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Joy to the World (Three Dog Night song)

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This article is about the 1971 rock song. For other uses, see Joy to the World (disambiguation).
"Joy to the World"
1971 French release
Single by Three Dog Night
from the album Naturally
B-side"I Can Hear You Calling"
ReleasedFebruary 1971 (1971-02)[1]
Recorded1970
StudioAmerican Recording Co.
Genre
Length3:40 (album)
3:17 (single)
LabelDunhill
Songwriter(s)Hoyt Axton
Producer(s)Richard Podolor[1]
Three Dog Night singles chronology
"One Man Band"
(1970) 		"Joy to the World"
(1971) 		"Liar"
(1971)

"Joy to the World" is a song written by Hoyt Axton and made famous by the band Three Dog Night. The song is also popularly known by its opening lyric, "Jeremiah was a bullfrog". Three Dog Night originally released the song on their fourth studio album, Naturally, in November 1970, and subsequently released an edited version of the song as a single in February 1971.[1]

The song, which has been described by members of Three Dog Night as a "kid's song" and a "silly song",[4] topped the singles charts in North America, was certified gold by the RIAA, and has since been covered by multiple artists.

Background and recording

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Some of the words are nonsensical. Axton wanted to persuade his record producers to record a new melody he had written, and the producers asked him to sing any words to the tune. A member of Three Dog Night said that the original lyrics to the song were "Jeremiah was a prophet" but no one liked it.[5][6]

When Hoyt Axton performed the song to the group, two of the three main vocalists – Danny Hutton and Cory Wells – rejected the song, but Chuck Negron felt that the band needed a "silly song" to help bring the band back together as a working unit. Negron also felt that the song "wasn't even close to our best record, but it might have been one of our most honest."[4]

The song was recorded by Three Dog Night at American Recording Company, produced by Richard Podolor, and engineered by Bill Cooper.[1] Unlike most Three Dog Night songs recorded at that point, instead of having just the three main vocalists singing harmony, the song was recorded with all seven members of the band singing.[4] Drummer Floyd Sneed sings the low-pitched lyric "I wanna tell you" towards the end of the song.

When the song hit number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1971, Axton and his mother, Mae Axton, became the first mother and son to each have written a number one pop single in the rock era. Mae Axton co-wrote "Heartbreak Hotel", which was the first number one hit for Elvis Presley.

Lawsuit

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In a 1994 case, David P. Jackson filed suit[7] claiming co-authorship of the song and alleging that Axton fraudulently claimed sole authorship. In the suit, Jackson claimed that Axton regularly credited him with co-authorship. The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled in favor of Axton. Axton's lawyers included entertainment litigator Jeffrey D. Goldman.

Charts and awards

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The single had been out less than two months, when on April 9, 1971, "Joy to the World" was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America, for shipments of over one million units across the United States.[21] The record was also given a Gold Leaf award by RPM magazine for sales of over a million units.[22] The record won the award for the Best Selling Hit Single Record by the National Association of Recording Merchandisers in March 1972.[23] It was also ranked by Billboard magazine as the #1 pop single of 1971.[24] The song was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo Or Group during the 14th Grammy Awards.

The single went on to sell 5 million copies worldwide.[25]

Cover versions

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Axton subsequently recorded his own version of the song for his album Joy to the World (1971). Little Richard recorded a cover of the song for his 1971 album, The King of Rock and Roll, with a lengthy spoken intro and outro in the style of Black sermonic tradition preaching. The song has also been covered by Conway Twitty, Lynn Anderson, Anita Bryant, and others.

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[26] Gold 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Celebrate: The Three Dog Night Story, 1965–1975 (CD liner). Three Dog Night. United States: MCA Records. 1993. pp. 27, 30, 31. MCAD2-10956.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ^ DeGagne, Mike. "Naturally – Three Dog Night". AllMusic. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  3. ^ Breihan, Tom (January 28, 2019). "The Number Ones: Three Dog Night's "Joy To The World"". Stereogum. Retrieved June 16, 2023. "Joy To The World," by contrast, is a pedestrian white-soul plod...
  4. ^ a b c Leaf, David (1993). Celebrate: The Three Dog Night Story, 1965–1975 (CD liner). Three Dog Night. United States: MCA Records. p. 20. MCAD2-10956.
  5. ^ "Three Dog Night Headlines the Fair Tonight". Bainbridge Island Review. August 20, 2008. Entertainment section. ISSN 1053-2889. Archived from the original on September 9, 2012. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
  6. ^ "The Number Ones: Three Dog Night's "Joy To The World"". Stereogum.com. 28 January 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  7. ^ "Jackson v. Axton". Law.justia.com. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  8. ^ a b "Forum - 1970 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 2016-06-02. Retrieved 2017-05-07.
  9. ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles - April 24, 1971" (PDF).
  10. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Three Dog Night – Joy To The World" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see peak chart position, click "TITEL VON Three Dog Night"
  11. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Three Dog Night" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  12. ^ "Three Dog Night – Joy To The World" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  13. ^ "flavour of new zealand - search listener". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  14. ^ "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  15. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  16. ^ "Three Dog Night Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  17. ^ "100 Top Singles of '71" (PHP). RPM. 16 (20): 5. January 8, 1972. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
  18. ^ "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1971". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  19. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1971/Top 100 Songs of 1971". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  20. ^ "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  21. ^ "American single certifications – Three Dog Night – Joy to the World". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
  22. ^ "Highlights of ABC/Dunhill Convention". Billboard. Vol. 83, no. 34. August 21, 1971. p. 50. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
  23. ^ Sippel, John, ed. (March 18, 1972). "NARM Award Winners". Billboard. Vol. 84, no. 12. p. 12. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
  24. ^ "Year End Charts - Year-end Singles - The Billboard Hot 100". Billboard.com. Archived from the original on 2007-11-03. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  25. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2, illustrated ed.). Barrie & Jenkins. ISBN 0-214-20480-4. rudolph.
  26. ^ "American single certifications – Three Dog Night – Joy to the World". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  27. ^ "Daniel Johnston". Lambiek.net. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  28. ^ "Big Lots TV Commercial, 'Joy: Recliners' Song by Three Dog Night". Ispot.tv. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
  29. ^ Outlander Season 5: Richard Rankin Has New Songs for Roger to Sing, Showbiz CheatSheet, February 19, 2020.
  30. ^ "Today's Zits, about naming kids". arnoldzwicky.org. 10 August 2014. Retrieved 2014-08-10.
  31. ^ "Every song from S1E10 - Guardians of the Galaxy, "Bad Moon Rising"". WhatSong. Retrieved 2022-08-01.
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