Penicillin Penny

The Zoo Crew is spinning the wild and cheeky tune "Penicillin Penny" by Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show from their 1973 album Belly Up!, and the Zoo Freaks are loving every irreverent lyric. Written by the legendary poet and songwriter Shel Silverstein, this song is a satirical gem that paints a vivid picture of a promiscuous character named Penicillin Penny, the "queen of the sunset strip." Silverstein’s knack for blending humor with social commentary shines through, with lines like “If you ever let her in your door it takes 20 million units or more to cure the love that Penicillin Penny’s gonna lay on you.” In a 1974 interview with Rolling Stone, lead singer Dennis Locorriere described the song as a “tongue-in-cheek jab at the free-love scene,” noting that Silverstein wrote it to poke fun at the excesses of the early '70s counterculture. The band loved its outrageous energy, often performing it with exaggerated swagger during live shows, as seen in a 1974 Denmark performance shared on YouTube.

Another tidbit about "Penicillin Penny" comes from a fan post on the Dr. Hook Fans Unite! Facebook group, where a longtime Zoo Freak recalled seeing the band play the song at a 1973 concert in New Jersey. The fan described how Ray Sawyer, with his iconic eyepatch, leaned into the mic and dedicated the song to “all the folks who’ve ever needed a quick trip to the doc,” sending the crowd into hysterics. The song’s playful yet risqué nature made it a cult favorite, though it never charted as high as hits like "Sylvia’s Mother." On X, a recent post by the band’s official account shared a throwback photo from the Belly Up! recording sessions, captioning it, “Penicillin Penny was Shel’s way of keeping us laughing in the studio!” The song’s enduring appeal lies in its bold humor and the band’s ability to deliver it with a wink.

Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show got their start in Union City, New Jersey, in 1968, born from the ashes of a Southern rock outfit called The Chocolate Papers. The core trio—George Cummings, Ray Sawyer, and Billy Francis—had been gigging along the East Coast and Midwest before settling in New Jersey. According to their bio on AllMusic, the band’s name came about when a club owner demanded a catchy title for a poster. Cummings came up with “Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show: Tonic for the Soul,” inspired by Sawyer’s eyepatch (from a 1967 car accident) and a nod to Captain Hook, with a dash of 19th-century medicine show flair. The “Dr. Hook” moniker was a running joke—fans often assumed Sawyer was the titular doctor, but the band would point to their bus driver for laughs. By 1969, they’d added Dennis Locorriere and began working with Shel Silverstein, whose songs like "Sylvia’s Mother" and "The Cover of Rolling Stone" propelled them to fame.

The band’s early years were marked by their eclectic style, blending novelty songs, acoustic ballads, and soft rock, as noted on their Facebook page. Their breakthrough came with their 1972 debut album, Doctor Hook, produced by Ron Haffkine, which showcased Silverstein’s quirky songwriting. A pivotal moment was landing on the cover of Rolling Stone in 1973 (in caricature form) after their hit "The Cover of Rolling Stone," a Silverstein-penned satire about fame. The band’s Instagram often shares nostalgic clips from this era, highlighting their shaggy, hippie vibe and raucous live shows. Over the years, lineup changes—like Cummings’ departure in 1975 and Sawyer’s solo pivot in 1983—shifted the band’s dynamic, but Locorriere kept the legacy alive, still touring under the Dr. Hook name.

For Zoo Freaks wanting to dive deeper, the band’s official website, drhookofficial.com, offers tour dates, merch, and a discography. You can follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X for updates and fan interactions. Fans also gather at the Dr. Hook Fans Unite! Facebook group, where they share rare photos and concert stories. Another great resource is fanclub.org.uk, a dedicated fan site with a detailed bio, discography, and vintage photos. Whether you’re grooving to "Penicillin Penny" or exploring the band’s wild history, Dr. Hook’s legacy is a perfect fit for the Zoo Crew’s free-spirited airwaves.