Suitable for Framing

Editors’ Notes Three Dog Night’s second album was issued less than a year after its successful debut and again shows off the band’s ear for outside songwriters. Suitable for Framing also includes the Danny Hutton original “Dreaming Isn’t Good for You” and the percussion-heavy instrumental “King Solomon’s Mines,” credited to drummer Floyd Sneed. All three lead singers—Hutton, Chuck Negron, and Cory Wells—come together with the horn section from the band Chicago for Dave Mason’s “Feelin’ Alright” and the ultra-catchy “Celebrate.” “Lady Samantha” was written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, then unknown to U.S. audiences. “Easy to Be Hard” (from the rock musical Hair) and “Eli’s Coming” (written by Laura Nyro) both made the top 10 and established Three Dog Night as a formidable force for the '70s. Wells did a credible and soulful job on Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come,” proving the band had both admirable commercial and artistic instincts.