Dr. Hook - Best Of The 70's (2000)

This selection of tracks from Dr. Hook can hardly be called a best-of collection, since it lacks the Shel Silverstein-penned hits ("Sylvia's Mother," "Cover of the Rolling Stone," "Queen of the Silver Dollar") from the band's early Columbia years, songs that exemplify the group in most people's memories. After switching to Capitol, Dr. Hook lost their unique satirical approach (probably because they were no longer doing Silverstein songs) and became an utterly ordinary band turning out near-disco and MOR pop, and this is the mid- to late-'70s era covered by this compilation. Not that there aren't a couple of minor highlights here, including a passable cover of Sam Cooke's "Only Sixteen" (which Ray Sawyer's quavering vocal manages to make sound like a Lovin' Spoonful outtake) and a quirky version of Gus Cannon's ancient gem "Walk Right In," but in the end, with this collection you're only getting a glimpse of a once-clever band's fading, formulaic years.~Best of the 70's: Dr. Hook Review by Steve Leggett