"I Don't Need No Doctor" is an
R&B song written by
Nick Ashford,
Valerie Simpson, and
Jo Armstead. First released by Ashford on
Verve 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 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 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
John Clayton Mayer ( ; born October 16, 1977) is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Born and raised in Fairfield County, Connecticut, Mayer attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, but left and moved to Atlanta in 1997 with ...
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's version – specifically, her 1997 CD, ''
Catchin’ Some Rays: The Music of Ray Charles''
In 2004 the blues singer
Beth Hart 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 Cher ...
recorded a version for their sixth album, ''
Listen to the Doctors'', 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 covered the song on her 2012 album ''
Bring It On Home''. It was also covered on 1980s Mod band
Secret Affair'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 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.
In 2017 and 2018, the hard rock, previously glam metal, band
Vixen 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 sang lead vocals, rather than the then long-time singer
Janet Gardner, at Ross's request to prove her competency in singing.
See also
*
Ray Charles discography
References
External links
www.raycharles.com
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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