The Very Best Of Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show

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Dr. Hook has been represented by an awful lot of compilations over the past 20 years or so, of which most have been small-scale budget-priced productions, covering no more than eight or ten songs. In that context, this 24-song CD from the U.K. constitutes the mother lode, at least until someone does a box (fat chance) on this satirical country-based rock group. Everything here dates between 1972 and 1974, and 21 of the songs are the work of the late Shel Silverstein, either solo or as a collaborator, so you know this is the real article and the distillation of the group's best classic work -- and the sound is good as well, the guitar, piano, bass, and brass getting lots of bite on "Queen of the Silver Dollar," the mocking lead guitar on "Cover of the Rolling Stone" crisp and bright, while the steel guitar is up close and personal on "Sylvia's Mother" like it never was on the radio. And the vocals were never more fun than they are here. This is best part of the group's entire output for the three years represented. If the two biggest hits don't do it for you, then "Hey, Lady Godiva" is worth the price of admission by itself, and the only crime is that there are no notes to tell of the background on these songs or the band or Silverstein. And the handful of non-Silverstein songs actually make a good contrast -- they're not far removed from the satirical nature of his work, just less sophisticated in their appeal. ~ Bruce Eder