The band initially consisted in 1969 of Steve Marriott (formerly of Small Faces; lead vocals, guitar, keyboards), Peter Frampton (from The Herd; lead guitar), Greg Ridley (from Spooky Tooth; bass) and Jerry Shirley (from The Apostolic Intervention; drums).
The joining of all these fairly known players resulted in Humble Pie being considered a bit of a “supergroup”. Worried about great expectations, the group began working together in secret at Marriott's cottage in Moreton, Essex. Signed to Andrew Loog Oldham's Immediate Records, their debut single "Natural Born Boogie" was rushed out in 1969 and was a UK number five hit; it was quickly followed by the album As Safe As Yesterday Is, praised as a progressive album in the vein of Small Faces. Their second album Town and Country was also released in 1969 and featured a more acoustic sound. Humble Pie concerts at this time featured an acoustic set followed by an electric set, an approach that would become popular decades later.
1970 saw the financial collapse of Immediate, a switch to A&M Records, and a change in band management. The albums Humble Pie and Rock On, both released that year, alternated between progressive rock and boogie rock excess. A concert at the Fillmore East in NYC was captured on Perfomance Rockin' The Fillmore (1971); it is considered one of the best live rock albums of its era, with Marriott, Frampton, and the rest of the group in fine form. The loud-quiet-loud epic "I Don't Need No Doctor" was an FM radio hit in the United States, propelling the album to the group's biggest commercial success yet.
However, Frampton had already left the band by the time of the album's release, to pursue a solo career that would become extremely successful later in the 1970s. With Dave "Clem" Clempson replacing Frampton, Humble Pie moved towards an even harder sound at the urging of manager Dee Anthony, emphasizing Marriott's blues and soul roots.
Smokin' (1972) had a minor hit in "Thirty Days in the Hole" and was reasonably successful commercially based on the group's constant touring. As a premiere US concert attraction, they traveled in a customized private jet, and partook in all forms of the rock n roll excess available to formerly working class musicians that rose to fame and riches in this era, even hiring The Blackberries, a trio of black backup singers including Vanetta Fields formerly of The Ikettes. Nevertheless the band's extended, long form concert boogie jam rock style was unable to break them into the mainstream radio. Eat It (1974) was three sides of mostly R&B covers and one side live, and while appreciated by their core fans, did nothing to expand the group's audience. The group staged the Goodbye Pie Tour in 1975 and essentially broke up.
In 1980 Marriott, divorced, and with financial problems in the UK, relocated to Atlanta Georgia and revived Humble Pie with Shirley, adding Bobby Tench (from Jeff Beck Group) on guitar and Anthony "Sooty" Jones on bass. Two albums with a more modern heavy metal sound were released but the effort soon fell apart. In 1991 Marriott and Frampton began collaborating again, with another Humble Pie rebirth possibly in the offing, but an unfortunate house fire took Marriott's life before anything tangible could materialise. http://rockandrollgarage.com/the-tragic-story-of-steve-marriott-death/
I Don't Need No Doctor
Humble Pie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause I know what's ailing me
I don't need no doctor, no, no
'Cause I know what's ailing me
I've been too long
Away from my baby, ah
I'm coming down with a misery
(I don't need no doctor)
I don't need no doctor
For my prescription to be filled
(I don't need no doctor)
(I don't need no doctor)
I don't need no doctor
I tell you now
For my prescription to be filled
(I don't need no doctor)
(I don't need no doctor)
Only my baby's arms, ah
Could ever take away this chill
(I don't need no doctor)
(I don't need no doctor)
Now the doctor say I need rest
(Hey, hey)
But all I need
Is her tenderness
Put me on the critical list
(Hey, hey)
When all I need
Is her sweet kiss
He gave me a medicated lotion
But it didn't soothe
(It didn't soothe)
My emotion
I don't need no doctor
I don't need no doctor
I don't need no doctor
For my hope to live is gone
(I don't need no doctor)
(I don't need no doctor)
I don't need no doctor, no, no
Whoa, my hope to live is gone
(I don't need no doctor)
(I don't need no doctor)
All I need is my baby
Baby, please
Won't you please come on home
Log on to kill this message
(I don't need no doctor)
You know what I'm talking 'bout
(I don't need no doctor)
I don't need no aspirins
(I don't need no doctor)
I don't need no lotion
(I don't need no doctor)
I say, "I don't need no vitamin pills"
(I don't need no doctor)
I don't need
In the song "I Don't Need No Doctor," Humble Pie presents a story of a man who has been away from his lover for too long and is feeling sick and miserable. Rather than seeking medical attention, the singer insists that he knows what is wrong with him, and that the only cure is to be reunited with his lover. The lyrics repeat this sentiment throughout the song, emphasizing the singer's denial of traditional medical treatment and showcasing the idea that love can be a powerful healing force.
Throughout the song, the singer is visited by a doctor who attempts to prescribe various forms of medicine and rest, but the singer stubbornly rejects them all. Instead, the song exalts the importance of love and human connection, suggesting that these things are just as important as medical treatment, if not more so. In the end, the singer is only able to find relief from his misery by being reunited with his lover, demonstrating the idea that sometimes the best medicine is simply love and companionship.
One interesting interpretation of this song is that it can be read as a critique of the medical establishment, which often prioritizes pills and procedures over more holistic forms of healing. By emphasizing the power of love and human connection, the song suggests that these things are just as important as medical treatment, and that a focus on them can lead to more effective healing.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't need no doctor
I don't need medical help
'Cause I know what's ailing me
I know what my problem is
I've been too long
I've been away from my lover for too long
Away from my baby, ah
Away from my significant other
I'm coming down with a misery
I'm feeling emotionally unwell
For my prescription to be filled
I don't need medicine to fix my problem
Only my baby's arms, ah
Only my lover's embrace
Could ever take away this chill
Can make me feel better
Now the doctor say I need rest
The doctor suggests I rest
But all I need
But what I really need
Is her tenderness
Is affection from my lover
Put me on the critical list
If I'm sick enough to end up in the hospital
When all I need
But what I truly need
Is her sweet kiss
Is a loving kiss from my partner
He gave me a medicated lotion
The doctor prescribed medicated lotion
But it didn't soothe
But it didn't make me feel better
My emotion
My emotional distress
For my hope to live is gone
I feel hopeless
All I need is my baby
All I need is my lover
Baby, please
Please come back to me
Won't you please come on home
Please come back to our home
I don't need no aspirins
I don't need painkillers
I don't need no lotion
I don't need medicated lotion
I say, "I don't need no vitamin pills"
I don't need vitamins
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOSEPHINE ARMSTEAD, NICK ASHFORD, VALERIE SIMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@michaeldrasic7587
I am 70 yrs young and Humble Pie's Live at the Fillmore just blew me away, time after time. Great band then and still waybadass!
@jayhendricks67
That's the Album I've Got " We go home on Man-day but we nawf wanna tell ya we've had a Gas this time it's really been a Gas😂😂😂 I had to go back sit in the Dark and just listen to that Album again felt like I was there what a Jam Session
@timothynuzzi6578
Steve Marriot was a great showman!🙏👍🇺🇸
@joewilley7776
🎉
@barryf5479
I saw 'em at the Long Beach Arena in the early 70's. Likely one of the best concerts I've ever seen.
@charlesking5328
Damn right ✌
@krakatoa1200
I'm an old man, and so glad that I grew up listening to great bands like this.
@davyhill23
Preach fellow boomer
@rburly
I really miss this music.
@rickhaley779
You and me both brother