Fifty years ago, history was made for the country-rock band Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show. In the week of March 29, 1973, their dream materialized in vibrant color as they graced the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. This iconic moment, celebrating Doctor Hook Cover Of The Rolling Stone, was more than just a band’s achievement; it was a testament to a song’s whimsical prophecy turning into reality.
The story behind this cover is as unique as the band itself. Penned by the multifaceted Shel Silverstein, renowned for his work as a Playboy cartoonist and children’s book author, Dr. Hook’s hit single, “The Cover of ‘Rolling Stone’,” playfully sang about the band’s aspiration to land on the magazine’s front page. Frontman Ray Sawyer, with his distinctive eyepatch, delivered the now-famous lines about buying “five copies for my mother,” encapsulating the song’s lighthearted desire for mainstream recognition.
The actual cover artwork was a colorful caricature by Gerry Gersten featuring Sawyer alongside bandmates Dennis Locorriere and Billy Francis. Interestingly, the band’s full name was playfully omitted, replaced with the moniker “What’s-Their-Names,” adding to the quirky charm of the feature. Inside the magazine, readers were treated to a humorous chronicle of the band’s escapades on the road. The article was filled with song parodies laced with profanity, anecdotes of harmonizing to George Jones tunes, and tales of encounters with enthusiastic fans. One memorable story recounts the suspenseful dumping of a mysterious envelope from a Holiday Inn just moments before a traffic stop by a Virginia state trooper, perfectly capturing the band’s mischievous and unpredictable spirit.
“The Cover of ‘Rolling Stone'” was not Dr. Hook’s first brush with chart success. Following their Top Five hit “Sylvia’s Mother,” this song climbed to No. 6 on Billboard‘s pop chart, further solidifying their place in the music scene. Shel Silverstein’s songwriting prowess was central to the band’s early success, as he penned all the tracks on their second album. This album included other notable songs like “Freakin’ at the Freakers Ball” and “Queen of the Silver Dollar,” the latter of which was later covered by Emmylou Harris, demonstrating the lasting appeal of Silverstein’s compositions.
Shel Silverstein’s connection with the band extended beyond songwriting. In a video from 1972, Silverstein is seen enjoying a freewheeling party with Dr. Hook on his houseboat in Sausalito, California. The video captures the band’s playful camaraderie and Silverstein’s humorous take on their supposed origins as medical students. Silverstein’s significant contributions to music were later recognized with his induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002, three years after his passing. Ray Sawyer, the face of Dr. Hook for many, also passed away in 2018, leaving behind a legacy of memorable performances and hits.
Dr. Hook’s journey extended far beyond their Rolling Stone cover moment. They became a staple on television shows like Midnight Special and Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert, and enjoyed a string of international hits throughout the 1980s. Songs like “Only Sixteen,” “Sharing the Night Together,” and “When You’re in Love with a Beautiful Woman” cemented their status as hitmakers and their enduring appeal.
Adding a final touch of serendipity to this anniversary, March 29 is also National Doctors Day. It’s a fitting coincidence, and one can imagine the “good Dr. Hook” would indeed be proud of the band’s enduring legacy and the fulfillment of their cheeky song’s ambition fifty years ago.
