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Three Dog Night concentrates on the hits BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
After 48 years in Three Dog Night, Danny Hutton knows what he likes when it comes to music. He’s quick to dole out advice to burgeoning bands as well as veterans. “I personally don’t like it when I go see a band—especially a younger band—and they say, ‘We’re hip and we’re not going to cop out and do the hits. We’re going to do all new stuff,’” says Hutton during a recent phone interview. “I want to say, ‘Come on kid. We’ve been together almost 48 years. We’ve seen it all.’” That said, Three Dog Night is known for doing the hits like “Joy to the World” and “Shambala” during performances, which includes a Friday, Dec. 12, gig at Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino in Chandler. “We’re going to do the hits—and sound like the record,” Hutton says. “We’re going to do a couple deep album cuts and a couple of new songs. Those are the songs where people can go to the bathroom. It’s funny. It happens even with (Paul) McCartney.” The new song to which he’s referring is the popular a cappella number “Prayer of the Children.” “It’s all six of us,” he says. “You gotta concentrate on that one, boy.” Three Dog Night’s music has stayed relevant thanks to horror movies by Rob Zombie, as well as the films “Forrest Gump,” “The Big Chill” and “Boogie Nights.” With his band the Danny Hutton Hitters, he contributed the song “Wouldn’t
THREE DOG NIGHT: Danny Hutton, center, is one of three singers in the iconic ‘70s band. Submitted photo
It Be Good” to the “Pretty in Pink” soundtrack. Hutton has imparted his knowledge to his sons, namely Dash, the drummer for the pop group Haim. His other son, Tim, worked with reggae singer Jimmy Cliff on the album “Rebirth.” Hutton loves to share stories about his band’s career. “When we first played England, we did small clubs,” he shares. “I played in a club and I’d met a songwriter. They didn’t want to give us a lot of people for the guest list, so we snuck him in as one of our roadies. He was Elton John or Reggie Dwight. We snuck in Reg.”
Born in Ireland, Hutton has no sign of an accent. Spending time in England as well, he was friends with Harry Nilsson. “The apartment below him had a maid service and all that stuff,” he says. “Harry was crazy. I liked Harry a lot. I didn’t realize that Keith Moon died in his apartment and Cass (Elliot) died in his apartment. He traveled a lot so people used to use it. Steve Marriott was downstairs. I was friends with Marc Bolan, too. Marc used to come over. It was crazy.” Hutton explains that music hasn’t changed over the years, despite what others may say. The delivery of it has
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evolved, however. “I get a kick out of looking at the charts at the back of Rolling Stone where they show No. 10, for example, just moved into the charts with 28,000 units sold,” he says. “That is just such a joke. We are lucky enough to sell lots of records. I have a hallway full of gold and platinum records. You had to sell a million, at least, to get those. But the reason I bring that up is you can still survive and do well doing live shows. The records are a calling card just so people can come and see you. If you’re a good live act, you’re going to do well.” These days, Three Dog Night performs mostly one-nighters at venues that range in size from 1,500-seat former vaudeville theaters to outdoor summer festivals that attract around 35,000 fans. “It’s different every night,” Hutton says. “I love doing the hits though. I’ve got to tell you. Even if we go back to a city and it’s been a long time, 80 percent of the people are new. Just knowing that we’re going to get the reaction we’re going to get, it brings back a lot of good memories. I’d rather do that than do new songs every night watching people say, ‘What the hell?’” Three Dog Night performs at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, at Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino, 5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd., Chandler. Tickets are $35 to $79. For more information, call (800) WIN-GILA or visit www.wingilariver.com. Christina Fuoco-Karasinski is the executive editor of the SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at christina@ santansun.com.