group before they went in different directions.
© Joe Viglione /TiVo