Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show

Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show (shortened to Dr. Hook in 1975) was an American rock band, formed in Union City, New Jersey. They enjoyed considerable commercial success in the 1970s with hit singles including "Sylvia's Mother", "The Cover of 'Rolling Stone'" (both 1972), "Only Sixteen" (1975), "A Little Bit More" (1976), "Sharing the Night Together" (1978), "When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman" (1979), "Better Love Next Time" (1979), and "Sexy Eyes" (1980). In addition to their own material, Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show performed songs written by the poet Shel Silverstein.

Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show
After scoring a hit with the song "The Cover of 'Rolling Stone'" in 1972, the band was featured on the cover of the March 29, 1973 Rolling Stone, albeit in a caricature rather than a photograph.
Background information
Also known as	Dr. Hook
Origin	Union City, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres	Country rock, soft rock, blue-eyed soul
Years active	1968-1985
Labels	Columbia Records, Capitol Records, CBS, Casablanca Records
Associated acts	Shel Silverstein, Confederate Railroad
Past members	Billy Francis Ray Sawyer George Cummings Dennis Locorriere John "Jay" David Rik Elswit Jance Garfat John Wolters Bob 'Willard' Henke Rod Smarr Walter Hartman Mo Thaxton Keith Austin

The band had eight years of regular chart hits in the United States, where their music was played on top-40, easy listening, and country music outlets, and throughout the English-speaking world including the UK, Canada and South Africa. Their music spanned several genres, mostly novelty songs and acoustic ballads in their early years, though their greatest success came with their later material, mostly consisting of disco-influenced soft rock, which the band recorded under the shortened name Dr. Hook.

History

Founding of the band

The founding core of the band consisted of George Cummings, Ray Sawyer (from Alabama),[1] and Billy Francis (born William Allen Francis, Jr. in Sacramento, California; January 16, 1942 – May 23, 2010),[2] who had worked together in a band called the Chocolate Papers. They had played the southern USA, its east coast and midwest before breaking up. Cummings, who moved to New Jersey with the plan of forming a new band, brought back Sawyer to rejoin him. They then took on future primary vocalist, New Jersey native Dennis Locorriere, initially as a bass player. Francis returned to be the new band's keyboardist.

Cummings named the new band "Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show: Tonic for the Soul." The "Hook" name was inspired by Sawyer's eyepatch and a reference to Captain Hook of the Peter Pan fairy tale, although, humorously, Captain Hook was neither a doctor nor wore an eyepatch. Ray Sawyer had lost his right eye in a near-fatal car crash in Oregon in 1967, and thereafter always wore an eyepatch.[3] The eyepatch led some to believe that Sawyer was 'Dr. Hook'. When anyone asked the band which one of them was 'Dr Hook' they always directed everyone to the bus driver.

Career: 1968-1971

The band played for a few years in New Jersey, first with drummer Popeye Phillips (who had also been in the Chocolate Papers), later session drummer on the Flying Burrito Brothers' first album, The Gilded Palace of Sin. Citing musical differences, Popeye returned to his native Alabama, and was replaced by local drummer Joseph Olivier. When the band began recording their first album, Olivier left in order to spend more time with his family, and was replaced by session player, John "Jay" David, who was asked to join the band full-time in 1968.

In 1970, their demo tapes were heard by Ron Haffkine, musical director on the planned Herb Gardner movie, Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me?. The songs for the film were written by the cartoonist and poet/songwriter Shel Silverstein. Haffkine determined that Dr. Hook was the ideal group for the soundtrack. With his help, the group recorded two songs for the film: Locorriere sang the lead on both "The Last Morning", the movie's theme song, later re-recorded for their second album Sloppy Seconds, and "Bunky and Lucille", which the band can be seen performing in the film. The film, released in 1971 by National General Pictures, received mixed critical reviews and did only modestly at the box office, but it helped Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show secure their first recording contract.

The group's meeting with Clive Davis of CBS Records, facilitated by Haffkine, is described in Davis's autobiography. Drummer David used a wastepaper basket to keep the beat, and while Sawyer, Locorriere, and Cummings played and sang a few songs, Francis hopped up and danced on the mogul's desk. This meeting secured the band a record deal. Subsequently, the band went on to international success over the next twelve years, with Haffkine as the group's manager, as well as producer of all the Dr. Hook recordings.

Career: 1972

Silverstein and Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show became a great combination. Haffkine, having a knack for picking songs, quickly became Dr. Hook's No. 1 A&R man, as well as their producer and manager. Silverstein wrote all the songs for their self-titled debut album, released in 1972. Doctor Hook featured lead vocals, guitar, bass and harmonica by Locorriere, guitarist Cummings, and singer Sawyer, plus drummer David and singer/guitarist/keyboard player Billy Francis. The album sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA on August 2, 1972.[4] It has been released 20 times in the US, Canada and Europe.

The single "Sylvia's Mother", a subtle parody of teen-heartbreak weepers, flopped on first release, but with some more promotional muscle became the band's first million-seller, and hit the top five in the summer of 1972. Other titles on the album included "Marie Lavaux", "Sing Me A Rainbow", "Hey Lady Godiva", "Four Years Older Than Me", "Kiss It Away", "Makin' It Natural", "I Call That True Love", "When She Cries", "Judy", and "Mama, I'll Sing One Song For You".

Silverstein continued to write songs for Dr. Hook, including their entire second album, Sloppy Seconds, released in the US, Australia, Europe and Canada. It featured some of their most popular songs, including "Freakin' at the Freaker's Ball" and "The Cover of Rolling Stone". Other titles on the album were "If I'd Only Come And Gone", "The Things I Didn't Say", "Carry Me Carrie", "Get My Rocks Off", "Last Mornin'", "I Can't Touch The Sun", "Queen Of The Silver Dollar", "Turn On The World", and "Stayin' Song". The album was listed in the Billboard 200 in 1973. In 1972, the band added a full-time bassist, Jance Garfat, and another guitarist, Rik Elswit.

The band's second single, "The Cover of 'Rolling Stone'" (1972) from Sloppy Seconds, was another million-selling disc,[4] poking fun at the idea that a musician had "made it" if they had been pictured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.

Haffkine visited Jann Wenner, one of the founders of Rolling Stone, proclaiming "I’ve just given you guys the best commercial for this rag that you’ll ever get." Wenner then sent Cameron Crowe (who later wrote and directed Almost Famous about his time as a music journalist), then 16 years old, to interview the band for issue 131 (March 1973). Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show appeared on the cover, albeit in caricature rather than in a photograph.

In the United Kingdom, the BBC Radio network refused to play "The Cover of 'Rolling Stone'", because it considered doing so would be advertising a trademark name. CBS Records responded by setting up a phone line that would play the song to anyone willing to dial in, which helped build the buzz. The BBC found itself able to play the song only after some of its DJs edited themselves shouting the words "Radio Times" (a BBC-owned magazine) over "Rolling Stone".

Career: 1973-1974

"Belly Up!" redirects here. For the unrelated novel, see Belly Up.

In 1973, all was not well for Haffkine and Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show. The group had a difficult time meeting the high expectations created by Sloppy Seconds, and the result was Belly Up!, which Huey noted "was unfortunately prophetic". Belly Up! included "Acapulco Goldie", "Penicillin Penny", "Life Ain't Easy", "When Lily Was Queen", "Monterey Jack", "You Ain't Got The Right", "Put A Little Bit On Me", "Ballad Of....", "Roland The Roadie Gertrude The Groupie", "Come On In", and "The Wonderful Soup Stone". The album was sold in the US, UK, Europe, and Canada. Dr. Hook was just as famed for their crazed stage antics, which ranged from surreal banter to impersonating their own opening acts, but the group's nonchalance about business matters led to bankruptcy. "If we were in the black when we finished a tour, we'd party into the red," says Locorriere. They were forced to file bankruptcy in 1974, although they continued to tour incessantly.

The Medicine Show's lineup changed a few more times over the years. When David left the group in 1973, he was replaced by John Wolters. The next to depart was founding band member Cummings, who left in 1975 due to personal and musical differences. The band did not replace him. When Elswit was diagnosed with cancer a couple of years later, the band added Bob "Willard" Henke (formerly of Goose Creek Symphony). Elswit recovered and returned to the lineup, but they kept Henke on as well for a while.

In 1974 Dr. Hook recorded an album that was to be titled Fried Face; it was not released.

Career: 1975-1985

The band shortened its name to Dr. Hook in 1975. They signed with Capitol Records in 1975, releasing the aptly titled Bankrupt. Unlike previous projects, this album included original material written by the group. The hit from the project was a reworked version of Sam Cooke's "Only Sixteen" (US number 6), revitalizing their career and charted in the top ten in 1976. Haffkine discovered a song titled "A Little Bit More" written and originally performed by Bobby Gosh and released on his 1973 album Sitting in the Quiet, on a record he purchased for 35 cents at a flea market in San Francisco. The band covered and released the song, which reached number 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and spent two weeks at number nine on the Cash Box Top 100. It also reached number two on the UK Singles Chart, matching "Sylvia's Mother".

Follow-ups to "A Little Bit More" included "Sharing the Night Together" (US number 6), "When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman" (US number 6), "Better Love Next Time", and "Sexy Eyes" (US number 5), which featured prominent female backup singers. Save for "A Little Bit More" (US number 11), all the singles mentioned above were certified million-sellers. "When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman" reached number 1 for several weeks in 1979 in the UK and the group had another UK hit single with "Better Love Next Time" (number 12). Though the band toured constantly, they had not yet managed to turn their success with singles into album sales.

Pleasure & Pain (1978) was Dr. Hook's first gold album. According to Steve Huey, of All Music Guide, it solidified their reputation as "disco-tinged balladeers". But Sawyer was increasingly upset at the commercial direction the group's sound was taking. The band had changed labels again, to Casablanca Records in 1980, but could not replicate earlier successes. In late 1980, Dr. Hook released "Girls Can Get It" (US number 34) and had their final hit (which peaked in the US at number 25) with "Baby Makes Her Blue-Jeans Talk" in 1982.

Ray Sawyer left in 1983 to pursue a solo career, while the band continued to tour successfully for another couple of years, ending with Dr. Hook's One and Only Farewell Tour in 1985, with Locorriere as the sole frontman.

After Dr. Hook: 1985 to present

After Dr. Hook split up, Dennis Locorriere retained ownership of the name of the band. He released several solo albums and did concert tours under the names Voice of Dr. Hook and Dennis Locorriere Celebrates Dr. Hook Hits and History Tour. The Dr Hook 50th Anniversary World Tour was started in 2019, but postponed due to Locorriere undergoing a prostate procedure resulting in kidney issues.[5] The tour is set to resume in late 2019 and early 2020.[6]

From 1988 to 2015, Sawyer was granted a license to tour separately as "Ray Sawyer of Dr. Hook" or "Dr. Hook featuring Ray Sawyer" (joined for a time in 2001 by Billy Francis); Sawyer did not perform publicly after his last tour ended in October 2015.[7] He died on December 31, 2018.[8]

Billy Francis joined Sawyer in 2001 during his Dr. Hook concerts. He died on May 23, 2010, at age 68.[9]

Members

• Dennis Locorriere - vocals, guitar, bass, harmonica (1968-1985)
• Ray Sawyer - vocals, guitar, percussion, congas, maracas (1967-1983, died 2018)
• Billy Francis - keyboards (1968-1985; died 2010)
• George Cummings - lead and steel guitars, vocals (1968-1975)
• John "Jay" David - drums (1968-1973)
• Rik Elswit - lead guitar (1972-1985)
• Jance Garfat - bass (1972-1985; died 2006)
• John Wolters - drums (1973-1982, 1983–1985; died 1997)
• Bob 'Willard' Henke - guitar (1976-1980)
• Rod Smarr - guitar (1980-1985; died 2012)
• Walter Hartman - drums (1982-1983)
• Leonard Wolfe - keyboards (1983-1985)
• Joseph Olivier - drums (1968)

Timeline

Discography

Studio and live albums

(for the 1975 Bankrupt and 1980 Rising albums the band name was shortened to Dr. Hook)

Year	Album	Peak chart positions
		US [10]	US Country [11]	CAN [12]	UK [13]	DEN [14]	SWE [15]	NOR [16]	NLD [17]	NZ [18]
1972	Doctor Hook	45	—	38	—	5	—	26	—	—
1972	Sloppy Seconds	41	—	16	—	—	—	17	—	—
1973	Belly Up!	141	—	—	—	7	—	—	—	—
1974	Fried Face (Unreleased)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1975	Bankrupt	141	—	—	—	2	—	—	—	—
1976	A Little Bit More	62	18	69	5	1	3	2	—	33
1977	Makin' Love and Music	—	—	—	39	—	3	3	—	—
1978	Pleasure and Pain	66	17	93	47	—	4	5	6	—
1979	Sometimes You Win	71	—	59	14	—	12	3	46	—
1980	Rising	175	—	—	44	—	31	8	—	—
1981	Live in the U.K. (US title: Dr. Hook Live)	—	—	—	90	—	—	—	—	—
1982	Players in the Dark	118	—	—	—	—	38	17	—	—
1983	Let Me Drink From Your Well	—	—	—	—	—	—	20	—	—
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Compilation albums

Year	Album	Peak chart positions
		US [10]	AUS [19]	CAN [12]	UK [13]
1976	Dr. Hook Revisited	—	—	—	—
1976	The Best of Dr. Hook	—	—	—	—
1980	Greatest Hits	142	1	32	2
1984	The Rest of Dr. Hook	—	—	—	—
1987	Greatest Hits (And More)	—	2	—	—
1992	Completely Hooked – The Best of Dr. Hook	—	—	—	3
1993	Take the Bait	—	—	—	—
1995	Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show – Greatest Hits	—	—	—	—
1996	Sharing the Night Together – The Best of Dr. Hook	—	—	—	—
1999	Love Songs	—	—	—	8
2001	Collections	—	—	—	—
2003	The Definitive Collection	—	29	—	—
2003	The Essential Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show	—	—	—	—
2004	Original Hits	—	—	—	—
2004	Greatest Hits	—	—	—	—
2005	The Best Of	—	—	—	—
2007	Hits and History	—	—	—	14
2007	Super Hits	—	—	—	—
2007	Greatest Hooks	—	—	—	—
2014	Timeless	—	36	—	9
2014	A Little Bit More – The Collection	—	—	—	—
2016	Collected	—	—	—	—

Singles

Year	Single	Peak chart positions											Album
		US [20]	US Country [21]	US AC [22]	AUS [19]	CAN [12]	CAN Country [12]	CAN AC [12]	IRE [23]	NZ [18]	SA	UK [13]
1971	"Last Morning"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me?
1972	"Sylvia's Mother"	5	—	—	1	2	—	—	1	1	1	2	Dr. Hook
	"Carry Me Carrie"	71	—	—	—	82	—	—	—	—	—	—	Sloppy Seconds
	"The Cover of Rolling Stone"	6	—	—	32	2	—	—	—	3	—
1973	"Roland the Roadie and Gertrude the Groupie"	83	—	—	—	74	—	—	—	—	—	—	Belly Up!
	"Life Ain't Easy"	68	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1974	"Cops and Robbers"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Singles only
	"The Ballad of Lucy Jordan"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1975	"The Stimu Dr. Hook"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Promo only
	"The Millionaire"	95	—	—	8	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Bankrupt
	"Everybody's Makin' It Big But Me"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	36	—	—
	"Only Sixteen"	6	55	14	8	3	—	9	—	9	—	—
1976	"A Little Bit More"	11	—	15	10	4	—	6	2	13	—	2	A Little Bit More
	"A Couple More Years"	—	51	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"If Not You"	55	26	21	69	56	—	9	3	—	—	5
1977	"Walk Right In"	46	92	39	1	77	—	30	—	11	—	—	Makin' Love and Music
1978	"More Like the Movies"	—	—	—	93	—	—	—	4	—	—	14	A Little Bit More
	"Sharing the Night Together"	6	50	18	10	3	40	4	—	12	—	43	Pleasure and Pain
1979	"All the Time in the World"	54	82	41	—	60	64	12	—	—	—	—
	"When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman"	6	68	5	20	4	22	7	1	2	—	1
	"Better Love Next Time"	12	91	3	24	39	—	10	6	7	—	8	Sometimes You Win
1980	"Sexy Eyes"	5	—	6	41	8	—	1	3	1	20	4
	"Years from Now"	51	—	17	72	63	—	3	—	—	—	47
	"Girls Can Get It"	34	—	—	3	—	—	—	—	5	5	40	Rising
1981	"That Didn't Hurt Too Bad"	69	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Body Talking"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	36	—	—
	"The Wild Colonial Boy"[24]	—	—	—	4	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Single only[upper-alpha 1]
1982	"Baby Makes Her Blue Jeans Talk"	25	—	—	11	17	—	—	—	4	1	—	Players in the Dark
	"Loveline"	60	—	19	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1983	"I'll Put Angels Around You"[25]	81	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Let Me Drink From Your Well

Notes

1. "The Wild Colonial Boy" was included on some Australian copies of Rising.

References

1. "Ray Sawyer - Biography, Albums, Streaming Links". AllMusic. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
2. "William Allen Francis January 16, 1942 - May 23, 2010". holmanhowe.com. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
3. "Keith Green interview with George Cummings". Doctorhook.com. 2003. Archived from the original on April 6, 2005. Retrieved July 28, 2012.
4. Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 311. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
5. "DR HOOK Starring Dennis Locorriere". Facebook.com.
6. "DR HOOK Starring Dennis Locorriere". Facebook.com.
7. "INTERVIEW: DENNIS LOCORRIERE, DR HOOK – September 2015". Magazine.100percentrock.com. 15 October 2015. Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
8. Kreps, Daniel (1 January 2019). "Dr. Hook's Ray Sawyer, 'Cover of Rolling Stone' Singer, Dead at 81". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
9. William Allen “Billy” Francis, Jr, Findagrave.com.
10. "Chart Search: Dr Hook, TLP". Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
11. "Chart Search: Dr Hook, CLP". Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
12. "Search: RPM – Library and Archives Canada (enter "Dr Hook" in the "Keyword" field, and select desired chart under "Chart")". RPM. Retrieved June 30, 2020 – via Library and Archives Canada.
13. "Dr Hook | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
14. Peaks in Denmark:
    • Doctor Hook: "Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show : Doctor Hook". Danskehitlister.dk. Retrieved 2015-08-26.
    • Belly Up!: "Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show : Belly Up". Danskehitlister.dk. Retrieved 2015-08-26.
    • Bankrupt: "Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show : Bankrupt". Danskehitlister.dk. Retrieved 2015-08-26.
    • A Little Bit More: "Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show : A Little Bit More". Danskehitlister.dk. Retrieved 2015-08-26.
15. "Discography Dr. Hook". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
16. "Discography Dr. Hook". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
17. "Discography Dr. Hook". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
18. "Discography Dr. Hook". charts.nz. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
19. Peaks in Australia:
    • All except noted: Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
    • Greatest Hits (And More), The Definitive Collection and Timeless: "Discography Dr. Hook". australian-charts.com. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
20. "Chart Search: Dr Hook, HSI". Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
21. "Chart Search: Dr Hook, CSI". Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
22. "Chart Search: Dr Hook, ASI". Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
23. "The Irish Charts: Search for "Dr Hook"". irishcharts.ie. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
24. "Top 100 Singles: Every AMR Top 100 Single in 1981". Top100singles.blogspot.com.au. 2011-11-06. Retrieved 2015-08-26.
25. "LP Discography: Dr. Hook - Discography". Lpdiscography.com.