# Hard Labor

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This article is about the music album. For the article on physically challenging work, see [Manual labour](/source/Manual_labour). For the penal sentence, see [Penal labour](/source/Penal_labour). For other uses, see [Hard labor (disambiguation)](/source/Hard_labor_(disambiguation)).

1974 studio album by Three Dog Night

Hard Labor Studio album by Three Dog Night Released March 6, 1974 Recorded 1973 Studio Record Plant, Sausalito, California Genre Pop rock Length 35:51 Label Dunhill DSD-50168 Producer Jimmy Ienner Three Dog Night chronology Cyan (1973) Hard Labor (1974) Joy to the World: Their Greatest Hits (1974) Singles from Hard Labor "The Show Must Go On" Released: 1974 "Sure As I'm Sittin' Here" Released: 1974 "Play Something Sweet (Brickyard Blues)" Released: 1974 Alternative cover

***Hard Labor*** is the eighth [studio album](/source/Studio_album) by American [rock](/source/Rock_music) band [Three Dog Night](/source/Three_Dog_Night), released in [1974](/source/1974_in_music). For this album, the band replaced long-time producer [Richard Podolor](/source/Richard_Podolor) with [Jimmy Ienner](/source/Jimmy_Ienner), who was known for his production work with [the Raspberries](/source/Raspberries_(band)).[1]

## Cover artwork

The original album cover, depicting the birth of a record album, was deemed too controversial and was first included with a manila file folder covering most of the cover. This was soon reworked with a huge [Band-Aid](/source/Band-Aid) covering the "birth". Subsequent printings had the Band-Aid printed directly on the cover. The packaging also includes an attached "birth record sheet" for the album. The [CD](/source/Compact_disc) reissue by [MCA Records](/source/MCA_Records) in the 1990s restored the cover to its original look showing the record.

## Critical reception

Professional ratings Review scores Source Rating AllMusic [2] Circus Raves [3]

Tom Von Malder of the [*Daily Herald*](/source/Daily_Herald_(Arlington_Heights%2C_Illinois)) called *Hard Labor* the band's finest record up to that point, applauding the production and finding the choice of songs representing the band at "its most competent, most mature level". Malder singled out "The Show Must Go On" and "I'd Be So Happy" as its two best, and "almost perfect", songs.[1] *[Cash Box](/source/Cashbox_(magazine))* called Ienner's production "immaculate as always" and wrote that the album was marked by "mood changes both subtle and obvious", making it a "fantastic study in theatrical and musical contrast".[4] *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))* found the track listing a "fine mix of material" and wrote that the instrumental section was "tight and almost perfect".[5]

*[Circus Raves](/source/Circus_Raves)* writer Jon Tiven gave the record "two ears"—indicating an album to "listen to ... 'til the grooves grow old" and wrote that the band "are the best when they're transforming half-arsed songs into good ones, but they run into trouble when the original rendition of the tune was fine in the first place (e.g. 'The Show Must Go On')."[3] Writing retrospectively, Joseph McCombs of *[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)* felt that the album's preference for songs with solo vocals rather than the group's previous use of harmonies led to the band "los[ing] much of their soul and spirit" and saw the album as "show[ing] the growing cracks in the band's armor". Like Malder, McCombs found "I'd Be So Happy" and "The Show Must Go On" the highlights of the album.[2]

## Track listing

Side A No. Title Writer(s) Lead vocals Length 1. "Prelude" Public domain* Instrumental 1:00 2. "Sure As I'm Sittin' Here" John Hiatt Cory Wells 4:45 3. "Anytime Babe" Larry Weiss Chuck Negron 3:07 4. "Put Out the Light" Daniel Moore Wells 3:06 5. "Sitting in Limbo" Gully Bright, Jimmy Cliff Danny Hutton 5:03

Side B No. Title Writer(s) Lead vocals Length 1. "I'd Be So Happy" Skip Prokop Negron 4:48 2. "Play Something Sweet (Brickyard Blues)" Allen Toussaint Wells 4:48 3. "On the Way Back Home" Moore Hutton, Negron, Wells 4:16 4. "The Show Must Go On" David Courtney, Leo Sayer Negron 4:24

- While the first track "Prelude" may have been in the Public Domain in 1974, it does have a title and writer: "[Entrance of the Gladiators](/source/Entrance_of_the_Gladiators)" is a military march composed in 1897 by the Czech composer Julius Fučík. Likewise, the introduction of their cover of Leo Sayer's [The Show Must Go On](/source/The_Show_Must_Go_On_(Leo_Sayer_song)) also quotes the Fučík march.

## Personnel

- [Mike Allsup](/source/Mike_Allsup) – [banjo](/source/Banjo), [guitars](/source/Guitar)

- [Jimmy Greenspoon](/source/Jimmy_Greenspoon) – [keyboards](/source/Keyboard_instrument)

- [Danny Hutton](/source/Danny_Hutton) – lead vocals (5, 8), background vocals

- [Skip Konte](/source/Skip_Konte) – keyboards, [ARP](/source/ARP_Instruments%2C_Inc.), chamberlin

- [Chuck Negron](/source/Chuck_Negron) – lead vocals (3, 6, 8, 9), background vocals

- Jack Ryland – [bass](/source/Bass_guitar)

- Joe Schermie – bass

- [Floyd Sneed](/source/Floyd_Sneed) – [drums](/source/Drum_kit), [percussion](/source/Percussion_instrument)

- [Cory Wells](/source/Cory_Wells) – lead vocals (2, 7, 8), background vocals

- Jimmy Ienner – production

## Production

- Producer: Jimmy Ienner

- Engineers: Greg Calbi, [Roy Cicala](/source/Roy_Cicala), Dennis Ferrante, Jimmy Ienner, Jay Messina, Tom Rabstenek, John Stronach

- Assistant engineers: Corky Stasiak

- Remixing: [Roy Cicala](/source/Roy_Cicala), Jay Messina

- Arranger: Three Dog Night

- Art direction and photography: [Ed Caraeff](/source/Ed_Caraeff)

- Design: David Larkham

## Charts

Album charts Chart (1974) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[6] 61 Japan Oricon 50 US Top 200 20[7] Canada 16

Singles charts Year Single Chart Position 1974 "The Show Must Go On" US Pop Singles 4[8] US Cash Box 1 US Record World 1 US Radio & Records 3 Canada Pop Singles 2 Germany Top 100 12 Netherlands Top 100 6 Belgium Ultratop 23 Japan Oricon Singles Chart 77 "Sure As I'm Sittin' Here" US Pop Singles 16[9] US Cash Box 18 US Record World 22 Canada Pop Singles 18 "Play Something Sweet (Brickyard Blues)" US Pop Singles 33[10] US Cash Box 26 US Record World 24 Canada Pop Singles 25

## Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales United States (RIAA)[11] Gold 500,000^ ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Malder1974_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Malder1974_1-1) Malder, Tom Von (April 5, 1974). ["Three Dog Night maturing"](https://archive.org/details/arlington-heights-daily-herald-suburban-chicago-1974-04-05/page/n18/). *Daily Herald*. **25** (117). Arlington Heights, Illinois: Paddock Publications: S2-3 – via the Internet Archive.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-allmusic_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-allmusic_2-1) McCombs, Joseph (n.d.). ["Three Dog Night: *Hard Labor*"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120604064927/https://www.allmusic.com/album/hard-labor-mw0000202894). *AllMusic*. Netaktion. Archived from [the original](https://www.allmusic.com/album/hard-labor-mw0000202894) on June 4, 2012.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-circusraves_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-circusraves_3-1) Tiven, Jon (August 1974). ["Shortcuts"](https://archive.org/details/sim_circus-raves_1974-08_1_6/page/60/). *Circus Raves*. **1** (6). Canadian APAG House Publications: 60 – via the Internet Archive.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Staff writer (April 6, 1974). ["*Hard Labor*—Three Dog Night—ABC DSD 50168"](https://archive.org/details/cashbox35unse_40/page/30/). *Cash Box*. **XXXV** (47). The Cash Box Publishing Company: 30 – via the Internet Archive.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Staff writer (April 6, 1974). ["Spotlight"](https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1974/Billboard%201974-04-06.pdf) (PDF). *Billboard*. Vol. 86, no. 14. Billboard Publications. p. 72 – via the Internet Archive.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-aus_6-0)** [Kent, David](/source/David_Kent_(historian)) (1993). *Australian Chart Book 1970–1992* (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 309. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-646-11917-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-646-11917-6).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [Three Dog Night, *Hard Labor* Chart Position](http://www.allmusic.com/album/hard-labor-mw0000202894/awards) Retrieved February 16, 2015

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** [Three Dog Night, "The Show Must Go On" Chart Position](http://musicvf.com/song.php?title=The+Show+Must+Go+On+by+Three+Dog+Night&id=46008) Retrieved February 16, 2015

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** [Three Dog Night, "Sure As I'm Sittin' Here" Chart Position](http://musicvf.com/song.php?title=Sure+As+I%27m+Sittin%27+Here+by+Three+Dog+Night&id=46009) Retrieved February 16, 2015

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [Three Dog Night, "Play Something Sweet (Brickyard Blues)" Chart Position](http://musicvf.com/song.php?title=Play+Something+Sweet+%28Brickyard+Blues%29+by+Three+Dog+Night&id=46010) Retrieved February 16, 2015

1. **[^](#cite_ref-United_StatesThree_Dog_NightHard_LaboralbumCertRef_11-0)** ["American album certifications – Three Dog Night – Hard Labor"](https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Three+Dog+Night&ti=Hard+Labor&format=Album&type=#search_section). [Recording Industry Association of America](/source/Recording_Industry_Association_of_America). Retrieved February 14, 2019.

v t e Three Dog Night Danny Hutton Michael Allsup Paul Kingery Pat Bautz Eddie Reasoner David Morgan Cory Wells Chuck Negron Jimmy Greenspoon Floyd Sneed Joe Schermie Skip Konte Al Ciner Gary Moon Richard Campbell Studio albums Three Dog Night (1968) Suitable for Framing (1969) It Ain't Easy (1970) Naturally (1970) Harmony (1971) Seven Separate Fools (1972) Cyan (1973) Hard Labor (1974) Coming Down Your Way (1975) American Pastime (1976) It's a Jungle (1983) Live albums Captured Live at the Forum (1969) Around the World with Three Dog Night (1973) Compilations Golden Bisquits (1971) Joy to the World: Their Greatest Hits (1975) The Best of 3 Dog Night (1982) Celebrate: The Three Dog Night Story, 1965–1975 (1993) 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Three Dog Night (1999) The Complete Hit Singles (2004) Singles "Nobody" "Try a Little Tenderness" "One" "Easy to Be Hard" "Eli's Coming" "Celebrate" "Mama Told Me (Not to Come)" "Out in the Country" "One Man Band" "Joy to the World" "Liar" "An Old Fashioned Love Song" "Never Been to Spain" "The Family of Man" "Black & White" "Pieces of April" "Shambala" "Let Me Serenade You" "The Show Must Go On" "Sure As I'm Sittin' Here" "Play Something Sweet (Brickyard Blues)" "Til the World Ends" "Everybody's a Masterpiece" "It's a Jungle Out There" Other songs "Darlin'" "Time to Get Alone" Discography

Authority control databases MusicBrainz release group

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Hard Labor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_Labor) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_Labor?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.