DR. HOOK

Sporting denims and buckskin, Dr. Hook And The Medicine Show epitomized much of the countrified and “laid-back” style that was in vogue during the early 70s, but though their material was sung in a Dixie drawl and three members were genuine southerners, they began as a New Jersey bar band with one-eyed Dr. Hook (b. Ray Sawyer, 1 February 1937, Chicksaw, Alabama, USA; vocals), Denis Locorriere (b. 13 June 1949, New Jersey, USA; guitar/vocals), George Cummings (b. 1938; lead/slide guitar), William Francis (b. 1942; keyboards) and Jay David (b. 1942; drums). One evening they impressed a talent scout looking for an outfit to record Playboy cartoonist Shel Silverstein's film score to Who's Harry Kellerman And Why Is He Saying These Terrible Things About Me? (1970), and later backed Silverstein's singing on record. As a result, the band were signed to CBS Records. Almost immediate international success followed with “Sylvia's Mother” from their debut album. The follow-up, Sloppy Seconds, was also penned entirely by Silverstein, and was attended by a hit single that cited portrayal on “The Cover Of The Rolling Stone”(which was dogged by a BBC ban in the UK) as the zenith of the group's ambition - which they later achieved.

Augmented by Rik Elswit (b. 1945; guitar) and Jance Garfat (b. 1944; bass), they embarked on a punishing touring schedule with a diverting act riven with indelicate humour that came to embrace an increasing number of their own compositions. Some were included on Belly Up - and the US-only Fried Face, their last album before transferring to Capitol Records - and the first with new drummer John Wolters (b. John Christian Wolters 28 April 1945, Pompton Lakes, New Jersey, New York, USA, d. July 1997). By then, the popularity of the group - as plain Dr. Hook - on the boards gave false impressions of their standing in market terms. This was better expressed in the title Bankrupt, the fifth album. However, a revival of Sam Cooke's “Only 16&”, redressed the balance financially, by rocketing up the US Hot 100. A year later this feat was repeated on a global scale with the title track of A Little Bit More. Next came a UK number 1 with "When You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman' from the million-selling Pleasure And Pain. With Locorriere taking the lion's share of lead vocals by then, 1979"s Sometimes You Win was the wellspring of two more smashes - though a third, “The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan”, was eclipsed for slight Top 50 honours in Britain by Marianne Faithfull's cover. Throughout the 80s, Dr. Hook's chart strikes were confined mainly to North America (even if a 1981 concert album was taped in London), becoming more sporadic as the decade wore on. Indeed, Sawyer's concentration on solo records, and Locorriere's efforts as a Nashville-based songwriter had all but put the tin lid on Dr. Hook by 1990.

Discography: Dr. Hook And the Medicine Show (Columbia 1972)***, Sloppy Seconds (Columbia 1972)***, Belly Up (Columbia 1973)**, Fried Face US only (Columbia 1974)**, Bankrupt (Capitol 1975)**, A Little Bit More (Capitol 1976)***, Making Love And Music (Capitol 1977)**, Pleasure And Pain (Capitol 1978)***, Sometimes You Win (Capitol 1979)***, Rising (Casablanca 1980)**, Live In The UK (Capitol 1981)**, Players In The Dark (Casablanca 1982)**, On The Run 1976 recording (Burning Airlines 2001)***.

Compilations: Greatest Hits (Capitol 1980)***, Completely Hooked-The Best Of Dr. Hook (Columbia 1992)***, Pleasure And Pain: The History Of Dr. Hook 3-CD box set (EMI 1996)***, Love Songs (EMI 1999)***.

Videography: Completely Hooked (PMI 1992).