The group called Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show had their biggest hit with “The Cover of ‘Rolling Stone.'” In 1972 they had a modest hit with “Sylvia’s Mother” which when I wrote about it last year, I said that I didn’t remember that song. Not so with “The Cover…” Both songs were written by Shel Silverstein who wrote some plays and is even more famous as a children’s book author. His most famous children’s book was The Giving Tree (1964) which he also illustrated. He also supplied cartoons for Playboy.

Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show was formed in 1968 and they lasted until 1985.

“The Cover of ‘Rolling Stone'” got up to #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for two weeks (March 11 – 25). It did a little better on the cash Box Top 100 chart by getting up to #5 for two weeks (March 18 – 31). Then the group did make the cover of “Rolling Stone” on the March 31 issue but the caption says “What’s-Their-Names Make the Cover.”