The band had eight years of regular chart hits, in both 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; 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.
The founding core of the band consisted of three Southerners, George Cummings, Ray Sawyer, (from Alabama) and Billy Francis, who had worked together in a band called The Chocolate Papers. They had played the South, up and down the East Coast, and into the 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, at first as a bass player. Francis, who had returned south after the Chocolate Papers broke up, returned to be the new band's keyboardist.
When told by a club owner that they needed a name to put on a poster in the window of his establishment, Cummings made a sign: "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, because 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. The eyepatch would mistakenly lead some people 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.
The band played for a few years in New Jersey, first with drummer Popeye Phillips (who had also been in The Chocolate Papers), who went on to be a session drummer on The Flying Burrito Brothers' first album, The Gilded Palace of Sin. Citing musical differences, Popeye returned home 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 the help of producer Haffkine, 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.
Ron Haffkine arranged a meeting with Clive Davis, CBS Records 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 their first 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.
Silverstein and Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show became a great combination. Haffkine, having a knack for picking songs, quickly became Dr. Hookโs #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. It has been released 20 times in the US, UK, Netherlands, Italy, Yugoslavia, Canada, Europe, Spain, and Greece.
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, now released 16 times in the US, Australia, UK, Netherlands, 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, Silversteinโs "The Cover of 'Rolling Stone'" (1972) from Sloppy Seconds, was another million-selling disc, poking fun at the idea that a musician had "made it" if they had been pictured on the cover of Rolling Stone.
Haffkine visited Jann Wenner, one of the founders of Rolling Stone, proclaiming "Iโve just given you guys the best commercial for this rag that youโll ever get." Wenner then sent Cameron Crowe (who later wrote and directed Jerry Maguire), 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, which was against the BBC's policy (previously, the Kinks had to change "Coca-Cola" to "Cherry Cola" in their song "Lola" to get around the rule). 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 only found itself able to play the song after some of its DJs edited themselves shouting the words "Radio Times" (at the time, a BBC-owned magazine) over "Rolling Stone".
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 it was the group's nonchalance about business matters that 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 initially 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. When Henke left in 1980, they added Rod Smarr.
In 1974 Dr. Hook recorded an album that was to be titled Fried Face; it went unreleased and was never issued by Columbia.
The band shortened its name to Dr. Hook in 1975. They signed with Capitol Records in 1975, releasing the aptly titled album 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. It was when Haffkine discovered a song called "A Little Bit More", written and originally performed by Bobby Gosh and released on his 1973 album Sitting in the Quiet, on a vinyl record costing 35 cents at a flea market in San Francisco, that things exploded for Dr. Hook. It charted at 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 and was Dr. Hook's joint second-best UK chart placing, matching "Sylvia's Mother".
Follow-ups to "A Little Bit More" included "Sharing the Night Together" (number 6), "When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman" (number 6), "Better Love Next Time", and "Sexy Eyes" (number 5), which featured prominent female backup singers. Save for "A Little Bit More" (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 they had another UK hit single with "Better Love Next Time" (number 12). Though the band toured constantly, they never 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" (number 34) and had their final hit (which peaked 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.
Dennis Locorriere retained ownership of the Dr. Hook name. 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. In 2019 he will start the Dr Hook 50th Anniversary World Tour.
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. Sawyer died on 28 December 2018.
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 (early 80s)
Joseph Olivier - drums (1968)
Discography
Studio and live albums
(for the 1975 Bankrupt album the band name was shortened to Dr. Hook)
Year Album Peak chart positions
US US Country CAN UK DEN
1971 Doctor Hook 45 โ 38 โ 5[6]
1973 Sloppy Seconds 41 โ 16 โ โ
1973 Belly Up! 141 โ โ โ 7[7]
1974 Fried Face (Unreleased) โ โ โ โ โ
1975 Bankrupt 141 โ โ โ 2[8]
1976 A Little Bit More 62 18 69 5 1[9]
1977 Makin' Love and Music โ โ โ 39 โ
1978 Pleasure and Pain 66 17 93 47 โ
1979 Sometimes You Win 71 โ 59 14 โ
1980 Rising 175 โ โ 44 โ
1981 Live in the U.K. (US title: Dr. Hook Live) โ โ โ 90 โ
1982 Players in the Dark 118 โ โ โ โ
1983 Let Me Drink From Your Well โ โ โ โ โ
Compilation albums
Year Album Peak chart positions
US AUS CAN UK
1976 Dr. Hook Revisited โ โ โ โ
1980 Greatest Hits 142 โ 32 2
1984 The Rest of Dr. Hook โ โ โ โ
1987 Greatest Hits (And More) โ 2 โ โ
1992 Completely Hooked - The Best of Dr. Hook โ โ โ 3
1995 Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show - Greatest Hits โ โ โ โ
1996 Sharing the Night Together - The Best Of Dr. Hook โ โ โ โ
1999 Love Songs โ โ โ 8
2007 Hits and History โ โ โ 14
2007 Greatest Hooks โ โ โ โ
2014 Timeless โ 36 โ 9
2016 Collected โ โ โ โ
Singles
Year Single Peak chart positions Album
US US Country US AC AUS CAN CAN Country CAN AC IRE NZ SA UK
1971 "Last Morning" โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ Who Is Harry Kellerman And Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me?
1972 "Sylvia's Mother" 5 โ โ 1 2 โ โ 1 1 1 2 Dr. Hook
"Carry Me Carrie" 71 โ โ โ 82 โ โ โ โ โ โ Sloppy Seconds
"The Cover of Rolling Stone" 6 โ โ 32 2 โ โ โ 3 โ
1973 "Roland the Roadie and Gertrude the Groupie" 83 โ โ โ 74 โ โ โ โ โ โ Belly Up!
"Life Ain't Easy" 68 โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ
1974 "Cops And Robbers" โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ Singles Only
"The Ballad of Lucy Jordan" โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ
1975 "The Stimu Dr. Hook" โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ Promo Only
"The Millionaire" 95 โ โ 8 โ โ โ โ โ โ โ Bankrupt
"Everybody's Makin' It Big But Me" โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ 36 โ โ
"Only Sixteen" 6 55 14 8 3 โ 9 โ โ โ โ
1976 "A Little Bit More" 11 โ 15 10 4 โ 6 2 13 โ 2 A Little Bit More
"A Couple More Years" โ 51 โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ
"If Not You" 55 26 21 69 56 โ 9 3 โ โ 5
1977 "Walk Right In" 46 92 39 1 77 โ 30 โ โ โ โ Makin' Love and Music
1978 "More Like the Movies" โ โ โ 93 โ โ โ 4 โ โ 14 A Little Bit More
"Sharing the Night Together" 6 50 18 10 3 40 4 โ 12 โ 43 Pleasure and Pain
1979 "All the Time in the World" 54 82 41 โ 60 64 12 โ โ โ โ
"When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman" 6 68 5 20 4 22 7 1 2 โ 1
"Better Love Next Time" 12 91 3 24 39 โ 10 6 7 โ 8 Sometimes You Win
1980 "Sexy Eyes" 5 โ 6 41 8 โ 1 3 1 20 4
"Years From Now" 51 โ 17 72 63 โ 3 โ โ โ 47
"Girls Can Get It" 34 โ โ 3 โ โ โ โ โ 5 40 Rising
1981 "That Didn't Hurt Too Bad" 69 โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ
"Body Talking" โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ 36 โ โ
"The Wild Colonial Boy"[10] โ โ โ 4 โ โ โ โ โ โ โ Single Only [A]
1982 "Baby Makes Her Blue Jeans Talk" 25 โ โ 11 17 โ โ โ 4 1 โ Players in the Dark
"Loveline" 60 โ 19 โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ
Last Mornin'
Dr. Hook Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This is the last mornin' that I wake up in this dirty city
Looking for the sunshine as the buildings block the skies
This is the last mornin' that I wash in rusty water
Tryin' to shave a face that I don't even recognise
Down the hallway rats are skitterin'
Hear the children cryin' in an apartment down below
This is the last mornin', that I'm gonna have to listen to it
I'm going home, yeah
This is the last mornin', that I try to breath the heavy air
Fight the crowds, avoid the traffic, watch the world turn grey
This is the last mornin' that I drink my coffee standing up
Smile and speak to strangers who just turn and walk away
This is a tough cold city here
And I'll guess I'll never cut it here
And I'm so tired of tryin' to stand against it all alone
This is the last mornin', that I'm gonna have to fight it
I'm going home, yeah
This is the last mornin' that I wear these greasy overalls
Punch the clock and do just what I'm told to get along
And face the long evenin', layin' close beside my radio
Imaginin' the kisses of the girl that sings the song
Down below the subway's screaming
As I lay here halfway dreaming
Looking at the ceiling, wondering where, the dream went wrong (where, where)
This is the last mornin', that I'm gonna have to think about it
I'm going home
I'm going home
I'm going home
I'm going home
(c)1972 Tro-Essex Music Ltd.
The lyrics of Dr. Hook's song "Last Mornin'" describe the last morning of the singer in a dirty, crowded and tough city, where he wakes up in a cramped apartment, with rats skittering down the hallway and garbage rotting. The air is heavy, the crowds fight each other, and the world seems to be turning grey. He drinks his coffee standing up, smiling and speaking to strangers who just turn and walk away. He wears greasy overalls and works long hours, punching the clock and doing just what he's told to get along. He lay close beside his radio imagining the kisses of the girl who sings the song, while the subway screams down below. He looks at the ceiling and wonders where the dream went wrong. But this is the last morning he'll have to think about it. He's going home.
The song depicts the longing for the safety and comfort of home while being stuck in a city that is crushing and alienating. It mirrors the feeling of many people who have moved to the big city in search of a better life, only to find themselves struggling to survive in a hostile environment. The lyrics are filled with imagery and metaphor, painting a vivid picture of the singer's world and his feelings of loneliness, weariness, and despair. The repetition of the phrase "I'm going home" reinforces the idea of hope and longing for a better life in a place that feels safe and familiar.
Line by Line Meaning
This is the last mornin' that I wake up in this dirty city
Today is the final time I will wake up in this polluted town.
Looking for the sunshine as the buildings block the skies
I struggle to find sunlight because the tall structures obscure it.
This is the last mornin' that I wash in rusty water
I am tired of bathing in the discolored, low-quality water.
Tryin' to shave a face that I don't even recognise
I have lost sight of myself and fail to recognize the person in the mirror.
Down the hallway rats are skitterin'
In the hallway, rats run through and cause a disturbance.
I can smell the garbage rottin'
The smell of decomposing waste fills the air.
Hear the children cryin' in an apartment down below
I hear the sound of children crying in the unit beneath me.
This is the last mornin', that I'm gonna have to listen to it
Finally, it is the last morning I will have to endure these discomforts.
I'm going home, yeah
I am leaving for home today.
This is the last mornin', that I try to breath the heavy air
Today is the last time I am attempting to inhale the thick, polluted atmosphere.
Fight the crowds, avoid the traffic, watch the world turn grey
I struggle to make my way through the dense crowds and dodge the traffic while observing the dull, grey world around me.
This is the last mornin' that I drink my coffee standing up
I am now taking my final cup of coffee before leaving the city, drinking it while standing.
Smile and speak to strangers who just turn and walk away
I attempt to be friendly to passersby, but they ignore me and continue walking.
This is a tough cold city here
This city is harsh and unforgiving.
And I'll guess I'll never cut it here
I cannot succeed here.
And I'm so tired of tryin' to stand against it all alone
I am exhausted from struggling to resist this city on my own.
This is the last mornin', that I'm gonna have to fight it
I will no longer have to fight against this difficult city from today onwards.
This is the last mornin' that I wear these greasy overalls
I will not have to put on these dirty overalls anymore after today's last morning.
Punch the clock and do just what I'm told to get along
I comply with orders and do what is required to survive financially.
And face the long evenin', layin' close beside my radio
I spend the long evenings listening to music on the radio while lying down.
Imaginin' the kisses of the girl that sings the song
I picture myself being kissed by the female artist singing on the radio.
Down below the subway's screaming
The subway trains make a loud screeching noise as they pass below.
As I lay here halfway dreaming
As I am half asleep and half awake, I am in a state of contemplation.
Looking at the ceiling, wondering where, the dream went wrong (where, where)
I stare at the ceiling and wonder about the point at which my dream went awry.
This is the last mornin', that I'm gonna have to think about it
This will be the day when I stop worrying about what went wrong.
I'm going home
I am returning to my place of comfort called home.
I'm going home
I am going back to where I belong.
I'm going home
I am returning to my home, and I am content with my decision.
Lyrics ยฉ O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Shel Silverstein
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@RonjasDrHookChannel
Lyrics:
This is the last mornin' that I wake up in this dirty city
Looking for the sunshine as the buildings block the skies
This is the last mornin' that I wash in rusty water
Tryin' to shave a face that I don't even recognise
Down the hallway rats are skitterin'
I can smell the garbage rottin'
Hear the children cryin' in an apartment down below
This is the last mornin', that I'm gonna have to listen to it
I'm going home, yeah
This is the last mornin', that I try to breath the heavy air
Fight the crowds, avoid the traffic, watch the world turn grey
This is the last mornin' that I drink my coffee standing up
Smile and speak to strangers who just turn and walk away
This is a tough cold city here
And I'll guess I'll never cut it here
And I'm so tired of tryin' to stand against it all alone
This is the last mornin', that I'm gonna have to fight it
I'm going home, yeah
This is the last mornin' that I wear these greasy overalls
Punch the clock and do just what I'm told to get along
And face the long evenin', layin' close beside my radio
Imaginin' the kisses of the girl that sings the song
Down below the subway's screaming
As I lay here halfway dreaming
Looking at the ceiling, wondering where, the dream went wrong (where, where)
This is the last mornin', that I'm gonna have to think about it
I'm going home
I'm going home
I'm going home
I'm going home
@RonjasDrHookChannel
Lyrics:
This is the last mornin' that I wake up in this dirty city
Looking for the sunshine as the buildings block the skies
This is the last mornin' that I wash in rusty water
Tryin' to shave a face that I don't even recognise
Down the hallway rats are skitterin'
I can smell the garbage rottin'
Hear the children cryin' in an apartment down below
This is the last mornin', that I'm gonna have to listen to it
I'm going home, yeah
This is the last mornin', that I try to breath the heavy air
Fight the crowds, avoid the traffic, watch the world turn grey
This is the last mornin' that I drink my coffee standing up
Smile and speak to strangers who just turn and walk away
This is a tough cold city here
And I'll guess I'll never cut it here
And I'm so tired of tryin' to stand against it all alone
This is the last mornin', that I'm gonna have to fight it
I'm going home, yeah
This is the last mornin' that I wear these greasy overalls
Punch the clock and do just what I'm told to get along
And face the long evenin', layin' close beside my radio
Imaginin' the kisses of the girl that sings the song
Down below the subway's screaming
As I lay here halfway dreaming
Looking at the ceiling, wondering where, the dream went wrong (where, where)
This is the last mornin', that I'm gonna have to think about it
I'm going home
I'm going home
I'm going home
I'm going home
@reneekennedy716
โฅ โฅ โฅ
@ponkopanajot5143
ะขะตะทะธ ะผะพะผัะตัะฐ ะฝะต ัะฐ ะฐะผะตัะธะบะฐะฝัะธ
@souvikreza4536
Loveโ๏ธ
@drhookfananderson955
@@jesusismysavior6395 can you sing 3 hail Mary's xxx
@taylorsachs5779
Dr hook is one of the best and most underrated bands of all time. Especially if you have a few life miles under the old odometer ๐
@hardheadjames3624
Definitely one of the best bands of the 70s and so overlooked by the music industry. They got me through high school. Still have their music in my truck.
@FraserGeddes-yy4vc
They are absolutely brilliant,I just love them.
@deirdrewelborn7025
So thankful to have these wonderful videos to watch over and over. Amazing to think Dennis was in his early 20's at this time. ๐ฅฐโค๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ
@countrycruiser1665
What a unique voice Dennis Locorriere has. You can actually feel every one of their songs. Just brilliant. Thanks for the memories Ronja.