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Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show

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Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show
Dr. Hook performing at a telethon in 1977
Dr. Hook performing at a telethon in 1977
Background information
Also known asDr. Hook
OriginUnion City, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres
Years active
  • 1969–1985
  • 1988–2015
  • 2019–present
Labels
Members
Past members
  • Billy Francis
  • Ray Sawyer
  • George Cummings
  • John "Jay" David
  • Rik Elswit
  • Jance Garfat
  • John Wolters
  • Bob 'Willard' Henke
  • Rod Smarr
  • Walter Hartman
  • Leonard Wolfe
Websitedrhookofficial.com

Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show (shortened to Dr. Hook in 1975) is an American rock band formed in Union City, New Jersey. The band had commercial success in the 1970s with hit singles "Sylvia's Mother" (1972), "The Cover of 'Rolling Stone'" (1973), "Only Sixteen" (1976), "A Little Bit More" (1976), "Walk Right In" (1977), "Sharing the Night Together" (1978), "When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman" (1979) and "Better Love Next Time" (1979). In addition to its own material, Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show performed songs written by the poet Shel Silverstein.

The band had eight years of hits in the United States. Its music, spanning acoustic ballads and soft rock, was played on Top 40, easy listening and country music outlets throughout the English-speaking world. In recent years the band's mellower 70s hits such as "Sharing the Night Together" (1978) and "When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman" (1979) have also received regular airplay on Yacht Rock Radio on SiriusXM.

History

[edit]

Founding of the band

[edit]

The founding core of the band consisted of George Cummings, Ray Sawyer and Billy Francis, who had first worked together circa 1966 in Mobile, Alabama in a band called Chocolate Papers.[1][2] Cummings, Sawyer and Francis started a new band up in Union City, New Jersey in 1968 and included primary vocalist Dennis Locorriere, who initially joined as a bass player.

By 1969, the new band was named Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show: Tonic for the Soul. The name, thought up by Cummings, was inspired by Sawyer's eyepatch and a reference to Captain Hook of the Peter Pan fairy tale. Sawyer lost his right eye in a near-fatal car crash in Oregon in 1967 and, after that, wore an eyepatch, leading some people to believe that he was Dr Hook; when asked by fans which band member was Dr Hook, they would all point to the bus driver.

Career: 1968-1971

[edit]

Popeye Phillips, who had been the drummer in Chocolate Papers, left the band to become a session musician, contributing to the first album by the Flying Burrito Brothers. Drummer Joseph Olivier was the drummer by the time Cummings, Sawyer and Francis had relocated to New Jersey. Just before Dr. Hook began recording its first demos, Olivier was replaced by session drummer Jay David, who became a band member in 1970.

In 1970 the band's demo tapes were heard by Ron Haffkine, musical director on Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me?. Haffkine asked the band to record two songs for the film, including "The Last Morning" and "Bunky and Lucille", which the band can be seen performing in the movie. The film helped Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show secure their first recording contract.

In 1971 the group met with Clive Davis of CBS Records. David used a wastebasket in the meeting to keep the beat, and Francis danced on the mogul's desk while Sawyer, Locorriere, and Cummings played and sang. With the CBS Records deal, the band experienced international success with Haffkine as the group's manager and producer.

In 1972, after recording their debut album, the band added a full-time bassist, Jance Garfat, and another guitarist, Rik Elswit.

Career: 1972

[edit]

Haffkine, having a knack for picking songs, quickly became Dr. Hook's No. 1 A&R man and their producer and manager. Shel Silverstein wrote all the songs for their self-titled debut album, released in May 1972. Doctor Hook featured lead vocals, guitar, bass and harmonica by Locorriere, steel guitarist Cummings and singer Sawyer, plus drummer David and keyboard player Billy Francis. The album sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA on August 2, 1972.[3] 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.

After scoring a hit with the song "The Cover of 'Rolling Stone'" in 1973, the band was featured on the cover of the March 29, 1973 Rolling Stone

Silverstein continued to write songs for Dr. Hook, including their entire second album, Sloppy Seconds, released in the US, Australia, Europe and Canada in February 1973. It featured some of their most famous songs, including "Freakin' at the Freaker's Ball" and "The Cover of 'Rolling Stone'". The album was listed in the Billboard 200 in 1973.

The band's second single, "The Cover of 'Rolling Stone'" (December 1972), was another million-selling disc in early 1973,[3] 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 to 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

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

The group had difficulty meeting the high expectations created by Sloppy Seconds and the result was Belly Up! (November 1973), which was unfortunately prophetic. The album was sold in the US, UK, Europe and Canada. Dr. Hook was just as famed for their crazed stage antics, ranging from surreal banter to impersonating their opening acts; the group's disregard for 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 August 1975 due to illness, plus personal and musical differences. The band did not replace him. When Elswit was diagnosed with cancer in 1976, the band added Bob "Willard" Henke (formerly of Goose Creek Symphony). Elswit recovered and returned to the lineup, but they kept Henke on for a while.

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

Career: 1975-1985

[edit]

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 recorded 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".

The band followed Bankrupt with 1976's A Little Bit More (named after the hit), which was certified double gold in Australia in November 1976.[4] It was quickly followed in turn by the 1977 album Making Love And Music which gave them a number 1 hit single in Australia with "Walk Right In", then came Pleasure & Pain (October 1978), which featured "Sharing the Night Together" (US number 6) and "When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman" (US number 6). Sometimes You Win (October 1979) brought forth "Better Love Next Time" (US number 12) in late 1979 and "Sexy Eyes" (US number 5) in 1980. Save for "A Little Bit More" (US number 11), these singles were certified million-sellers. "When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman" reached number 1 for several weeks in 1979 in the UK. Though the band toured constantly, they had yet to manage to turn their success with singles into album sales.

Pleasure and Pain was Dr. Hook's first gold album in the US. The band 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 top 40 hit (which peaked in the US at number 25) with "Baby Makes Her Blue-Jeans Talk" in 1982.

Guitarist Rod Smarr replaced Henke on guitar in 1980, Walter Hartman subbed for Wolters on drums from 1982–1983 and Leonard Wolfe played keyboards alongside Francis in 1983–1985.

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

After Dr. Hook: 1985 to present

[edit]

After Dr. Hook split up, Dennis Locorriere retained ownership of the band's name. However, 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 and died on December 31, 2018, at the age of 81.[5][6][7][8]

Billy Francis, after joining Sawyer in 2001 during his Dr. Hook concerts, died on May 23, 2010, at age 68.

After the original band split, Dennis Locorriere released several solo albums and toured under the names Voice of Dr. Hook and Dennis Locorriere Celebrates Dr. Hook Hits and History Tour. Now fronting the band Dr Hook starring Dennis Locorriere,[9][10] he started the Dr Hook 50th Anniversary World Tour in 2019, but this was postponed due to Locorriere undergoing a prostate procedure resulting in kidney problems.[11][12] The band resumed their 50th Anniversary Tour on September 3, 2021, with a show at Manchester's Bridgewater Hall and with performances scheduled for Scandinavia, the UK and Ireland in 2022.[13] Currently Locorriere's version of Dr Hook is made up of John Maher, Michelle Cordelli, Damien Cooper, Tim Bye, Jon Poole and Ryan Farmery.[14]

Former bass player Robert Jance Garfat (born March 3, 1944) died in a motorcycle accident on November 6, 2006 at age 62.

Former guitarist and keyboardist Bob 'Willard' Henke died on February 2, 2023, at the age of 71.[15] Bass vocalist George Cummings died on December 14, 2024.[16]

Members

[edit]
  • Dennis Locorriere – vocals, guitar, bass, harmonica (1969–1985, 2019–present)
  • Ray Sawyer – vocals, guitar, percussion, congas, maracas (1969–1983, 1988–2015, died 2018)
  • Billy Francis – keyboards, vocals (1969–1985, 2001; died 2010)
  • George Cummings – lead and steel guitars, vocals (1969–1975; died 2024)
  • John "Jay" David – drums, vocals (1970–1973)
  • Rik Elswit – guitar, vocals (1972–1985)
  • Jance Garfat – bass (1972–1985; died 2006)
  • John Wolters – drums (1973–1982, 1983–1985; died 1997)
  • Bob 'Willard' Henke – guitar, keyboards (1976–1980; died 2023)
  • Rod Smarr – guitar (1980–1985; died 2012)
  • Walter Hartman – drums (1982–1983)
  • Leonard Wolfe – keyboards (1983–1985)
  • Joseph Olivier – drums (1969-1971)

Timeline

[edit]

Discography

[edit]

Studio and live albums

[edit]

(from the 1975 album Bankrupt onwards, the band name was shortened to Dr. Hook)

Year Album Peak chart positions Certification
US
[17] 		US Country
[18] 		AUS
[19] 		CAN
[20] 		UK
[21] 		DEN
[22] 		SWE
[23] 		NOR
[24] 		NLD
[25] 		NZ
[26]
1972 Doctor Hook 45 — 22 38 — 5 — 26 — —
1972 Sloppy Seconds 41 — 43 16 — — — 17 — —
1973 Belly Up! 141 — — — — 7 — — — —
1975 Bankrupt 141 — 71 — — 2 — — — —
1976 A Little Bit More 62 18 10 69 5 1 3 2 — 33
1977 Makin' Love and Music — — 14 — 39 — 3 3 — —
1978 Pleasure and Pain 66 17 30 93 47 — 4 5 6 —
1979 Sometimes You Win 71 — 50 59 14 — 12 3 46 —
1980 Rising 175 — 11 — 44 — 31 8 — —
1981 Live in the U.K. (US title: Dr. Hook Live) — — — — 90 — — — — —
1982 Players in the Dark 118 — 40 — — — 38 17 — —
1983 Let Me Drink from Your Well — — — — — — — 20 — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Compilation albums

[edit]
Year Album Peak chart positions Certification
US
[17] 		AUS
[33] 		CAN
[20] 		UK
[21]
1975 The Ballad of Lucy Jordon — — — —
1976 Dr. Hook Revisited — — — —
1976 The Best of Dr. Hook — — — —
1978 Remedies — 13 — —
1980 Greatest Hits 142 1 32 2
1984 The Rest of Dr. Hook — — — —
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 — — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Singles

[edit]
Year Single Peak chart positions Album
US
[42] 		US Country
[43] 		US AC
[44] 		AUS
[33] 		CAN
[20] 		CAN Country
[20] 		CAN AC
[20] 		IRE
[45] 		NZ
[26] 		SA UK
[21]
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"[46] — — — 4 — — — — — — — Single only[A]
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"[47] — — — — — — — — — — — Let Me Drink from Your Well
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Notes
  1. ^ "The Wild Colonial Boy" was included on some Australian copies of Rising.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Ray Sawyer - Biography, Albums, Streaming Links". AllMusic. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  2. ^ "William Allen Francis January 16, 1942 - May 23, 2010". holmanhowe.com. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 311. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  4. ^ "Cashbox Magazine" (PDF). Billboard. November 27, 1976. p. 36. Retrieved November 12, 2021 – via World Radio History.
  5. ^ "Dr Hook's Ray Sawyer dies aged 81". BBC News. January 2019.
  6. ^ "Ray Sawyer obituary". TheGuardian.com. January 2, 2019.
  7. ^ "INTERVIEW: DENNIS LOCORRIERE, DR HOOK – September 2015". Magazine.100percentrock.com. October 15, 2015. Archived from the original on July 3, 2017. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
  8. ^ Kreps, Daniel (January 1, 2019). "Dr. Hook's Ray Sawyer, 'Cover of Rolling Stone' Singer, Dead at 81". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  9. ^ "Dr Hook | Dennis Locorriere | The official Dr Hook touring information site". Drhookofficial.com. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  10. ^ "Dr Hook Starring Dennis Locorriere | Latest News | Blog".
  11. ^ "DR HOOK Starring Dennis Locorriere". Facebook.com. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022.
  12. ^ "DR HOOK Starring Dennis Locorriere". Facebook.com. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022.
  13. ^ "Tour Dates | Dr Hook | Dennis Locorriere".
  14. ^ "The Band | Dr Hook | Dennis Locorriere".
  15. ^ "Bob "Willard" Henke – April 29th, 1951 – February 3, 2023". Arizona's Great Vintage Music on Facebook. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  16. ^ "George H. Cummings Jr". Legacy. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  17. ^ a b "Chart Search: Dr Hook, TLP". Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  18. ^ "Chart Search: Dr Hook, CLP". Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  19. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 94. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  20. ^ a b c d e "Search: RPM – Library and Archives Canada (enter "Dr Hook" in the "Keyword" field, and select desired chart under "Chart")". RPM. July 17, 2013. Retrieved June 30, 2020 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  21. ^ a b c "Dr Hook | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  22. ^ Peaks in Denmark:
  23. ^ "Discography Dr. Hook". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  24. ^ "Discography Dr. Hook". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  25. ^ "Discography Dr. Hook". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  26. ^ a b "Discography Dr. Hook". charts.nz. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  27. ^ a b c "Country Roundup" (PDF). Cash Box. May 14, 1977. p. 40. Retrieved November 25, 2021 – via World Radio History.
  28. ^ "Hook Shots" (PDF). Cash Box. June 4, 1977. p. 52. Retrieved November 25, 2021 – via World Radio History.
  29. ^ "Dr Hook - A Little Bit More (album)". Bpi. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  30. ^ "RIAA – Searchable Database: Dr. Hook". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  31. ^ "Dr Hook - Sometimes You Win". bpi.co.uk. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  32. ^ "Dr Hook - Rising". bpi.co.uk. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  33. ^ a b 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.
  34. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1992 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  35. ^ "Dr Hook - Greatest Hits". bpi.co.uk. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  36. ^ "Dr Hook: Completely Hooked - Best Of". bpi.co.uk. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  37. ^ "Dr Hook - Sharing the Night Together (album)". bpi.co.uk. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  38. ^ "Dr Hook - Love Songs". bpi.co.uk. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  39. ^ "British album certifications – Dr Hook – Essential". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  40. ^ "Dr Hook - Hits And History". bpi.co.uk. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  41. ^ "Dr Hook - Timeless". bpi.co.uk. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  42. ^ "Chart Search: Dr Hook, HSI". Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  43. ^ "Chart Search: Dr Hook, CSI". Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  44. ^ "Chart Search: Dr Hook, ASI". Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  45. ^ "The Irish Charts: Search for "Dr Hook"". irishcharts.ie. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  46. ^ "Top 100 Singles: Every AMR Top 100 Single in 1981". Top100singles.blogspot.com.au. November 6, 2011. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  47. ^ "LP Discography: Dr. Hook - Discography". Lpdiscography.com.
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