Dr Hook was an irreverent, good-time 1970s band with two lead singers – Dennis Locorriere, who delivered the meaningful gentle ballads, and Ray Sawyer, who provided the edgy raspy rockers.

I reviewed Locorriere for the Daily Echo in 2002 at Fareham’s Ferneham Hall and he was superb, caressing the carefully crafted lyrics and memorable melodies of A Little Bit More, If Not You, Never Got To Hear Those Violins and the gorgeous That’s All.

This current version of the band featuring Ray Sawyer succeeds with the anarchic Freakin’ At The Freaker’s Ball, the punchy Baby Makes Her Blue Jeans Talk, the controversial The Cover of Rolling Stone, and Dr Hook’s anthem, the million-selling disco-influenced When You’re In Love With A Beautiful Woman.

In his trademark black eyepatch and white cowboy hat, 78-year-old Sawyer is charismatic and endearing in a car crash kind of way.

“You’re a legend!” someone from the audience shouted. “Can I have a cuddle?” a woman bellowed.

Yet senior citizen Sawyer is increasingly doddery around the stage and dreadfully out of tune on some of the vocals.

His version of She Was Only Sixteen is uncomfortably creepy, his wavering melody on A Little Bit More includes both sharp and flat notes, and the vocal on the huge hit Sylvia’s Mother was just excruciating.

The five-piece American backing band is excellent, although many of Dr Hook’s numbers yearn for the original steel guitar and rich string section.

Time to retire gracefully, Ray?