The Cover Of "Rolling Stone"

by

Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show

Album: Sloppy Seconds      Released: 1972

US Chart: 6     

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This was written by Shel Silverstein, a best-selling author of children's poems who was also a contributor to Playboy magazine and writer of many Country hits, including A Boy Named Sue. His books include Where The Sidewalk Ends, Giraffe and The Giving Tree. Silverstein also wrote Dr. Hook's first hit, "Sylvia's Mother."

This is a parody of the Rock and Roll lifestyle. It pokes fun at all the things that Rock Stars indulge in when they're successful - groupies, shady characters hanging around, limo rides, etc.

The group made the cover of Rolling Stone magazine on March 29, 1973, 3 months after this was released. The text next to their picture read: "What's Their Names Make The Cover." The song was great publicity for Rolling Stone magazine, which was only 5 years old.

Mitch Myers, who is Shel Silverstein's nephew and wrote the book Silverstein Around the World, explains: "I think that he was already hanging with Dr. Hook when he did it, but if he didn't, he had been around musicians, and he understood what people wanted. And he understood how every musician's dream was to be a star. To be a big star. To be on the cover of a big magazine, and what magazine epitomized music? And Shel lampooned the whole rock and roll lifestyle in that - groupies and Indian gurus - at the time. The Beatles and everybody, Donovan, and all those people were wearing Indian garb and going to see Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, and coming back supposedly enlightened - or not. And everybody was still hustling, was all hustle. I'm not saying that anyone was insincere, I'm just saying that you can see people for what they are. And he did that, and made it funny, too.

Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show became such prolific interpreters of Shel's material for some reasons which would completely include their sense of humor. They were just a bar band from New Jersey, as much as Columbia Records tried to make them some crazy Cajun band that came out of the swamps. I mean, Ray Sawyer was from the South, maybe one or two of the other guys. But they were just a bar band, and were blessed with two great singers, both Ray and Dennis had fantastic voices. Dennis' was the one that was a little raspier and rougher, and similar to Shel's in grit, and Ray was a little bit more lascivious and a little bit more playful, and the chemistry between the two of them – although it did not last forever – was a perfect foil for Shel to use. And if it was a sweet love song, you know, Dennis might just do something very straightforward. Like "I Can't Touch The Sun For You" off the first record. And not all their songs were novelty, and not all their songs were humorous, and not all their performances were gimmicky. But they also were not afraid to go over to Europe and perform on stage and get naked. I mean, they were just a bunch of maniacs." (Learn a lot more about Shel Silverstein in our interview with Mitch Myers.)

This was featured in the 2000 movie Almost Famous, about a 15-year-old reporter writing an article for Rolling Stone. The band he is writing about sings this when they find out they made the cover. The director, Cameron Crowe, was once a reporter for Rolling Stone.

At first, the group's name was Chocolate Papers. The lead singer lost his eye in a crash and had to wear an eye patch, so the lead guitarist renamed them Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show. (thanks, Christine - Chicago, IL)

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Comments:

Great song. But my friend and I were initially confused because we were in grade school when it came out and we'd only heard of the british group The Rolling Stones-- and not Jann Wenner's magazine of the same name. We were like "Why would they want to be on the cover of another band's album?"!!!
- Paul, Marysville, WA

The band Dr. Hook was NOT previously named The Chocolate Papers. T.C.P. was a different band entirely. The only similarities were that George Cummings, Ray Sawyer, Billy Francis, & Popeye Philips were members of both bands. Didfferent band, some of the same members. The Choc. Papers came years before Hook.
- DoctorHook, Endicott, NY

The band did a rendition of this song on the old Mike Douglas show. Every so often, Douglas changed into some strange clothing and made a funny pose behind a set that was made to look like the cover of Rolling Stone.
- David, Youngstown, OH

Shel was NOT a member of DHATMS.
- Bobby, Nashville, TN

Let's not forget the best of the whole bunch. Billy Francis !!!
- Bobby, Nashville, TN

Watching the video of Cover of the Roling Stone on youtube, George goes a little off the wall with his guitar solo. ( And what's with him and the red scarf over the mic? )
- KARL, AKRON, , OH

if they ever have a come back concert with the ones that R still living I am there
- dee, cullman, AL

I love dr hook
- dee, cullman, AL

I love to listen to dr hook I think theyre love songs asre a lot sexyer than the songs today My fav line in cover of the rooling stones is buy 5 coppies for ny mother
- dee, cullman, AL

Ray Sawyer, from Chickasaw, Alabama, celebrates his birthday today, February 1, 2008. He is still among the living.
- Richard, Talladega, AL

I saw their picture on the cover of the rollingstone on google. "We take all kinds of pills to give us all kinds a thrills." I love that line. I also love when hhe says "Im gonna buy 5 copies for my mother!" and someon else yells in the backround, "I want one!" LQTM.
- Bianca Sanchez, Alburquerque, NM

Actually Dr.Hook did make the cover of "The Rolling Stone" after this song hit. "I got my poor old gray haired daddy driving my limosine" is such a great line!
- Mark, byrdstown, TN

Buck Owens did a version of this called "On the Cover of the Music City News" which was the country music parody of this song.
- Christi, Gonzales, LA

I wonder if they got on the rolling stones for that song? XD LOL LOL LOL
- Delilah, Staten Island, NY

Another Shel Silverstein lyric is "The Winner," recorded by Bobby Bare. I first read it as a poem in Playboy in the 70's. It's a cautionary tale about those who love to fight. http://sniff.numachi.com/~rickheit/dtrad/pages/tiWINNR2.html
- Ronda, Cornfield County, NE

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- kidkel69, Burlington, WI

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- kidkel69, Burlington, WI

So, Ray Sawyer died in 2002, huh? That's weird, I saw him in concert last year.
- Heather, Huntsville, AL

Amanda, I can find no reference at all to the death of the lead singer Ray Sawyer, and he'd likely be upset to know he had passed, too...
- Andrew, Tampa, FL

In all honesty, this song has one of my all-time favourite guitar solos.
- Ian, Lethbridge, Canada

Long live Dr. Hook
- Wayne, Roling Stone, MN

Sorry, but the title shown is incorrect. This has come about because of the lyrics. It's officially just 'The Cover Of "Rolling Stone"'.
- Darryl, Queensland

Silvertstein penned a number of songs for Dr. Hook mostly invloving sex and drugs,including "I got stoned and I missed it"
- Nick, tampa, FL

Shel Silverstein was also a Playboy cartoonist.
- Scott, Harrisburg, PA

Another Shel Silverstein hit for Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show. Though comical in nature, the song refers to drug use with the line "We take all kinds of pills that give us all kinds of thrills." Fortunately, the group did make "The cover of the Rolling Stone."
- Howard, St. Louis Park, MN

Shel Silverstein was not in Dr.Hook but I understand he was good friends with the band and was there during some recording sessions. the lead singer died in 2002. This was reported by Rolling Stone too.
- Amanda, Florence, SC

Was Shel Silverstein a member of Dr. Hook or did he just write for them?
- Tara, Pt.Arthur, TX

Did Shel Silverstein write 'The Ballad of Lucy Jordan'? Anybody know the meaning behind it?
- Trevor, Belfast, Ireland

Silverstein released an novelty tune in early 1973 "Sarah Synthia Silvia Stout". It was about a girl who would not take the garbage out.
- Charles, Charlotte, NC

Also, the picture of them in Rolling Stone was printed up-side down
- Randy, Beaumont, TX

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