Suitable for Framing

As with the band's self-titled debut album, Suitable for Framing was recorded at American Recording Company, was produced by Gabriel Mekler (who produced other Dunhill artists including Steppenwolf), and was engineered by Richard Podolor (who would later become the group's producer) and Bill Cooper. The band members during the album's recording were Danny Hutton (vocals), Chuck Negron (vocals), Cory Wells (vocals), Jimmy Greenspoon (keyboards), Michael Allsup (guitars), Joe Schermie (bass), and Floyd Sneed (drums, percussion). Engineer Richard Podolor also performed as an uncredited guitarist on the album.{{cite AV media notes |title=Celebrate: The Three Dog Night Story, 1965–1975 |title-link=Celebrate: The Three Dog Night Story, 1965–1975 |others=Three Dog Night |year=1993 |first=David |last=Leaf |author-link=David Leaf |page=9 |type=CD liner |publisher=MCA Records |id=MCAD2-10956 |location=United States}}

The original version of Suitable for Framing (Dunhill DS 50058) was released as a vinyl LP record with a gatefold sleeve. The art direction for the original LP sleeve was done by Wayne Kimbell with photography by Ed Caraeff.{{cite AV media notes |title=Suitable for Framing |others=Three Dog Night |year=1969 |type=Vinyl sleeve |publisher=Dunhill ABC Records |id=DS 50058 |location=Los Angeles, California}} The album's gatefold photo features Three Dog Night wearing greasepaint make-up, and posing with members of the Los Angeles groupie troupe The GTOs.

Writing for The New York Times in 1969, Robert Christgau believed Suitable for Framing suffered for the same reasons Three Dog Night succeeded:

{{blockquote|"The material is imaginative, but the familiar songs are less interesting--the embarrassing imitation of Otis Redding's 'Try a Little Tenderness' on the first album is matched by an embarrassing imitation of Sam Cooke's 'A Change Is Gonna Come' on this one, and songs like 'Feelin' Alright?' and 'Eli's Coming' are much inferior to the originals--and the others have been justly neglected (exception: 'Circle for a Landing'). Danny Hutton has contributed a weak song of his own, drummer Floyd Sneed is featured on an instrumental waste cut, and the record is one song shorter than the first (time: 28:01). Its largest failing, however, is the obvious one: it is devoid of identity."{{cite news|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|date=August 17, 1969|url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/news/cocker-69.php|title=A Man as Good as Janis|newspaper=The New York Times|accessdate=March 12, 2017}}}}

1. "Feelin' Alright" (Dave Mason) – 3:39
2. * Lead vocals shared by Hutton, Negron and Wells; includes the Chicago horn section.
3. "Lady Samantha" (Elton John, Bernie Taupin) – 2:53
4. * Lead vocal: Negron, verses. Hutton, choruses.
5. "Dreaming Isn't Good for You" (Danny Hutton) – 2:16
6. * Lead vocal: Hutton.
7. "A Change Is Gonna Come" (Sam Cooke) – 3:10
8. * Lead vocal: Wells.
9. "Eli's Coming" (Laura Nyro) – 2:41
10. * Lead vocal: Wells. Does not include the piano outro used in the 45 RPM mono mix of the song.

1. "Easy to Be Hard" (Galt MacDermot, James Rado, Gerome Ragni) – 3:11
2. * Lead vocal: Negron. Features an uncredited string section.
3. "Ain't That a Lotta Love" (Willia Dean "Deanie" Parker, Homer Banks) – 2:16
4. * Lead vocal: Wells.
5. "King Solomon's Mines" (Floyd Sneed) – 2:29
6. * Instrumental, dominated by percussion tracks performed by Sneed.
7. "Circle for a Landing" (Don Preston) – 2:20
8. * Lead vocal: Hutton.
9. "Celebrate" (Gary Bonner, Alan Gordon) – 3:13
10. * Lead vocals shared by Hutton, Negron and Wells; includes the Chicago horn section.

The following people contributed to Suitable for Framing:

• Cory Wells – lead vocals (tracks A1, A4–A5, B2, B5), background vocals
• Chuck Negron – lead vocals (tracks A1–A2, B1, B5), background vocals
• Danny Hutton – lead vocals (tracks A1, A3, B4–B5), background vocals
• Mike Allsup – guitar
• Joe Schermie – bass
• Floyd Sneed – drums, percussion
• Jimmy Greenspoon – keyboards
• Walter Parazaider – saxophone on "Celebrate" and "Feelin' Alright"
• Lee Loughnane – trumpet on "Celebrate" and "Feelin' Alright"
• James Pankow – trombone on "Celebrate" and "Feelin' Alright"
• Gabriel Mekler – producer
• Richard Podolor – guitar (uncredited), engineer
• Bill Cooper – engineer

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{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Three Dog Night|title=Suitable for Framing|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=1970|certyear=1970|accessdate=February 14, 2019 }}

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Category:Three Dog Night albums

Category:1969 albums

Category:Albums produced by Gabriel Mekler

Category:Dunhill Records albums

Category:Stateside Records albums

Category:MCA Records albums