Three Dog Night: The Private Collection and Booking Information

Three Dog Night were so successful in the late 60s and early 70s that their records were basically mass produced and turned out quickly - so unlike many other groups of the era, there is very little in the way of unreleased material, hard-to-find records or unusual items. Pretty much if they cut a record, it got released and pressed in mass quantities. What is odd is that they didn't have much in the way of promotional gimmicks either - very little advertising stunts or promo-only items.

Nevertheless, they did have a few unusual items that are considered collectible today. Here's a list of most of them. If you know of any others, let us know!

"Nobody" promo-only picture sleeve. 1968. Their first single, it was issued as a picture sleeve to radio stations with a "How They Got Their Name" explanation of the name TDN. Copies shipped to stores did not have a picture sleeve. Price guides give a going rate for this of about $30.

The "It Ain't Easy" "nude" cover, 1970. Most fans know about this one! Most price guides give a value of about $200, but dealers have been known to ask even more. Don't be fooled by the European version of Golden Bisquits, which also has the nude cover but was shipped in large quantities and is much less valuable. Jimmy Greenspoon explains the circumstances of the "It Ain't Easy" cover in his book One Is The Lonliest Number. The original working title for "It Ain't Easy" was "Wizards of Orange" and the record company did produce some promotional material for the album using that name. As far as we know, no actual albums were ever printed with that title.

Harmony and Cyan jukebox EPs - these were fun little "mini" versions of the albums that were issued to play on jukeboxes. The Harmony EP has My Impersonal Life, Old Fashioned Love Song, Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer and Jam. Cyan has Storybook Feeling, Ridin' Thumb, Happy Song and Play Children Play. Harmony and Cyan jukebox EPs - these were fun little "mini" versions of the albums that were issued to play on jukeboxes. The Harmony EP has My Impersonal Life, Old Fashioned Love Song, Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer and Jam. Cyan has Storybook Feeling, Ridin' Thumb, Happy Song and Play Children Play.

The TDN greeting cards - in 1972 they actually had a line of greeting cards, issued by American Greetings! One featured "Celebrate!" on the front (with the picture now shown on the front of the CD anthology booklet, of the guys partying at a "banquet") with "dance to the music" inside. Another had "Joy..." on the front (with the picture now also shown in the CD booklet, of the guys on a playground merry-go-round with kids) with "joy to you and me" inside. Hallmark also issued a Peanuts card (not an official TDN item!) with Snoopy on the front with an electric guitar saying "Happy Birthday!" Inside it says: "For 40 cents you were expecting Three Dog Night?" If you weren't so lucky to get your hands on any of those past collectibles you can still buy one of our T-shirts, Rock Rags or Caps right here. Who knows, maybe 25 years from now you too will be a proud owner of a Three Dog Night Private Collection. Just follow the trail below...