Dr Hook

Rip It Up, Issue 1, 1 June 1977, Page 2

Dr Hook

Alastair Dougal

Dr Hook are Entertainment and that can’t be denied. They seem to be a bunch of hippies who found that people would pay them to act dumb on stage, so that's what they do. A seven man Cheech and Chong with musical instruments, if that helps to describe them.

But to say the least they're a little bit schizophrenic on stage. Five years ago they started as a comedy band with singles like “Cover of the Rolling Stone and “Everybody's Making It Big Cept Me but with their excellent cover version of “Only Sixteen" they moved into more serious territory that was consolidated by the “A Little Bit More" single and L.P. So how do you present these two distinct sides of the band in one show. Alternately, would seem to be their answer. Comedy routines alternate with music, and while the music is excellent, the jokes, like jokes often do, drag on. But I was definitely in the minority in finding them only sporadically funny. A parody blues about eagles shitting in ice-cream sodas had everybody else rolling in the aisles. For the music I can be a lot more enthusiastic. Frontman Dennis LeCorriere has an amazing voice (witness the great ending to “Only 16") and guitarist Rick Elswit has a nifty line in solos. And Ray Sawyer (he of the eyepatch) performs such crowd pleasers as triple and quadruple yodels. Me, I liked the music.

Mark Williams opened the show. Opened is something of a deceptive word, for he's now performing with more confidence and sureness than ever before. He's now undoubtedly the finest singer working in the country and what’s more the boy’s got style.

Not just style in movement but his singing too reflects a new-found maturity. The backing by Rockinghorse was superb, they played with both punch and subtlety. Everyone onstage was clearly having a good time and the feeling transmitted itself to the audience. A fine singer in front of a funky band. Who could ask for more?