Joy To The World ....It's Almost Christmas in July!

Today's song we are featuring on our Centennial Class Blog site is "Joy To The World". No, not the Christmas carol, the mega hit by Three Dog Night from the early 1970s.

It's here because Carol Castleberry left a note on our Class Facebook page listing a number of favorite songs she wants included in our Class CD to play on Friday, October 4th during our 40th Class Reunion at the newly renovated Rand Hall on campus. She also listed a song she said she hated when she was in school.

In fact, she seemed to hate it so much she misidentified it as "Jeremiah Was A Bullfrog" by Creedence Clearwater Revival. Now the "Jeremiah" reference is understandable. It's the first line and perhaps the most memorable single part of the song. But it was no Creedence hit (by the way, no suggestions so far to include any of that group's many hits on our CD).

"Joy to the World" was a huge smash for Three Dog Night. Less than 2 months after it was released as a single in 1971 it was certified gold.  Overall it has reportedly sold over 5 million copies worldwide, making it one the best-selling singles of all time.  The song was also featured during the credits of the movie  "The Big Chill."

When it made number #1 on the charts, the song's writer, Hoyt Axton became part of the first mother-son duo to have top hits in the rock era. His mom, Mae Axton wrote "Heartbreak Hotel."

Here is "Joy To the World," courtesy of YouTube (sorry, Carol).....

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFypAB7nYGA


In doing research on this song, here's a story I learned about the origin of Three Dog Night's name. It seems to come from an ancient culture that used to sleep with a dog for warmth at night...adding dogs as it got colder. So if it was a below freezing night....it was a "three dog night." By the way, Three Dog Night is still touring and is reportedly scheduled to be in Nashville to perform at the Wildhorse Saloon  on Second Avenue on Friday evening, August 16.

More songs to come soon! The requests are piling up. Thanks and keep 'em coming.