1. Superstition - Stevie Wonder
2. Crocodile rock - Elton John
3. Oh baby what would you say? - Hurricane Smith
4. Don't expect me to be your friend - Lobo
5. Dueling banjos - Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell
6. Why can't we live together? - Timmy Thomas
7. Could it be I'm falling in love? - Spinners
8. Hi hi hi - Paul McCartney & Wings
9. Living together, growing together - The 5th Dimension
10. The world is a ghetto - War
1. Love train - O'Jays
2. Do it again - Steely Dan
3. The cover of the Rolling Stone - Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show
4. Also sprach Zarathustra - Deodato
5. Sing - Carpenters
6. Rocky Mountain high - John Denver
7. Break up to make up - Stylistics
8. Last song - Edward Bear
9. Masterpiece - The Temptations
10. I'm just a singer in a rock and roll band - Moody Blues
1. Killing me softly with his song - Roberta Flack
2. The night the lights went out in Georgia - Vicki Lawrence
3. Neither one of us (Wants to be the first to say good-bye - Gladys Knight & the Pips
4. Tie a yellow ribbon on the ole oak tree - Tony Orlando & Dawn
5. Cisco Kid - War
6. Call me (Come back again) - Al Green
7. Are you reeling in the years? - Steely Dan
8. Ain't no woman (Like the one I've got) - Four Tops
9. Dancing in the moonlight - King Harvest
9. Danny's song - Anne Murray
10. Dead skunk in the middle of the road - Loudon Wainwright III
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1. You are the sunshine of my life - Stevie Wonder
2. Stuck in the middle with you - Steelers Wheel
3. Drift away - Dobie Gray
4. Stir it up - Johnny Nash
5. Space oddity - David Bowie
6. The twelfth of never - Donnie Osmond
7. Little Willy - Sweet
8. Do you want to dance? - Bette Middler
9. Big city Miss Ruth Ann - Gallery
10. Daddy's home - Jermaine Jackson
1. Frankenstein - The Edgar Winter Group
2. Daniel - Elton John
3. Pillow talk - Sylvia
4. The right thing to do - Carly Simon
5. Wild flowers - Skylark
6. Thinking of you - Loggins & Messina
7. One of a kind (Love affair) - Spinners
8. I'm doing fine now - New York City
9. Daddy could swear, I declare - Gladys Knight & the Pips
10. No more Mr. Nice Guy - Alice Cooper
1. My love - Paul McCartney & Wings
2. Playground in my mind - Clint Holmes
3. I'm gonna love you just a little more baby - Barry White
4. The morning after - Maureen McGovern
5. Yesterday once more - Carpenters
6. Long train running - Doobie Brothers
7. Shambala - Three Dog Night
8. Boogie woogie bugle boy - Bette Middler
9. Monster Mash - Bobby 'Boris' Pickett
10. Natural high - Bloodstone
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1. Give me love (Give me peace on earth) - George Harrison
2. Kodakchrome - Paul Simon
3. Will it go round in circles - Billy Preston
4. Diamond girl - Seals & Crofts
5. And I love you so - Perry Como
6. You'll never get to heaven - Stylistics
7. Right place wrong time - Dr. John
8. Uneasy rider - Charlie Daniels
9. Hocus pocus - Focus
10. Money - Pink Floyd
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1. Bad, bad Leroy Brown - Jim Croce
2. Live and let it die - Paul McCartney & Wings
3. Touch me in the morning - Diana Ross
4. Soul Makossa - Manu Dibango
5. Feeling stronger every day - Chicago
6. Get down - Gilbert O'Sullivan
7. Smoke on the water - Deep Purple
8. Saturday night's alright for fighting - Elton John
9. China Grove - The Doobie Brothers
10. All I know - Art Garfunkel
1. Let's get it on - Marvin Gaye
2. Brother Louie - Stories
3. We're an American band - Grand Funk Railroad
4. Delta dawn - Helen Reddy
5. Half Breed - Cher
6. Say, has anyone seen my sweet Gypsy Rose? - Tony Orlando & Dawn
7. Here I am (Come and take me) - Al Green
8. Paper roses - Marie Osmond
9. My Maria - B.W. Stevenson
10. Ramblin' man - The Allman Brothers Band
1. Midnight train to Georgia - Gladys Knight & the Pips
2. Loves me like a rock - Paul Simon
3. Angie - The Rolling Stones
4. Higher ground - Stevie Wonder
5. That lady - The Isley Brothers
6. Just you 'n' me - Chicago
7. The love I lost - Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
8. Space race - Billy Preston
9. Yes, we can can - The Pointers Sisters
10. Heartbeat it's a lovebeat - The De Franco Family
1. Keep on truckin' - Eddie Kendricks
2. Photograph - Ringo Starr
3. Top of the world - Carpenters
4. I got a name - Jim Croce
5. Knocking on heaven's door - Bob Dylan
6. Leave me alone (Ruby Red Dress) - Helen Reddy
7. If you're ready (Come go with me) - Staple Singers
8. Smarty pants - First Choice
9. Who's in the strawberry patch with Sally? - Tony Orlando & Dawn
10. Rockin' roll baby - Stylistics
1. The most beautiful girl - Charlie Rich
2. Goodbye yellow brick road - Elton John
3. Time in a bottle - Jim Croce
4. Living for the city - Stevie Wonder
5. Mind games - John Lennon
6. Hello it's me - Todd Rundgren
7. Helen Wheels - Paul McCartney & Wings
8. Never, never gonna give you up - Barry White
9. I've got to use my imagination - Gladys Knight & the Pips
10. American tune - Paul Simon
Billboard, 24 February 1973.
40. Dead skunk (In the middle of the road) - Loudon Wainwright III (Columbia) (swamp-rock) debut
39. Ain't no woman (Like the one I've got) - Four Tops (Dunhill) debut
38. Hi hi hi - Paul McCartney & Wings (Apple) -14
37. Don't cross the river - America (WB) debut
36. Space oddity - David Bowie (RCA) debut
35. Jesus is just alright - Doobie Brothers (WB) +2
34. Give me your love - Barbara Mason (Buddah) (debut) prod.: Curtis Mayfield
33. Humming bird - Seals & Crofts (WB) +5
32. Living together, growing together - 5th Dimension (Bell)
31. Neither one of us - Gladys Knight & the Pips (Soul-Motown) +9
30. Mama don't dance - Kenny Loggins & Jim Messina (Columbia) 13 wks
29. Big city, Miss Ruth Ann - Gallery (Sussex) +5 prod.: Mike Theodore & Dennis Coffey
28. I got ants in my pants (and I want to dance) - James Brown (Polydor) +2
27. Aubrey - Bread (Elektra) +9 (11th consecutive AT40 hit)
26. Danny's song - Anne Murray (Capitol) +9
25. Trouble man - Marvin Gaye (Tamla)
24. Peaceful easy feeling - Eagles (Asylum) +5
23. Love Jones - Brighter Side of Darkness (20th Century) -3
22. I'm just a singer in a rock'n' roll band - Moody Blues (Threshold)
21. Dreidel - Don McLean (UA) +2
20. The world is a ghetto - War (UA) -9
19. Do you want to dance? Bette Midler (Atlantic) +3
18. Also sprach Zarathustra (2001) - Deodato (CTI Records) +7
17. Superstition - Stevie Wonder (Tamla) -5
16. Jambalaya (On the bayou) - Blue Ridge Rangers feat. John Fogerty (Fantasy) +2
15. The cover of 'Rolling Stone' - Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show (Columbia) +4
14. Why can't we live together?- Timmy Thomas (Glades)
13. Dancin' in the moonlight - King Harvest (Perception)
12. Daddy's home - Jermaine Jackson (Motown) +4
11. Oh babe, what would you say? - Hurricane Smith (Capitol) -8
10. Rocky Mountain high - John Denver aka Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. (RCA)
9. Love train - O'Jays (Philadelphia International)
8. Don't expect me to be your friend - Lobo (Big Tree)
7. Last song - Edward Bear feat. Larry Evoy (Capitol) +4
6. Do it again - Steely Dan (ABC) 3rd wk at #6
5. Could it be I'm falling in love? - Spinners (Atlantic) +2
4. You're so vain - Carly Simon (Elektra) -2 (11 wks) 3 wks at #1 / 4 wks at #2
3. Crocodile rock - Elton John aka Reginald Kenneth Dwight (Uni) -2
2. Dueling banjos - from WB film 'Deliverance' - Eric Weissberg (WB) +2
1. Killing me softly with his song - Roberta Flack (Atlantic) +4
Billboard, 21st April 1973.
best selling album: 'Billion dollar babies' - Alice Cooper (WB)
45 rpm singles:
40. A letter to myself - Chi-Lites (Brunswick) -6
39. Hocus Pocus - Focus (Fantasy)
38. The right thing to do - Carly Simon (Elektra) debut
37. Step by step - Joe Simon (Spring-Polydor)
36. Cherry, cherry (from Hot August nigh) - Neil Diamond (MCA)
35. Daniel - Elton John (MCA) debut
34. Oh la de da - Staple Singers (Stax) +6
33. Pinball wizard/See me, feel me - New Seekers (Verve-MGM) +4
32. Dead skunk - Loudon Wainwright III (Columbia)
31. Hallelujah day - Jackson Five (Motown)
30. Pillow talk - Sylvia Robinson (Vibration) debut
29. One man band (Plays all alone) - Ronnie Dyson (Columbia)
28. Peace train - O'Jays (Philadelphia International)
27. Out of the question - Gilbert O'Sullivan (MAM) +3
26. Funky worm - Ohio Players (Westbound) +15
25. Frankenstein - Edgar Winter Group (Epic) debut
24. Daisy a day - Jud Strunk (MGM)
23. Also sprach Zarathustra (2001) - Deodato (CTI Records)
22. Reeling in the years - Steely Dan (ABC) +7 (3rd wk)
21. Space oddity - David Bowie (RCA)
20. Wild flower - Skylark (Capitol) +6
19. Walk on the wild side - Lou Reed (RCA) +5
18. Call me - Al Green (Hi) -8
17. Peaceful - Helen Reddy (Capitol) +3
16. Break up to make up - Stylistics (Avco) -8
15. Drift away - Dobei Grey (Decca)
14. Killing me softly with his song - Roberta Flack (Atlantic)
13. Stuck in the middle with you - Stealers Wheel (A&M)
12. Stir it up - Johnny Nash (Epic) +1
11. You are the sunshine of my life - Stevie Wonder (Tamla) +6
10. The twelfth of never - Donny Osmond (MGM) +5
9. Danny's song - Anne Murray (Capitol) -2
8. Masterpiece - Temptations (Gordy) +4
7. Little Willy - The Sweet (Bell) +5
6. Neither one of us - Gladys Knight & the Pips (Soul-Motown) -4 (10 wks)
5. Ain't no woman - Four Tops (Dunhill) -1
4. The Cisco Kid - War (UA)
3. Sing - Carpenters (A&M) +2
2. The night the lights went out in Georgia - Vicki Lawrence (Bell) -1
1. Tie a yellow ribbon round the ole oak tree - Dawn (Bell)
Billboard, 28 April 1973
40. Leaving me - The Independents (Wand) debut
39. Space oddity - David Bowie (RCA) 10 wks
38. I'm doin' fine - New York City (Chelsea Records) debut
37. Armed and extremely dangerous - First Choice (Philly Groove Records)
36. My love - Paul McCartney & Wings (Apple) debut
35. Cherry Cherry - Neil Diamond (Bang Records)
34. Call me - Al Green (Hi)
33. Oh la de da - Staple Singers (Stax)
32. Thinking of you - Loggins & Messina (Columbia) debut
31. Pinball wizard / See me, feel me - The New Seekers (MGM-Verve)
30. The right thing to do - Carly Simon (Elektra)
29. Hallelujah day - Jackson Five (Motown)
28. One man band (Plays all alone) - Ronnie Dyson (Columbia)
27. Hocus Pocus - Focus (Fantasy) up 12 notches
26. Pillow talk - Sylvia (Robinson) (Vibration)
25. Daniel - Elton John (MCA)
24. Funky worm - Ohio Players (Mercury) their 1st hit
23. Break up to make up - Stylistics (Avco)
22. Out of the question - Gilbert O'Sullivan (MAM)
21. Daisy a day - Jud Strunk (MGM)
20. Killing me softly with his song - Roberta Flack (Atlantic)
19. Reeling in the years - Steely Dan (ABC)
18. Danny's song - Anne Murray (Capitol)
17. Wild flower - Skylark (Capitol)
16. Walk on the wild side - Lou Reed (RCA)
15. Frankenstein - The Edgar Winter Group (Epic) 2nd wk
14. Peaceful - Helen Reddy (Capitol)
13. Stir it up - Johnny Nash (Epic)
12. Neither one of us - Gladys Knight & the Pips (Soul-Motown)
11. Drift away - Dobey Gray (Decca)
10. Ain't no woman (Like the one I've got) - Four Tops (Dunhill)
9. Stuck in the middle with you - Stealers Wheel (A&M)
8. The twelfth of never - Donny Osmond (MGM)
7. Masterpiece - Temptations (Gordy)
6. You are the sunshine of my life - Stevie Wonder (Tamla)
5. Little Willy - The Sweet (Bell)
4. The night the lights went out in Georgia - Vicki Lawrence (Bell)
3. Sing - Carpenters (A&M)
2. The Cisco Kid - War (UA)
1. Tie a yellow ribbon round the ole oak tree - Dawn (Bell) (2nd wk #1)
Billboard, 9 June 1973
40. Close your eyes - Edward Bear (Capitol)
39. Let's pretend - Raspberries (Capitol) from Cleveland
38. Superfly meets Shaft - John & Ernest (Rainy Wednesday Records)
37. It sure took a long long time - Lobo (Big Tree) distr. by Bell
36. Teddy bear song - Barbara Fairchild (Columbia)
35. And I love you so - Perry Como (RCA) falls from # 29
34. Shambala - Three Dog Night (Dunhill)
33. Out of the question - Gilbert O'Sullivan (MAM)
32. Give it to me - J.Geils Band (Atlantic)
31. No more Mr. Nice Guy - Alice Cooper (WB) 5 wks
30. Kodakchrome - Paul Simon (Columbia) debuted at #28 last wk
29. Bad bad Leroy Brown - Jim Croce (ABC)
28. Leaving me - The Independents (Wand)
27. Daisy a day - Jud Strunk (MGM)
26. Funky worm - The Ohio Players (Mercury)
25. One of a kind - Spinners (Atlantic)
24. Steam roller blues / Fool - Elvis Presley (RCA)
23. The right thing to do - Carly Simon (Elektra)
22. I'm doin' fine now - New York City (Chelsea)
21. Thinking of you - Loggins & Messina (Columbia)
20. Will it go around in circles - Billy Preston (A&M)
19. Long train running - Doobie Brothers (WB)
18. Give me love - George Harrison (Apple)
17. The Cisco Kid - War (UA) 12 wks
16. Right place wrong time - Dr. John (Atco)
15. Reeling in the years - Steely Dan (ABC)10 wks
14. The night the lights went out in Georgia - Vicki Lawrence (Bell) 13 wks
13. Wild flower - Skylark (Capitol)
12. Stuck in the middle with you - Stealers Wheel
11. I'm gonna love you just a little bit more baby - Barry White (20th Century)
10. Playground in my mind - Clint Holmes (Epic)
9. Little Willy - The Sweet (Bell) 13 wks
8. Hocus pocus - Focus (Fantasy)
7. Drift away - Dobey Gray (Decca)
6. Pillow talk - Sylvia (Vibration)
5. You are the sunshine of my life - Steve Wonder (Tamla)
4. Tie a yellow ribbon on the ole oak tree - Dawn (Tell)
3. Daniel - Elton John (MCA)
2. Frankenstein - Edgar Winter Group (Epic)
1. My love - Paul McCartney & Wings (Apple) 2nd wk at #1
Billboard, 21st July 1973
40. Frankenstein - Edgar Winter Group (Epic)
39. Daddy could swear, I declare - Gladys Knight & the Pips (Soul-Motown)
38. Angel - Aretha Franklin (Atlantic) debut
37. Soul makossa - Manu Dibango (Atlantic) debut
36. I'll always love my mama - The Intruders - Philadelphia International
35. How can I tell her? - Lobo (Big Tree) - debut
34. I'm gonna love you just a little bit more baby - Barry White (20th Century) drops 19
33. Here I am, come and take me - Al Green (Hi) debut
32. One of a kind - Spinners (Atlantic) drops 10
31. Where peaceful waters flow - Gladys Knighth & the Pips (Buddah Records)
30. Uneasy rider - Charlie Daniels (Kama Sutra)
29. Live and let die - Paul McCartney & Wings (Apple) highest debut
28. Satin sheets - Jeanne Pruett (MCA) C&W
27. If you want me to stay - Sly & the Family Stone (Epic)
26. I believe in you (You believe in me) - Johnnie Taylor
25. Doin' it to death - Fred Wesley & the J.B.'s (People) prod.: James Brown
24. Brother Louie - The Stories (Kama Sutra) up 13
23. Misdemeanor - Foster Sylver (Pride)
22. Get down - Gilbert O'Sullivan (MAM)
21. My love - Paul McCartney & Wings (Apple)
20. The morning after - Maureen McGovern (20th Century)
19. Feeling stronger every day - Chicago (Columbia)
18. So very hard to go - Tower of Power (WB)
17. Touch me in the morning - Diana Ross (Motown) up 4
16. The monster mash - Bobby (Boris) Pickett & the Crypt-kickers (Parrot)
15. Behind closed doors - Charlie Rich (Epic)
14. Money - Pink Floyd (Harvest) 5 wks
13. Right place, wrong time - Dr. John (Atco)
12. Long train running - Doobie Brothers (WB)
11. Diamond girl - Seals & Crofts (WB)
10. Natural high - Bloodstone (London) from Kansas City
9. Playground in my mind - Clint Holmes (Epic)
8. Boogie woogie bugle boy - Bette Middler (Atlantic) prod.: Barry Manilow
7. Smoke on the water - Deep Purple (WB)
6. Give me love - George Harrison (Apple)
5. Kodakchrome - Paul Simon (Columbia)
4. Shambala - Three Dog Night (Dunhill)
3. Yesterday once more - Carpenters (A&M)
2. Will it go around in circles - Billy Preston (A&M) drop from #1
1. Bad bad Leroy Brown - Jim Croce (ABC)
Billboard, 15 September 1973
40. Nobody wants you when you're down and out - Bobby Womack (UA)
39. A million to one / Young love - Donny Osmond (MGM) drop from #23
38. Stoned out of my mind - Chi-Lites (Brunswick) drop from #31
37. Bad bad Leroy Brown - Jim Croce (ABC) 16 wks
36. Hey girl (I like your style) - Temptations (Gordy)
35. You've never been this far before - Conway Twitty (MCA)
34. I've got so much to give - Barry White (20th Century)
33. Midnight train to Georgia - Gladys Knight & the Pips (Buddah Records) debut
32. Uneasy rider - Charlie Daniels (Kama Sutra)
31. The monster mash - Bobby (Boris) Pickett & the Crypt-kickers (Parrot)
30. Keep on truckin' - Eddie Kendricks (Tamla) debut
29. Ghetto child - Spinners (Atlantic) 2nd wk
28. Yes we can can - Pointer Sisters (Blue Thumb Records)
27. Free ride - Edgar Winter Group (Epic) wr.: Dan Hartman up 10 notches
26. Are you man enough? - Four Tops (Dunhill) drops 10
25. Angel - Aretha Franklin (Atlantic)
24. China grove - Doobie Brothers (WB) debut
23. Why me - Kris Kristofferson (Monument)
22. Theme from Cleopatra Jones - Joe Simon & The Mainstreeters (Spring)
21. Ramblin' man - The Allman Brothers Band (Capricorn) 2wks
20. I believe in you (You believe in me) - Johnnie Taylor (Columbia)
19. Feelin' stronger everyday - Chicago (Columbia)
18. The morning after - Maureen McGovern (20th Century)
17. Get down - Gilbert O'Sullivan (MAM)
16. If you want me to stay - Sly & the Family Stone (Epic)
15. That lady - Isley Brothers (TNeck)
14. My Maria - B.W. Stevenson (RCA)
13. Higher ground - Stevie Wonder (Tamla)
12. Saturday night's alright for fighting - Elton John (MCA)
11. Half breed - Cher (MCA0
10. Here I am (Come and take me) - Al Green (Hi)
9. Live and let die - Paul McCartney & Wings (Apple)
8. Gypsy man - War (UA)
7. Touch me in the morning - Diana Ross (Motown)
6. Brother Louie - Stories (Kama Sutra0
5. We're an American band - Grand Funk (Capitol)
4. Loves me like a rock - Paul Simon (Columbia)
3. Say, has anybody seen my sweet Gypsy Rose? - Dawn feat. Tony Orlando (Bell)
2. Let's get it on - Marvin Gaye (Tamla) drop from #1
1. Delta Dawn - Helen Reddy (Capitol)
Ray Sawyer, ‘Cover of Rolling Stone’ singer, Dies at 81
By Neil Genzlinger
2nd January 2019
Ray Sawyer, who cut a distinctive figure as a member of the band Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show thanks to his flamboyant style and attention-drawing eye patch, and who sang lead on one of the group’s best-known songs, “The Cover of Rolling Stone,” died on Monday, 31st December 2018, in Daytona, Fla. He was 81.
His wife, Linda Lombardi Sawyer, announced his death on Facebook. She did not give a cause but said in a post a week earlier that he had been hospitalized.
Mr. Sawyer and the band rose to prominence in the early 1970s with a country-rock sound that later became more lush and occasionally even displayed a disco influence. Dennis Locorriere usually sang lead, but Mr. Sawyer was the most recognizable band member. His eye patch gave the group its name, a sort of skewing of the Captain Hook character from “Peter Pan.”
“I’ve had the eye patch since I was 27,” Mr. Sawyer told The St. Petersburg Times in 2010. “I was in a car accident. Some people still ask if it is a gimmick, something to draw attention, but it’s real.”
He sang the lead vocal on “Rolling Stone.” (The label of the original single gave the title as “The Cover of Rolling Stone,” though the lyrics he sings use a “the” before the magazine’s name.) The song, a parody about rock ’n’ roll fame, reached #6 (for 2 weeks) of the Billboard pop chart on 17 March 1973.
That same month, the magazine did in fact put the band, or at least a caricature of it, on its cover.
Ray Sawyer was born on 1st February 1937, in Chickasaw, Ala.
Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show was formed in the late 1960s in New Jersey and caught fire after it joined with Shel Silverstein, the cartoonist and sometime songwriter, and played his songs in the 1971 movie “Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me?” (directed by Ulu Grosbard and starring Dustin Hoffman).
The movie got the band a contract with Columbia Records. Mr. Silverstein, who died in 1999, wrote “Sylvia’s Mother,” a lament about a pay-phone call that reached #5 on 3rd June 1972, for 2 weeks and became the group’s first big hit.
It may or may not have been a parody of country ballads, but “The Cover of Rolling Stone,” also written by Mr. Silverstein, was certainly a gag. “We take all kinds of pills that give us all kind of thrills,” the lyrics went, “but the thrill we’ve never known is the thrill that’ll gitcha when you get your picture on the cover of the Rolling Stone.”
By the mid-1970s the band had been derailed by mismanagement and was facing bankruptcy.
“Somebody was putting the cash away, and it wasn’t us,” Mr. Sawyer told The Toronto Star in 1991. “The bankruptcy court took everything away from us, even the ‘Medicine Show’ part of our name. I haven’t figured out yet why they did that. It’s like taking the Pips out of Gladys Knight and the Pips.”
But by 1976 the band, as simply Dr. Hook, was on the comeback trail with a smoother sound, heard that year on a cover of Sam Cooke’s “Only Sixteen.” Later hits included “When you’re in love with a beautiful woman” in 1979.
Mr. Sawyer left the group in 1982, and he and Mr. Locorriere later engaged in a legal tussle over rights to the group’s name. Mr. Sawyer continued to perform into this decade.
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