Singer/Songwriter Hoyt Axton wrote “ Three Dog Night’s “Joy to the World,””Billboard’s #1 song Song of 1971,”so it was only natural that Cory Wells, Danny Hutton and Chuck Negron would askHoyt if he had another song they could record.

He did—and it became a “Great Song of 1972!

Almost everyone of a certain age can sing the lyric, “Well, I’ve never been to Spain, but I kinda like the music,” and that’s the point. After all these years, that particular lyric has become iconic.

“”Never Been to Spain” has the”group”singing about places they’ve never been. and imaging they’d enjoy them…based on similar life experiences.

That’s something almost everyone can relate to…and the fact that it reached #5 on the Hot 100… and was covered by Elvis Presley, Cher and Waylon Jennings—proved its mass appeal.

And here’s a fun fact for you: The verse about Oklahoma originally ended with: “In Oklahoma, born in a coma—.

and that’s because \Hoyt Axton was actually BORN in Oklahoma.) Three Dog Night, however, changed it to “Oklahoma, Not Arizona“ to make it, in their words,’”more appropriate.” I’m not sure why…but in any event,“Never been to Spain” has ALWAYS been a “Great Song of 1972.