"I Don't Need No Doctor" is an R&B song written by

Nick Ashford Ashford & Simpson were an American husband-and-wife songwriting-production team and recording duo of Nickolas Ashford (May 4, 1941 – August 22, 2011) and Valerie Simpson (born August 26, 1946). Ashford was born in Fairfield, South Carolina, ...

Valerie Simpson Ashford & Simpson were an American husband-and-wife songwriting-production team and recording duo of Nickolas Ashford (May 4, 1941 – August 22, 2011) and Valerie Simpson (born August 26, 1946). Ashford was born in Fairfield, South Carolina, ...

, and

Jo Armstead Josephine Armstead (born October 8, 1944), also known as "Joshie" Jo Armstead, is an American soul singer and songwriter. Armstead began her career singing backing vocals for blues musician Bobby "Blue" Bland before becoming an Ikette in the Ike ...

. First released by Ashford on

Verve Verve may refer to: Music * The Verve, an English rock band * ''The Verve E.P.'', a 1992 EP by The Verve * ''Verve'' (R. Stevie Moore album) * Verve Records, an American jazz record label Businesses * Verve Coffee Roasters, an American coffee ho ...

in August 1966, it went nowhere. It was then picked up and recorded by

Ray Charles Ray Charles Robinson Sr. (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential singers in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Ge ...

and released in October 1966. Over the years, it has been covered by bands such as garage rock band

The Chocolate Watchband The Chocolate Watchband is an American garage rock band that formed in 1965 in Los Altos, California. The band went through several lineup changes during its existence. Combining psychedelic and garage rock components, their sound was marked by Da ...

in 1969, Humble Pie in 1971 , New Riders of the Purple Sage in 1972, metal band W.A.S.P. in 1986, by rock band Great White in 1987, and by the garage punk band The Nomads in 1989. Styx also covered this song. Humble Pie's version reached No. 73 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 singles chart and No. 72 in Canada. Venezuelan Hard Rock Blues band, La Banda De Casablanca recorded in their recording called El Sueño Jazz guitarist

John Scofield John Scofield (born December 26, 1951), sometimes referred to as "Sco", is an American guitarist and composer whose music over a long career has blended jazz, jazz fusion, funk, blues, soul and rock. He first came to mainstream attention in th ...

recorded a version for his album '' That's What I Say: John Scofield Plays the Music of Ray Charles'' in 2005, featuring blues guitarist John Mayer on additional guitar and vocals. Mayer covered the song again with his band during his tour in summer 2007. A version recorded live during a Los Angeles show during that tour is available on Mayer's CD/DVD release '' Where the Light Is''. A Ray Charles tribute album also provided the impetus for jazz singer

Roseanna Vitro Roseanna Elizabeth Vitro (born February 28, 1951) is a jazz singer and teacher from Arkansas. Biography Born Roseanna Elizabeth VitroScott Fredrickson and Gary W. Kennedy.Vitro (Wickliffe), Roseanna" In ''The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz'', 2 ...

's version – specifically, her 1997 CD, '' Catchin’ Some Rays: The Music of Ray Charles'' In 2004 the blues singer

Beth Hart Beth Hart (born January 24, 1972) is an American musician from Los Angeles, California. She rose to fame with the release of her 1999 single " LA Song (Out of This Town)" from her second album '' Screamin' for My Supper''. The single was a numbe ...

performed a live version with her band, shown on the DVD '' Live at Paradiso''. In 2005, the Brazilian hard rock band

Dr. Sin Dr. Sin are a Brazilian hard rock band formed in São Paulo in 1991 by Eduardo Ardanuy and brothers Andria and Ivan Busic. History Formation (1984–1991) The brothers Andria and Ivan Busic formed their first bands, Platina (1984) and Cherok ...

recorded a version for their sixth album, ''

Listen to the Doctors ''Listen to the Doctors'' is the sixth studio album release from the Hard rock band Dr. Sin. It is a cover album containing only songs that contain the word "Doctor" in their titles. Covered bands include Kiss, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, B ...

'', a covers album with only songs with the word 'Doctor' in the title. The version of Dr. Sin was inspired by the Humble Pie version. Singer-songwriter

Joan Osborne Joan Elizabeth Osborne (born July 8, 1962) is an American singer, songwriter, and interpreter of music, having recorded and performed in various popular American musical genres including rock, pop, soul, R&B, blues, and country. She is best kn ...

covered the song on her 2012 album '' Bring It On Home''. It was also covered on 1980s Mod band

Secret Affair Secret Affair are a mod revival band, formed in 1978 and disbanded in 1982 during which period their work is predominantly best-known. They reformed in 2002 and have since then produced an album in 2012. Career Formed after the demise of the ...

's 2012 album release ''Soho Dreams''. In 2014, Demented Scumcats covered the song on their album ''Splatter Baby'' in a psychobilly version. In 2015, 1960s garage-rock band

The Sonics The Sonics are an American garage rock band from Tacoma, Washington, Tacoma, Washington (state), Washington that formed in 1960. Their aggressive, hard-edged sound has been a major influence on Punk rock, punk and Garage rock, garage music worl ...

covered the song on their album ''This Is The Sonics''. In 2016, the song appeared in the Lost in Paris Blues Band self-titled album, including Paul Personne, Ron Thal, and blues guitar star

Robben Ford Robben Lee Ford (born December 16, 1951) is an American blues, jazz, and rock guitarist. He was a member of the L.A. Express and Yellowjackets and has collaborated with Miles Davis, Joni Mitchell, George Harrison, Larry Carlton, Rick Springfield ...

. In 2017 and 2018, the hard rock, previously glam metal, band

Vixen Foxes are small to medium-sized, omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull, upright, triangular ears, a pointed, slightly upturned snout, and a long bushy tail (or ''brush''). Twelve sp ...

performed the song in their live concerts in most of their tours in the Western world. In contrast to all of the band's past performances, bass guitarist

Share Ross Sharon June "Share" Ross (formerly Pedersen; born Sharon June Howe; March 21, 1963 in Glencoe, Minnesota) is an American musician. She was the bass player of the female hard rock band, Vixen, from whom she has been on hiatus since February 2022. ...

sang lead vocals, rather than the then long-time singer

Janet Gardner Janet Patricia Gardner (born March 21, 1962 an American rock singer. She is best known as the former lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the all-female glam metal band Vixen joining in 1983. She was the band's longest serving vocalist having p ...

, at Ross's request to prove her competency in singing.

References

External links

www.raycharles.com
{{authority control Songs about physicians 1966 singles 1971 singles Songs written by Valerie Simpson Songs written by Nickolas Ashford Peter Frampton songs Ray Charles songs Humble Pie (band) songs W.A.S.P. songs Great White songs Songs written by Jo Armstead 1966 songs ABC Records singles A&M Records singles

See also

References

External links