“Shambala” (Three Dog Night)

Today’s classic song of the day is “Shambala” by Three Dog Night. This was one of their later hits, released in May of 1973. It went all the way to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard’s Adult Contemporary charts, and to #1 on the Cash Box Top 100. It was also a Top Five hit in Canada and New Zealand.

“Shambala” was written by a guy named Daniel Moore, who also wrote “My Maria” for B.W. Stevenson. (Spoiler alert: “My Maria” is tomorrow’s classic song of the day!) Moore also wrote songs that were recorded by the likes of Joe Cocker, Kenny Rogers, Jennifer Warnes, the Everly Brothers, Canned Heat, Bonnie Raitt, The Band, Waylon Jennings, and John Hartford, among others.

The song is about the mystical kingdom of Shambhala. According to ancient Buddhist texts, Shambhala is located somewhere in the Himalayas. A paradise on Earth, it’s said to be the inspiration for the similarly spiritual kingdom of Shangra-La. As the lyrics state, you go to Shambala to wash away your troubles, pain, sorrow, and shame; everyone is helpful and kind.

Three Dog Night wasn’t the first artist to record “Shambala.” That honor goes to B.W. Stevenson who, as you’ve already read, also recorded Daniel Moore’s “My Maria.” Stevenson’s countrified version was a minute shorter than Three Dog Night’s track and peaked at just #66 on the Hot 100.

“Shambala” was one of Three Dog Night’s last big hits before they broke up (initially) in 1976. After “Shambala,” the group’s only other Top Ten hit was “The Show Must Go On” (#4 in 1974). Cory Wells sang lead on this one, supported by Chuck Negron and Danny Hutton on other vocals.

Of course, Three Dog Night had a ton of hits before “Shambala,” starting with “One” in 1969 and including “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 and White,” and my personal favorite, “Pieces of April.” Danny Hutton is still out there today touring under the Three Dog Night name.

And here’s your daily bonus video of the day, Three Dog Night performing “Shambala” live on Soundstage in 1975. Unfortunately, that isn’t the original Three Dog Night band behind the frontmen; by then, guitarist Michael Allsup, keyboardist Jimmy Greenspoon, bassist Joe Schermie, and drummer extraordinaire Floyd Sneed had all left the band. Still, it’s the original three singers and they sing pretty good.