- Dr. Hook’s 1976 Soft-Rock Classic Blending Humor, Heartache, and Hit-Making Harmony
Released in 1976, A Little Bit More marked a turning point in Dr. Hook’s career, shifting from their satirical roots toward a smoother blend of country rock and soft pop. This sixth studio album features the chart-topping title track, known for its warm vocals and romantic longing, and highlights the band’s knack for heartfelt ballads and clever lyricism. From the introspective “More Like The Movies” to the bluesy “Jungle to the Zoo,” Dr. Hook deliver a record that balances humor, melancholy, and radio-friendly charm. With polished production, catchy melodies, and emotionally resonant themes, A Little Bit More remains one of the band’s most enduring and collectible vinyl releases.
In 1976, Dr. Hook &The Medicine Show delivered their fifth studio album, "A Little Bit More," a collection of tunes that solidified their status as masters of humor, heart, and catchy melodies. The 12" vinyl format provided an expanded sonic landscape for their eclectic mix of country-rock, bluesy ballads, and playful pop.
The album's title track, "A Little Bit More," kicks off with Ray Sawyer's instantly recognizable drawl and a rollicking piano line. This upbeat anthem about the relentless pursuit of love, lust, and life's simple pleasures became one of Dr. Hook's biggest hits. The song's infectious energy and singalong chorus make it a timeless party favorite.
On the more reflective side, "More Like The Movies" showcases the band's storytelling chops. The song paints a poignant picture of fading romance and disillusionment, set against the backdrop of classic Hollywood. The cinematic feel and wistful lyrics make this a standout track.
Dr. Hook's playful wit shines through on songs like "The Radio." This ode to the power of music is packed with cheeky lyrics and references to rock and roll legends. They even manage to squeeze in a humorous shout-out to a listener with a broken antenna!
The band delves into bluesier territory with "Jungle to the Zoo," a cautionary tale about the dangers and temptations of fame. Dr. Hook's gritty vocals and the soulful harmonica add a layer of depth and authenticity to this blues-infused rocker.
The album comes to a close with the touching "A Couple More Years." This ballad, tinged with regret and longing, showcases the band's softer side. Its message about time slipping away resonates deeply.
Dr. Hook's 1976 hit "A Little Bit More" resonates deeply with its simple melody and heartfelt lyrics. The song captures a universal feeling of wanting something just out of reach, a deeper connection that remains undefined.
The lyrics focus on a sense of wanting more, even in the presence of someone or something. There's a feeling of emotional distance and a determination to bridge that gap.
The beauty of "A Little Bit More" lies in its ambiguity. Listeners can interpret the longing in many ways – as a desire for intimacy within a relationship, a search for greater life fulfillment, or simply a yearning for an undefinable change.
This relatable sentiment is why Dr. Hook's song remains as poignant today as when it was first released. We all have those moments of wanting "a little bit more."
This album "DR. HOOK - A Little Bit More" includes the original custom inner sleeve with album details, complete lyrics of all songs by Dr Hook and artwork.
Ron Haffkine and Waylon Jennings.
Kyle Lehning
Ron Treat
Glaser Bros Studio, Nashville, Tenessee.
Wally Traugott.
Bonnie Phippins - Album Cover Concept
Ted Mayer - Illustration
Roy Kohara - Art Direction
Rock, Country Rock, Soft Rock
Capitol Records – 5C 062-82 217
Record Format: 12" Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record
Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram
1976 Netherlands
Front cover of the 1976 Dutch pressing of Dr. Hook – A Little Bit More. The artwork is striking in its minimalism. Set against a deep, glossy black background, the band name “dr. hook” is displayed in lowercase letters using a glowing neon-tube style font.
The letters “d”, “h”, and “k” are glowing red, while the “oo” in “hook” is cleverly stylized as two intertwined metallic hooks. These hooks are designed to resemble industrial hardware, merging with a vertical steel rod that ends in a wood screw at the bottom—visually reinforcing the band’s name through literal imagery.
Below the band name, centered in small white capital letters, is the album title: A LITTLE BIT MORE. The Capitol Records logo appears small and blue in the top-left corner. The overall design is modern, clean, and cleverly symbolic, playing with both typography and visual metaphor to reflect the band's name and album’s theme of desire and complexity.
Back cover of Dr. Hook – A Little Bit More (1976 Dutch pressing). The design continues the industrial visual motif of the front, with a black background overlaid by three vertical metallic hook chains, stylized to resemble twisted hardware.
On the left side, the complete tracklist is printed in white uppercase text, separated into Side One and Side Two. Each song includes duration, songwriting credits, and publishing information.
Scattered diagonally across the lower half are five monochrome photos of band members, styled like loose Polaroid snapshots. The musicians are identified by name: Ray Sawyer, Dennis Locorriere, Rik Elswit, John Wolters, Billy Francis, and Jance Garfat.
The bottom section features production credits, including Ron Haffkine as producer and musical director, along with mastering and design information. The Capitol Records and EMI logos are shown, along with the Dutch catalog number: 5C062-82217.
Custom inner sleeve of Dr. Hook – A Little Bit More (Side One). This printed sleeve features the complete lyrics to the first five songs on the album: “More Like The Movies,” “A Little Bit More,” “The Radio,” “Up on the Mountain,” and “Only Sixteen.”
The layout presents white sans-serif text in two columns on a deep black matte background, maintaining the album’s stark visual aesthetic. The track titles are set in bold uppercase, followed by the full lyrics for each song, including verse and chorus structures.
To the left runs a large, stylized vertical chain motif, continuing the cover’s metallic hook design. At the bottom, a coiled hook terminates into a silver screw. Below the lyrics, small-print copyright information notes the respective publishing companies, including EMI, BMI, and ASCAP.
The Capitol Records logo is positioned in white near the bottom-right corner. This inner sleeve not only serves as a lyric sheet but also reinforces the album’s thematic visual identity through its consistent use of industrial design elements.
Custom inner sleeve of Dr. Hook – A Little Bit More (Side Two). This side of the inner sleeve displays the complete lyrics to the album's second half, including “Jungle to the Zoo,” “Bad Eye Bill,” “What About You,” “If Not You,” and “A Couple More Years.”
White text is arranged in neat columns over a solid black background. The bold track titles are followed by full lyrical verses, capturing the band's narrative style and emotional themes. Below the lyrics, a block of small credits acknowledges studio musicians, engineers, and string arrangers who contributed to the album's sound.
The left margin features the recurring design motif of intertwined silver metallic hooks, continuing the mechanical aesthetic of the album cover. The coiled screw detail at the bottom is repeated here, reinforcing the album’s visual identity.
Near the bottom edge, the Capitol Records logo and the Dutch catalog number (5C 062-82217) are clearly printed, affirming the pressing’s origin. This sleeve combines function and design, offering both lyrical insight and graphic continuity.
Close-up of Side One record label for Dr. Hook – A Little Bit More (1976, Dutch pressing). The label features Capitol Records’ classic purple color scheme with the iconic white dome logo prominently centered at the top.
The album’s title, A Little Bit More, appears in all caps just above the track listing. The five songs listed include “More Like the Movies,” “A Little Bit More,” “The Radio,” “Up on the Mountain,” and “Only Sixteen.” Each song includes songwriter credits and duration in parentheses, printed in crisp white sans-serif type.
Additional markings include the catalog number 5C 062-82217, the note “STEREO Side 1,” and Dutch rights society STEMRA. Around the edge, a legal disclaimer reads “UNAUTHORIZED PUBLIC PERFORMANCE, BROADCASTING AND COPYING OF THIS RECORD PROHIBITED” along with manufacturing and copyright details for 1975 and 1976.
The record label also notes Ron Haffkine as the producer. The clean and balanced layout of this label is typical of 1970s Capitol Dutch pressings and reflects both clarity and professionalism in its presentation.
Close-up of Side Two record label for Dr. Hook – A Little Bit More (1976 Dutch pressing). Like Side One, the label is a rich purple with white print and features the iconic Capitol dome logo at the top. Surrounding the edge is the legal text restricting unauthorized reproduction and performance.
The catalog number 5C 062-82217-B and “STEREO Side 2” are printed to the right of the spindle hole. Below the album title are the five track titles for Side Two: “Jungle to the Zoo,” “Bad Eye Bill,” “What About You,” “If Not You,” and “A Couple More Years.” Songwriters and track durations are included beneath each title.
The bottom portion includes the band's name, DR. HOOK, and detailed production credits. Tracks 1, 2, 4, and 5 were produced by Ron Haffkine, while track 3 was co-produced by Haffkine and country legend Waylon Jennings. The label also displays the Dutch rights organization STEMRA.
This label reflects the same layout and aesthetic as Side One, maintaining visual consistency across both sides of the vinyl while providing complete session and track details for collectors and fans.
Released in 1976, A Little Bit More marked a shift for Dr. Hook from their satirical roots to a smoother soft rock sound. Featuring the hit title track, the album blends heartfelt ballads, witty lyrics, and country-pop charm. With polished production and emotional depth, it remains a standout in the band’s discography.
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