B4 3 Dog Nite: Eli's Comin'

Recorded in 1967 and released on Laura Nyro’s second album, “Eli and the Thirteenth Confession,” “Eli’s Comin’” is a pop anthem where one woman warns another about the dangers of a womanizer named Eli. While it was from Nyro’s first release on a major label (Columbia), the single flopped and failed even to make the bubbling under charts in Billboard when it debuted in 1968.

While Nyro multi-tracked her vocals on her version, the three vocalists in Three Dog Night plied their talents for their take on the song. Cory Wells sang the lead vocals with Chuck Negron and Danny Hutton joining in on the chorus. It was their second of three Top 20 singles from the LP “Suitable for Framing”; “Eli’s Comin’” peaked in 1969 at #10.

While Nyro was relegated to a cult following for her numerous recordings, her songs gained her widespread acclaim, as they were performed by some of the top artists of the time. Some of her better known compositions include “Wedding Bell Blues” and “Stoned Soul Picnic” for The 5th Dimension; “And When I Die” for Blood, Sweat, & Tears; “Stone End” by Barbara Streisand; and of course “Eli’s Comin’” as interpreted by Three Dog Night.