{{About||the 2007 film|American Pastime (film)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = American Pastime | type = Album | artist = Three Dog Night | cover = Three Dog Night - American Pastime.jpg | alt = | released = March 1976 | recorded = | venue = | studio = | genre = * Disco * soft rock | length = 34:42 | label = ABC | producer = Bob Monaco | prev_title = Coming Down Your Way | prev_year = 1975 | next_title = The Best of 3 Dog Night | next_year = 1982 | misc = {{Singles | name = American Pastime | type = studio | single1 = Everybody's a Masterpiece | single1date = May 1976 }} }} {{Music ratings | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1Score = (not rated) <ref>{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r20128|first=Joe|last=Viglione}}</ref> }}
'''''American Pastime''''' is the tenth studio album by American rock band Three Dog Night, released in 1976.
==Background== It is the band's most recent studio album (as of 2026) and the only one not to feature the founding vocalists (Chuck Negron, Cory Wells, and Danny Hutton) backed up by their long-time band, with some exceptions. It sold poorly and the band broke up in August 1976. Michael Allsup and Floyd Sneed had left the band in late 1974 to form their own group SS Fools, with former Three Dog Night member Joe Schermie, Stan Seymore, Wayne DeVillier, Bobby Kimball, and Jon Smith, to little success. Danny Hutton was fired from TDN in late 1975, and was not present for any of the recording. "Mellow Down", the song Hutton sings lead on, was recorded long before the album was released, and is likely an extra track from a previous album, such as ''Coming Down Your Way'' (1975) or ''Hard Labor'' (1974).<ref>[https://web.musicaficionado.com/main.html#!/article/was_three_dog_night_the_ultimate_70s_singles_band_by_joebosso How Three Dog Night Became The Ultimate '70s Singles Band Music Aficionado article]</ref> He was replaced by Jay Gruska.
==Track listing== #"Everybody's a Masterpiece" (George Clinton, Richard Ira Reicheg) – 2:45 #"Easy Evil" (Alan O'Day) – 3:38 #"Billy The Kid" (Billy Lawrie, Marie Lawrie) – 3:41 #"Mellow Down" (Andy Fairweather-Low) – 3:00 #"Yellow Beach Umbrella" (Craig Doerge, Judy Henske) – 4:56 #"Hang On" (Jay Gruska, Jeffrey Spirit) – 4:18 #"Southbound" (Hoyt Axton, Mark M. Dawson) – 4:11 #"Drive On, Ride On" (Dobie Gray, Troy Harold Seals) – 3:32 #"Dance The Night Away" (Bob Carpenter, David James Holster) – 4:41
==Personnel== *Danny Hutton – vocals on one track, not present during recording *Chuck Negron – vocals *Cory Wells – vocals *Jay Gruska – vocals *Gavin Christopher – conga *Al Ciner – lead guitar *Dan Ferguson – electric guitar *Ed Greene – drums *Jimmy Greenspoon – keyboard *Skip Konte – keyboard, clavinet *Mickey McMeel – drums *Dennis Belfield – bass *Jeff Porcaro – drums *Ron Stockert – keyboards, synthesizer bass
==Production== *Producer: Bob Monaco *Engineer: Tony Sciarrotta, Scott Spain *Arranger: Three Dog Night
==Critical reception== A ''Cash Box'' Magazine album review dated April 10, 1976, states "American Pastime takes Three Dog Night in a new direction featuring a collection of tunes ranging from slick production cuts to the ever popular disco beat. Vocals are as clean and distinctive as ever, leaning toward a meticulous pop production. AM programmers will find "Billy the Kid" and "Southbound" prime pop cuts, while "Drive On, Ride On" and "Everybody's A Masterpiece" should appeal to the growing disco market. Some cuts (witness "Easy Evil") will work nicely in easy listening and MOR areas."<ref>[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-Cash-Box-IDX/70s/1976/Cash-Box-1976-04-10-OCR-Page-0027.pdf Cash Box Pop Picks album reviews]</ref>
Another Record World "Album Picks" review page dated April 17, 1976 gives another view on the album: "This one may come as a surprise to the group's older fans. The mix still focuses on vocal harmonies but the songs are R&B and disco for the most part. "Hang On", "Mellow Down" and "Everybody Is A Masterpiece" are pacesetters, the rhythm section rising in importance as the American pastime continues to dance."<ref>[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-Record-World-IDX/IDX/70s/76/RW-1976-04-17-OCR-Page-0016.pdf Record World Album Picks April 17, 1976]</ref>
Another ''Cash Box'' Magazine "Picks of The Week" singles reviews page dated June 5, 1976 states the following about "Everybody's a Masterpiece", the single released off the album: "A laid-back rock hymn to humanity, this is an intelligent single from Three Dog Night that will serve to broaden its already extensive audience. The instrumentation — particularly the organ fills — is lush, and the vocals are equal to the task. Look for this to show up strong on all pop radio outlets; it's really an affecting tune."<ref>[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-Cash-Box-IDX/70s/1976/Cash-Box-1976-06-05-OCR-Page-0016.pdf Cash Box Picks of The Week singles reviews]</ref>
Another Record World "Single Picks" review page dated June 5, 1976, gives another view on the single: "Three Dog Night's vocal prowess remains unquestioned with this, their first effort in some time. To back up its talent, the group has constructed a solid rhythmic pulse and is headed for pop/R&B play."<ref>[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-Cash-Box-IDX/70s/1976/Record-World-1976-06-05-OCR-Page-0014.pdf#search=%22three%20dog%20night%22 Record World Single Picks]{{dead link|date=May 2026|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
==Charts== '''Album''' – ''Billboard'' (United States) | ''RPM'' (Canada) {| class="wikitable" !Year !Chart !Position |- |rowspan="3"|1976 |rowspan="1"|US ''Billboard'' Top LPs<ref>[http://www.allmusic.com/album/coming-down-your-way-mw0000854393/awards Three Dog Night, ''Coming Down Your Way'' Chart Position] Retrieved February 17, 2015</ref> |align="center"|123 |- |rowspan="1"|US ''Cash Box'' <ref>[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-Cash-Box-IDX/70s/1976/Cash-Box-1976-05-22-OCR-Page-0058.pdf Cash Box Magazine Top Albums May 22, 1976]</ref> |align="center"|155 |- |rowspan="1"|US ''Record World'' <ref>[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-Record-World-IDX/IDX/70s/76/RW-1976-05-15-OCR-Page-0056.pdf Record World Magazine Album Chart May 15, 1976]</ref> |align="center"|181 |}
'''Singles''' {| class="wikitable" !Year !Single !Chart !Position |- |1976 |"Everybody's a Masterpiece"<ref>[http://musicvf.com/song.php?title=Everybody+Is+a+Masterpiece+by+Three+Dog+Night&id=125696 Three Dog Night, "Everybody Is a Masterpiece" Chart Position] Retrieved February 16, 2015</ref> |US Easy Listening |align="center"|44 |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Three Dog Night}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:American Pastime}} Category:1976 albums Category:Three Dog Night albums Category:ABC Records albums