Suitable for Framing

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title: "Suitable for Framing" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["three-dog-night-albums", "1969-albums", "albums-produced-by-gabriel-mekler", "dunhill-records-albums", "stateside-records-albums", "mca-records-albums"] topic_path: "arts/music" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suitable_for_Framing" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox album"]

FieldValue
nameSuitable for Framing
typestudio
artistThree Dog Night
coverSuitable cover.JPG
released
recorded1969
studioAmerican Recording, Studio City, California
genreRock
length
labelDunhill (U.S. original release)
MCA (U.S. CD reissue)
Stateside (UK)
producerGabriel Mekler
prev_titleThree Dog Night
prev_year1968
next_titleCaptured Live at the Forum
next_year1969
misc{{Singles
nameThree Dog Night
typestudio
single1Easy to Be Hard
single1dateJuly 1969
single2Eli's Coming
single2dateOctober 1969
single3Celebrate
single3dateFebruary 1970
::

| name = Suitable for Framing | type = studio | artist = Three Dog Night | cover = Suitable cover.JPG | alt = | released = | recorded = 1969 | venue = | studio = American Recording, Studio City, California | genre = Rock | length = | label = Dunhill (U.S. original release) MCA (U.S. CD reissue) Stateside (UK) | producer = Gabriel Mekler | prev_title = Three Dog Night | prev_year = 1968 | next_title = Captured Live at the Forum | next_year = 1969 | misc = {{Singles | name = Three Dog Night | type = studio | single1 = Easy to Be Hard | single1date = July 1969 | single2 = Eli's Coming | single2date = October 1969 | single3 = Celebrate | single3date = February 1970 | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1Score = | url = | last = Newsom | first = Jim | title = Suitable for Framing – Album Review | website = AllMusic | accessdate = 28 July 2019 | rev2 = Rolling Stone | rev2Score = (unfavorable) | rev4 = Tom Hull | rev4Score = C+ Suitable for Framing is the second studio album by American rock band Three Dog Night. The album was released on the Dunhill record label on June 11, 1969 and was the first of two albums released by the band that year.

The album contains the top 20 hit singles "Easy to Be Hard", "Eli's Coming", and "Celebrate"; the latter of which (along with the album's opening track "Feelin' Alright") featured the Chicago horn section. It is also notable for being the first album by Three Dog Night to include songs written by band members, and for its inclusion of the Elton John / Bernie Taupin song "Lady Samantha", as the duo of John/Taupin would not become widely known in the United States for another year.

The album reached the top 10 on charts in both The United States and Canada and became certified gold by the RIAA at the end of the year.

Recording, production, artwork, packaging

As with the band's self-titled debut album, Suitable for Framing was recorded at American Recording Company, was produced by Gabriel Mekler (who produced other Dunhill artists including Steppenwolf), and was engineered by Richard Podolor (who would later become the group's producer) and Bill Cooper. The band members during the album's recording were Danny Hutton (vocals), Chuck Negron (vocals), Cory Wells (vocals), Jimmy Greenspoon (keyboards), Michael Allsup (guitars), Joe Schermie (bass), and Floyd Sneed (drums, percussion). Engineer Richard Podolor also performed as an uncredited guitarist on the album.

The original version of Suitable for Framing (Dunhill DS 50058) was released as a vinyl LP record with a gatefold sleeve. The art direction for the original LP sleeve was done by Wayne Kimbell with photography by Ed Caraeff. The album's gatefold photo features Three Dog Night wearing greasepaint make-up, and posing with members of the Los Angeles groupie troupe The GTOs.

Critical reception

Writing for The New York Times in 1969, Robert Christgau believed Suitable for Framing suffered for the same reasons Three Dog Night succeeded:

Track listing

Side one

  1. "Feelin' Alright" (Dave Mason) – 3:39
  • Lead vocals shared by Hutton, Negron and Wells; includes the Chicago horn section.
  1. "Lady Samantha" (Elton John, Bernie Taupin) – 2:53
  • Lead vocal: Negron, verses. Hutton, choruses.
  1. "Dreaming Isn't Good for You" (Danny Hutton) – 2:16
  • Lead vocal: Hutton.
  1. "A Change Is Gonna Come" (Sam Cooke) – 3:10
  • Lead vocal: Wells.
  1. "Eli's Coming" (Laura Nyro) – 2:41
  • Lead vocal: Wells. Does not include the piano outro used in the 45 RPM mono mix of the song.

Side two

  1. "Easy to Be Hard" (Galt MacDermot, James Rado, Gerome Ragni) – 3:11
  • Lead vocal: Negron. Features an uncredited string section.
  1. "Ain't That a Lotta Love" (Willia Dean "Deanie" Parker, Homer Banks) – 2:16
  • Lead vocal: Wells.
  1. "King Solomon's Mines" (Floyd Sneed) – 2:29
  • Instrumental, dominated by percussion tracks performed by Sneed.
  1. "Circle for a Landing" (Don Preston) – 2:20
  • Lead vocal: Hutton.
  1. "Celebrate" (Gary Bonner, Alan Gordon) – 3:13
  • Lead vocals shared by Hutton, Negron and Wells; includes the Chicago horn section.

Personnel

The following people contributed to Suitable for Framing:

Charts

Weekly charts

::data[format=table] | Chart (1969) | Peak position | |---|---| | url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-100.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=m89iq841abagb37ld9c0fdc1f3 |title=RPM Search Engine |date=March 31, 2004 |work=Library and Archives Canada |format=PHP}} | 15 | | US Billboard 200 | 16 | ::

Singles

::data[format=table] | Title | Chart (1969) | Peak position | |---|---|---| | "Easy to Be Hard" | Canadian Singles Chart | 2 | | US Billboard Hot 100 | 4 | | | last = Whitburn| first = Joel| title = The Comparison Book Billboard/Cash Box/Record World 1954-1982| publisher = Sheridan Books| year = 2015| isbn = 978-0-89820-213-7|page=509}} | 1 | | | "Eli's Coming" | Canadian Singles Chart | 4 | | US Billboard Hot 100 | 10 | | ::

::data[format=table] | Title | Chart (1970) | Peak position | |---|---|---| | "Celebrate" | Canadian Singles Chart | 8 | | US Billboard Hot 100 | 15 | | ::

Certifications

References

References

  1. (March 9, 1974). "Anatomy of a Three Dog Night: The Albums".
  2. (1993). "Celebrate: The Three Dog Night Story, 1965–1975". [[MCA Records]].
  3. (1993). "Celebrate: The Three Dog Night Story, 1965–1975". [[MCA Records]].
  4. Miroff, Bruce. (23 August 1969). "Records". Straight Arrow Publishers, Inc..
  5. Hull, Tom. (November 2013). "Recycled Goods (#114)". Tom Hull.
  6. Leaf, David. (1993). "Celebrate: The Three Dog Night Story, 1965–1975". [[MCA Records]].
  7. (1969). "Suitable for Framing". [[Dunhill Records.
  8. Christgau, Robert. (August 17, 1969). "A Man as Good as Janis". [[The New York Times]].
  9. (March 31, 2004). "''RPM'' Search Engine". [[Library and Archives Canada]].
  10. "Three Dog Night: Charts & Awards – ''Billboard'' Albums". [[Rovi Corporation]].
  11. "Three Dog Night Album & Song Chart History".
  12. Whitburn, Joel. (2015). "The Comparison Book Billboard/Cash Box/Record World 1954-1982". Sheridan Books.

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