SATURDAY'S SINGLES : DR. HOOK and BURTON CUMMINGS

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Good morning gang and welcome to the final edition of Saturday's Singles 2022. In a few hours it will be 2023 and we are looking forward to BIGGER, brighter, and better things waiting over the horizon, but first we have to take care of a couple more trips down musical memory lane. Our journey is back to this day in 2018 when the eye patch wearing, cowboy hat sporting, Ray Sawyer, from Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show (later shortened to Dr. Hook) died peacefully in his sleep, at age 81, after a short illness. He was born in Chickasaw, Alabama on February 1, 1937. The percussionist and backing vocalist lost his eye in a automobile accident in 1967 and is remembered for his lead vocals on one of Dr. Hook's  most beloved songs, "The Cover of 'Rolling Stone'". Today we have the group on their 12th single, "Only Sixteen". The track was written and first released by Sam Cooke in 1959. Dr. Hook's cover  was released in 1968 on the Tamla Motown label and was originally b/w "Some Things You Never Get Used To". It was produced by Harvey Fuqua,  Hal Davis, and Marc Gordon and appeared on their 4th studio album, Bankrupt. Our copy is a re issue on Capitol with "Let Me Be Your Lover" on the flip side. The tune reached #55 on the Hot Country Songs chart, #14 on the Adult Contemporary list, #9 on Canada's Adult Contemporary survey and in New Zealand, #8 in Australia, #6 on the Hot 100, and #3 on the Canadian Singles chart.

Only Sixteen 2:46
Let Me Be Your Lover 2:54

Dennis Locorriere - vocals, guitar, bass, harmonica 
Ray Sawyer - vocals, guitar, percussion, congas, maracas 
Billy Francis - keyboards, vocals (
George Cummings - lead and steel guitars, vocals 
John "Jay" David - drums

Joseph Olivier - drums (1968)

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Our second excursion takes us back to Winnipeg, Manitoba and December 31, 1947. On that day a baby boy, named Burton Lorne Cummings was born and that baby boy woukld grow up to become the lead vocalist, guitarist, pianist, and flautist, for the Canadian rock band, The Guess Who, as well as his own successful career afterwards.  Today he turns 75. Happy Birthday Burton ! With him in mind we shine a light his first solo single. "Stand Tall" from his self titled debut album, was released October 1976 on the Portrait label, written by Burton and produced by Richard Perry. It peaked at #14 in New Zealand, #10 in South Africa and on the Billboard Hot 100, #5 in Australia and on the Cash Box, #2 on the Easy Listening charts, and #1 on the  Canadian Adult Contemporary list. It's B-side is "Burch Magic".

Stand Tall 3:20
Burch Magic 3:48

Acoustic, electric  Guitar –  Randy Strom 

Arranged By [Strings, Choir] – Paul Buckmaster 

lead vocals, grand piano,  Clavinet, Electric Piano, [Fender Rhodes], 
Synthesizer, talkbox  – Burton Cummings

Drums – Jim Gordon

Percussion – Bobbye Hall


Synthesizer [Moog], Soloist – Jimmy Phillips

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