Customer Reviews

Dr. Hook And The Medicine Show Revisited

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Dr. Hook made a series of very enjoyable albums in the early 70s, mostly featuring the wild, wacky songs of Shel Silverstein. ("Cover Of The Rolling Stone", "Roland The Roadie And Gertrude The Groupie", etc.) Then, they changed. It was a terrible thing to behold, as they sold out with a string of sickly sweet sappy ballads ("When You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman", "Sexy Eyes", etc.) and disco BS. Most of the Dr. Hook compilations include songs from both periods, with more from the later period, when they had more success on the charts. Frankly, I don't want any of that later stuff polluting my music collection. This is the only best-of collection that focuses exclusively on the early recordings. Unfortunately, with only 10 songs, it barely scratches the surface. I'd love to see a much more comprehensive collection of early recordings, before they sold their souls to the devil for a few top 40 hits.

My first 8 track tape was Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show, Belly Up where can I find it. It was their best, a real classic.

For some of you who have written reviews below, Belly Up was THE best Dr Hook album (IMHO). It wasn't quite as raw as Sloppy Seconds but they hadn't sold out and gone commercial. ALSO - the original LP came with a 45 of Dennis and Ray interviewing each other - it was unbelievably funny.

The best songs on the album were Roland the Roadie, The Wonderful Soupstone and The Ballad of... The first was just fun, the latter two probably having the best group harmonies that the guys ever recorded. Not near as "snivelin'" as some of the other songs on the other albums (Kiss it away, Carry me Carrie, etc). Right up there with The Ballad of Lucy Jordan, one of my all-time favorites.

If they ever release Belly Up, buy it!!!!! You won't be sorry.

As with all of Dr Hook's output, this album of magical content from one of Rock's all time zainy bands is priceless and timeless. The other reviewers seem to have covered it, so I'll just encorage you to buy it, then come visit the other Hook fans and original members of the band, in the Official Dr Hook online Fanclub and community. We'll be glad to HOOK up!!
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What happened to Dr. Hook's 3rd release, 'Belly Up'? Has everyone forgotten it? I would like to have a copy of it if anyone can help me out. Thanks!

Get some old friends together, have a few beers and play this CD. This is great party music. Slightly dated, but catchy tunes with tongue-in-cheek lyrics. This is a very good collection of Dr. Hooks best.

Also wanted to let the person in Virginia know that I've heard the song Soupstone, when I was in a club in Texas. Didn't know it was Dr. Hook. Now I'd like to find the album.

This is not the same Dr. Hook that, after dropping "and the Medicine Show" from their name, did the biggest musical switcheroo since the Doobie Brothers acquired Michael McDonald. If you're lookin' for their disco-fied hits "When You're in Love With a Beautiful Woman" and "Baby Makes Her Blue Jeans Talk" (even those titles make me cringe), then click elsewhere. All ten tracks of trash on "Revisited" come from the demented pen of Shel Silverstein, who, besides composing left-of-center hit songs ("A Boy Named Sue", "The Unicorn", "Tequila Sheila"), also contributed article and cartoons for Playboy AND wrote classic children's books. The tune titles here tell the tawdry tale: "Acapulco Goldie", "Roland the Roadie and Gertrude the Groupie", "Freakin' at the Freaker's Ball" and more demented debauchery. Two numbers are even fondly remembered bona fide hits---the melancholy "Sylvia's Mother" and that odorous ode to fame n' fortune, "Cover of the Rolling Stone" (which actually DID get their ugly mugs on that rag). Sleazy songs, greasy instrumentation, and party-hearty vocals make this early greatest "hits" sound like Dr. Hook had just as much fun making it as I did listening to it. "Revisited" really oughta come with one of those little warning stickers found on other substances that are supposedly bad for you: CAUTION-Listening to this disc is infectious and may be hazardous to your health!

RATING: FIVE YUKS

This is Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show's 1st compilation, "Revisited". It was originally titled "The Best Of" with a different cover. The tracks were taken from their first three albums which were produced between 1971 and 1973. It features the hit singles "Sylvia's Mother", "The Cover Of Rolling Stone", "Carry Me, Carrie", "Roland The Roadie And Gertrude The Groupie" as well as many album tracks. This appeals to the country and rock audiences...The songs were written by the late Shel Silverstein.

I bought this only knowing "...Rolling Stone" but loved everything on it (well, almost). It launched a serious Dr. Hook interest for me. A great compilation.

I just wanted to say, for those of you who are looking for The Soupstone, I have it on an album that was released in 1975 called "The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan". It has many other wonderful songs as well.