Released 1966 Recorded 1966 Label ABC | Format 7" Genre R&B | |
B-side "Please Say You're Fooling" | ||
"I Don't Need No Doctor" was a hit song written by Nick Ashford, Valerie Simpson and Jo Armstead, and first recorded by Ray Charles in 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 metal band Great White in 1987, and by the garage punk band The Nomads in 1989. Styx also covered this song. Humble Pie's version became an FM radio hit and peaked at #73 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.
The jazz guitar player John Scofield recorded a version for his album That's What I Say: John Scofield Plays the Music of Ray Charles in 2005, featuring the blues guitarist John Mayer on additional guitar and vocals. Mayer covered the song again with his band during his tour in summer 2007. A recorded live version is also available on his 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, recorded a version for their sixth album Listen to the Doctors, it is 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, 60's garage-rock band The Sonics covered the song on their album This Is The Sonics.