Sharing the Night Together - Dr. Hook (1978) 6/13/22

Sometimes a Great Song isn't a "Great Song" until it finds the right artist to record it." For today's choice, the "third artist was the charm."

In 1976, Arthur Alexander released "Sharing the Night Together," and it tanked. On the Cashbox Magazine Top 100, it reached #96. (FYI: Cashbox was Billboard's chart competitor at the time.)

Shortly thereafter, Lenny LeBlanc released his version, and it did even worse. Cashbox had it peaking at #99.

On Billboard, neither version even made it to the "Bubbling Under" chart. (#101-110 during the '70s)

But then, out of nowhere, Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show decided to take a crack at it. When they released THEIR version in 1978, it climbed into the Top 10 in both the US and Canada...although, oddly enough, on different charts.

In Canada, it reached #3 on the Top 40 and #4 on the Adult Contemporary Chart. In the US, it peaked at #6 on Billboard's Hot 100 and #16 on the AC Chart.

F

or the record, Cashbox ranked it at #4.

All that chart babble aside, "Dr. Hook's version of "Staying the Night Together" was far and away a better version of the story about two lonely people who somehow find each other and, well, share the night together.

It was just the type of thing that happened a lot in the '70s...and of course, still happens today. Pretty relatable both then and now, and a good reason to call it a "Great Song of the '70s."

Arthur Alexander version:

Lenny LeBlanc version: