Obit: Ray Sawyer (1937-2018) - Doctor Hook

Subject: Obit: Ray Sawyer Doctor Hook
From: GUEST,Denis Heaney
Date: 01 Jan 19 - 08:42 AM

Another one of our childhood singers gone.

https://uk.yahoo.com/news/ray-sawyer-dead-dr-hook-083800897.html

Subject: RE: Obit: Ray Sawyer Doctor Hook
From: keberoxu
Date: 01 Jan 19 - 12:04 PM

Rolling Stone magazine was very ill-humo(u)red, I recall,
about the Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show
hit single, about appearing "On The Cover Of the Rolling Stone."
I always got a good cheap belly laugh out of
what was obviously good cheap satire,
especially the ludicrous attempt at a guitar solo in the middle.

So, as I remember, when the magazine at last admitted defeat
by printing a feature story with interviews
of Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show,
the cover had a satirical cartoon of the band members,
instead of a photograph,
inscribed
"What's-Their-Names Made The Cover."

All the news that fits, indeed ...

Subject: RE: Obit: Ray Sawyer Doctor Hook
From: fat B****rd
Date: 01 Jan 19 - 01:13 PM

RIP Mr.Sawyer. I saw the band in Cleethorpes (!) in about 1975. Most enjoyable and very good vocal harmonies. I also like "Freakin' at the Freaker's Ball".

Subject: RE: Obit: Ray Sawyer Doctor Hook
From: michaelr
Date: 01 Jan 19 - 04:41 PM

Those freaks were the best! I saw them at a rock festival in Roskilde, Denmark, in the `70s, where the band left the stage while Dennis Locorriere launched into a solo "Sylvia's Mother". Halfway through the song, the others came back onstage stark naked. Dennis looked around, apparently surprised, and disrobed as well. I'll never forget that.

A good many of their songs were written by the inimitable Shel Silverstein, who found that great balance of heartbreak and hilarity that makes Dr. Hook's songs timeless. Check out "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan", "Carry Me Carrie", and "A Boy named Sue".

Subject: RE: Obit: Ray Sawyer Doctor Hook
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jan 19 - 05:46 PM

Yes, RIP Ray Sawyer.

I always preferred Dr. Hook's heartache ballads to their comedy songs; although I guess the latter gave some balance, a whole album of those ballads would be too much.

'Sylvia's Mother' and 'Kiss It Away' are both in my own repertoire. What greater accolade could a band want? :-)

Subject: RE: Obit: Ray Sawyer (1937-2018) - Doctor Hook
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 02 Jan 19 - 05:52 AM

Sorry to hear this news- I was a great admirer of Dr Hook's early work before it got a bit schmaltzy- got many a laugh at UK folk clubs & pubs with 'Everybody's makin' it big but me'
…. that's still true by the way!    RIP Ray Sawyer

Subject: RE: Obit: Ray Sawyer (1937-2018) - Doctor Hook
From: GUEST,Akenaton
Date: 02 Jan 19 - 06:15 AM

Great Band, this is an amazing live recording on an old boat. They kept in tune and never missed a beat RIP
Dr Hook

Subject: RE: Obit: Ray Sawyer (1937-2018) - Doctor Hook
From: Kim C
Date: 03 Jan 19 - 09:25 AM

I was never a big fan of theirs, but I always admired that Ray didn't sound like any other singer.