Gone to join the ever-growing celestial jam session is Cory Wells, founder member and lead vocalist of Three Dog Night, who had a huge hit with their funked-up cover of Randy Newman's Mama Told Me (Not to Come). Soon after the single hit the top of the US charts, Newman (typically) rang Wells to thank him for putting his kids through college. After a string of hits - all cover versions, therefore missing out on the big bucks - Three Dog Night broke up in 1976, by which time some band members were habitually, in Wells's word, 'incapacitated' for the usual rock 'n' roll reasons. Wells, a keen fisherman and a family man (married for 50 years), moved on to become a frequent contributor to magazines such as Field & Stream and, for six years, field editor of Outdoor Life. 'I need the serenity and the celestialness of the outdoors,' he said. 'Nature doesn't care if you're a rock star or a garage mechanic.' RIP.
Here's a reminder of Cory's surprisingly rough, bluesy voice, and of Three Dog Night's biggest hit.
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Super Nige. Youtube, rather importunately, now decides what you'd like to listen to after the song you have selected which is usually rather irritating. This time, though, I enjoyed Shocking Blue's Venus which was next up.
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