Knock on Wood (Eddie Floyd song)#David Bowie version
{{short description|1966 single by Eddie Floyd}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Knock on Wood
| cover = Knock on Wood by Eddie Floyd US vinyl single Side-A.png
| alt =
| caption = One of side-A labels of the US single release of the original Eddie Floyd recording
| type = single
| artist = Eddie Floyd
| album = Knock on Wood
| B-side = Got to Make a Comeback
| released = July 25, 1966{{Sfn|Catron|1994|p=1}}
| recorded = July 13, 1966{{Sfn|Richardson|1988|p=1}}
| studio = Stax, Memphis{{Sfn|Richardson|1988|p=1}}
| genre =
- [[Southern soul|Southern
R&B]]{{cite web|first= Tom |last= Breihan |title= The Number Ones: Amii Stewart's "Knock On Wood"|website= Stereogum |date= January 27, 2020 |url= https://www.stereogum.com/2071544/the-number-ones-amii-stewarts-knock-on-wood/columns/the-number-ones/|accessdate= July 8, 2023}}
- soul{{cite web|first= Tom |last= Breihan |title= The Number Ones: Amii Stewart's "Knock On Wood"|website= Stereogum |date= January 27, 2020 |url= https://www.stereogum.com/2071544/the-number-ones-amii-stewarts-knock-on-wood/columns/the-number-ones/|accessdate= July 8, 2023}}
- funk{{cite book|first=Dave|last=Marsh|title=The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5t5DYDniSHEC|date=1989|publisher=Plume|isbn=0-452-26305-0|page=302}}
| length = 3:06{{Sfn|Bowman|2007|loc=Back Cover}}
| label = Stax
| writer = {{hlist|Eddie Floyd|Steve Cropper}}
| producer = Jim Stewart
| prev_title = Things Get Better
| prev_year = 1966
| next_title = Raise Your Hand
| next_year = 1967
}}
"Knock on Wood" is a 1966 song by Eddie Floyd, written by Floyd and Steve Cropper.[http://staxrecords.free.fr/slist.htm Satellite & Stax singles 59-68] staxrecords.free.fr The song was later covered by other artists, most notably Amii Stewart in 1979. Stewart's disco version was the most successful on weekly music charts.
Eddie Floyd version
"Knock On Wood" was written in the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee (now The National Civil Rights Museum). Steve Cropper has stated in interviews that there was a lightning storm the night that he and Eddie wrote the song, hence the lyrics 'It's like thunder, lightning, The way you love me is frightening'. The song was based on another song co-written by Cropper, the Wilson Pickett version of "In the Midnight Hour" (1965), having the same chord progression "only played in reverse".{{Sfn|Bowman|2007|p=5}}
According to Floyd, "Knock On Wood" was initially written for Otis Redding. However, Stax label manager Jim Stewart turned down the idea of Redding recording the song.{{Sfn|Bowman|2007|pp=4–5}} Both sides of the single were recorded on July 13, 1966 at Stax Records house studio in Memphis, Tennessee,{{Sfn|Richardson|1988|p=1}} with Stax's house band Booker T. & the M.G.'s (Cropper on guitar, Donald "Duck" Dunn on bass, Al Jackson Jr. on drums, Booker T. Jones on keyboards), Isaac Hayes on piano and Wayne Jackson on trumpet.{{Sfn|Catron|1994|p=2}} Stewart produced the session.{{Sfn|Catron|1994|p=1}}
"Knock on Wood" was released as a single by Stax on July 25, 1966, featuring "Got to Make a Comeback" on the B-side.{{Sfn|Catron|1994|p=1}} His recording peaked at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent one week at number 1 on the Soul Singles chart.{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=208}} Floyd's version earned a Gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on July 17, 1995. The song became the title track for Floyd's debut album, released on January 26, 1967.{{Sfn|Catron|1994|p=1}}
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| Chart (1966)
!Peak |
|---|
| scope="row"|Canada RPM{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.5757.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - December 26, 1966}}
|style="text-align:center;"|67 |
| {{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|19|artist=Eddie Floyd|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|28|artist=Eddie Floyd|rowheader=true}} |
| scope="row"|US Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/eddie-floydchart-history/bsi/|title=Edde Floyd Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)|magazine=Billboard}}
|style="text-align:center;"|1 |
Otis Redding and Carla Thomas version
{{Infobox song
| name = Knock on Wood
| cover =
| alt =
| caption =
| type = single
| artist = Otis Redding and Carla Thomas
| album = King & Queen
| B-side = Let Me Be Good To You
| released = September 1967
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = Soul
| length = 2:48
| label = Stax 601021
| writer = {{hlist|Eddie Floyd|Steve Cropper}}
| producer =
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
!scope="col"|Chart (1967) !scope="col"|Peak |
| scope="row"|Canada RPM{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.10098.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - October 2, 1967}}
|style="text-align:center;"|29 |
|---|
| scope="row" {{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|artistid=12105|35|artist=Otis Redding|song=Tramp}} |
| scope="row" | UK R&B (Record Mirror){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/60s/67/Record-Mirror-1967-10-21.pdf#page=11|title=BRITAIN'S TOP R&B SINGLES|magazine=Record Mirror|page=11|date=October 21, 1967|via=worldradiohistory.com|accessdate=January 28, 2022}}
| align="center"| 8 |
| scope="row" {{single chart|Billboardhot100|30|artist=Carla Thomas}} |
| scope="row"|US Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/carla-thomas/chart-history/bsi/|title=Carla Thomas Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)|magazine=Billboard}}
|style="text-align:center;"|8 |
David Bowie version
{{Infobox song
| name = Knock on Wood
| image = Knock on Wood (live) by David Bowie 1974 UK vinyl single A-side.png
| alt =
| caption = Side A of 1974 UK vinyl single of the David Bowie recording
| type = single
| artist = David Bowie
| album = David Live
| B-side = Panic in Detroit
| released = 13 September 1974{{cite book |last=Clerc |first=Benoît |year=2021 |title=David Bowie All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track |location=New York City |publisher=Black Dog & Leventhal |isbn=978-0-7624-7471-4 |page=213}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = Blues rock
| length = 3:08
| label = RCA
| writer = {{hlist|Eddie Floyd|Steve Cropper}}
| producer =
| prev_title = 1984
| prev_year = 1974
| next_title = Rock 'n' Roll with Me
| next_year = 1974
}}
David Bowie's live performance of the song was released as a single in several countries in 1974.{{Cite web|date=1974-10-11|title=Yuma Sun Newspaper Archives, Oct 11, 1974, p. 42|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/yuma-sun-oct-11-1974-p-42/|access-date=2022-01-22|website=NewspaperArchive.com|language=en}} The single, taken from Bowie's live album David Live, reached the top ten in the UK. The B-side, "Panic in Detroit", was not included on that album, but was from the same concert. It was added to the 2005 release of the album.
- "Knock on Wood" (Eddie Floyd, Steve Cropper) – 3:03
- "Panic in Detroit" (Bowie) – 5:52
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+Chart performance for "Knock on Wood" by David Bowie !Chart (1974–2014) !Peak |
| scope="row"| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista){{cite book | first= Timo | last= Pennanen |year= 2006 | title=Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 | publisher=Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava | location= Helsinki | language= fi }}
|style="text-align:center;"| 19 |
|---|
| {{single chart|France|143|artist=David Bowie|song=Knock on Wood|rowheader=true|access-date=12 September 2020}} |
| scope="row"| Ireland (IRMA)
| style="text-align:center;"| 4 |
| {{single chart|Norway|10|artist=David Bowie|song=Knock on Wood|rowheader=true}} |
| scope="row"| UK Singles (OCC){{cite web |url= https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19741006/7501/ |title= 1974 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive – 12th October 1974 |publisher= Official Charts Company |access-date= 4 July 2013}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 10 |
{{clear}}
Amii Stewart version
{{Infobox song
| name = Knock on Wood
| image = Knock on wood by amii stewart Australian single side-A.png
| alt = side-A label
| caption = Side A of the 1979 Australian single
| type = single
| artist = Amii Stewart
| album = Knock on Wood
| B-side = When You Are Beautiful
| released = November 10, 1978 (UK) / January 15, 1979 (US)
| recorded = 1978
| studio =
| genre =
- Disco
- synth-rock{{cite web|first= Tom |last= Breihan |title= The Number Ones: Amii Stewart's "Knock On Wood"|website= Stereogum |date= January 27, 2020 |url= https://www.stereogum.com/2071544/the-number-ones-amii-stewarts-knock-on-wood/columns/the-number-ones/|accessdate= July 8, 2023}}
| length = 6:11 (album version)
3:53 (single version)
| label = Atlantic, Hansa (UK){{Discogs master |106413 }}
Ariola (US)
| writer = {{hlist|Eddie Floyd|Steve Cropper}}
| producer = Barry Leng
| prev_title = You Really Touched My Heart
| prev_year = 1977
| next_title = Light My Fire
| next_year = 1979
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|XKuJUxGntRI|"Knock on Wood"}}}}
}}
American disco and soul singer Amii Stewart released a disco version of "Knock on Wood" in 1978. It reached number one on the US charts in April 1979; it also made it to the soul singles and disco charts, becoming the best-known version of the song.{{cite book |title= Hot Dance/Disco: 1974–2003|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=246}} This recording was co-produced by Simon May. It reached the top 10 twice in the UK, first in 1979 (peaking at number 6) and again in a remixed version in 1985 (peaking at number 7).
The song earned a gold certification on March 22, 1979, and then a platinum certification on August 1 the same year from the RIAA{{cite web |title=Gold & Platinum search results: "knock on wood" |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=knock+on+wood#search_section |website=RIAA |access-date=August 15, 2019 }} when the single sold one or two million units.{{cite magazine |first=Peter |last=Lester |date=July 23, 1979 |title=Dancer Amii Stewart Turns Disco Diva with 'Knock on Wood' |url=https://people.com/archive/dancer-amii-stewart-turns-disco-diva-with-knock-on-wood-vol-12-no-4/ |magazine=People |access-date=August 15, 2019 }} It would become one of the "anthems for the gay community".{{cite encyclopedia |title=The Pulse of Black Music |encyclopedia=American Decades |editor-first=Judith S. |editor-last=Baughman |display-editors=etal |volume=8: 1970-1979 |publisher=Gale |year=2001 |via=Gale Virtual Reference Library |url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX3468302576/GVRL?u=pasa19871&sid=GVRL&xid=4d77f27a |access-date=August 16, 2019 }} Gale document no. GALE
=Charts=
{{col-begin|width=55%}}
{{col-2}}
==Weekly charts==
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| Chart (1985) "Knock on Wood/Light My Fire" (Remix) !Peak |
|---|
| scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop){{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/8858/Amii-Stewart-Knock-On-Wood-_-Light-My-Fire-New-Remix |title= Knock on Wood/Light my Fire (Remix) in Belgian Chart |publisher= Ultratop and Hung Medien |access-date= 1 June 2013}}
| style="text-align:center;"|32 |
| scope="row"|Ireland (IRMA)
| style="text-align:center;"|6 |
| scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC)
| style="text-align:center;"|7 |
| Chart (1999) "Knock on Wood '99" !Peak |
| scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Music-and-Media/90s/1999/MM-1999-11-27.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|date=27 November 1999|access-date=26 June 2018}}
| style="text-align:center;"|92 |
| scope="row"|France (SNEP)
| style="text-align:center;"|73 |
{{col-2}}
==Year-end charts==
{{col-end}}
=Certifications=
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|award=Platinum|type=single|artist=Amii Stewart|title=Knock On Wood|relyear=1978|certyear=1979|accessdate=June 19, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|award=Silver|type=single|artist=Amii Stewart|title=Knock On Wood|relyear=1978|certyear=1979|id=3690-3720-1|accessdate=June 19, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|award=Platinum|type=single|artist=Amii Stewart|title=Knock On Wood|relyear=1978|certyear=1979|accessdate=June 19, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}
Other cover versions
The American Breed also covered it on their 1967 self-titled debut album.
Otis Redding and Carla Thomas released it as a single in 1967 on Stax Records, credited to Otis & Carla. It also appeared on their album King & Queen.
James Cotton also recorded the song on his 1967 album The James Cotton Blues Band; his version is later included in the 1995 compilation album The Best of the Verve Years.{{cite encyclopedia |first=Bill |last=Dahl |title=The Best of the Verve Years (1995) review |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xR7MdpuSlAEC&q=%22james+cotton%22+%22knock+on+wood%22+-wikipedia&pg=PT489 |encyclopedia=All Music Guide: The Definitive Guide to Popular Music |edition=4th |editor=Vladimir Bogdanov |editor2=Chris Woodstra |editor3=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |year=2001 |publisher=Backbeat Books |location=San Francisco |page=516 |isbn=0-87930-627-0 |access-date=August 15, 2019 |via=Google Books }}
Buddy Guy recorded the song on his live 1968 album This Is Buddy Guy!{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_0QEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22james+cotton%22+%22knock+on+wood%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA34 |title=Album Reviews: This Is Buddy Guy! |magazine=Billboard |date=December 21, 1968 |page=34 |access-date=August 15, 2019 |via=Google Books }}
The Mauds recorded the song on their 1968 album Hold On.{{cite book |first=George |last=Plasketes |year=2016 |orig-year=2009 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U203DAAAQBAJ&q=%22american+breed%22+%22knock+on+wood%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA28 |title=B-Sides, Undercurrents and Overtones: Peripheries to Popular in Music, 1960 to the Present |page=28 |publisher=Taylor & Francis Group |location=New York City |isbn=978-0-7546-6561-8 |lccn=2008046196 |access-date=August 15, 2019 |via=Google Books }}[https://books.google.com/books?id=puELAQAAMAAJ&q=mauds+%22knock+on+wood%22+-wikipedia Schwann Monthly Guide to Stereo Records, Volume 19, Issues 10-12] – via Google Books.
Razzy Bailey's version (1984) peaked at number 29 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart on the week of September 29, 1984, the version's ninth week.{{cite magazine |title=Hot Country Songs: The Week of September 29, 1984 |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1984-09-29 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=August 15, 2019 }}{{cite magazine |title=Razzy Bailey: Chart History – Hot Country Songs |magazine=Billboard |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/razzy-bailey/chart-history/csi/ }}
Eric Clapton covered the song for his 1985 album Behind the Sun.{{cite book |first=Eric |last=Clapton |year=2007 |title=Clapton: The Autobiography |url=https://archive.org/details/claptonautobiogr00clap |url-access=registration |quote=eric clapton knock on wood -wikipedia. |publisher=Broadway Books |page=[https://archive.org/details/claptonautobiogr00clap/page/213 213] |lccn=2007015482 |isbn=978-0-385-51851-2 }}
Michael Bolton covered it for his 1992 album Timeless: The Classics.{{cite book |first=Lee |last=Cooper |author2=Wayne S. Haney |year=2013 |orig-year=1999 |title=Rock Music in American Popular Culture III: More Rock 'n' Roll Resources |page=[https://archive.org/details/rockmusicinameri0000coop/page/101 101] |publisher=Taylor & Francis Group |location=New York City |isbn=978-0-7890-0489-5 |url=https://archive.org/details/rockmusicinameri0000coop/page/101 }}
A singer Mary Griffin recorded her disco/dance version for the 1998 film 54; Griffin's recording was released that same year as a promotional single.{{Cite magazine |editor-last=Taylor |editor-first=Chuck |date=November 14, 1998 |title=New & Noteworthy: Mary Griffin, 'Knock on Wood' |magazine=Billboard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HwoEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22amii+stewart%22+%22knock+on+wood%22+1998+re-recording+-wikipedia&pg=PA23 |page=23 |access-date=April 7, 2020 }}
Actress Emma Stone performed the song in the 2010 film Easy A.{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/satisfaction-original-soundtrack-mw0000195317 |title=Original Soundtrack: Satisfaction |publisher=All Music |access-date=22 July 2018}}{{cite magazine |first=Julia |last=Emmanuele |date=January 7, 2017 |title=Emma Stone's Most Magical Musical Moments |url=https://people.com/celebrity/emma-stone-singing-musical-la-la-land/ |website=People |access-date=August 15, 2019 }}
References
References{{Reflist}}Sources
- {{Cite AV media |url=https://archive.org/details/cd_the-very-best-of-eddie-floyd_eddie-floyd |title=The Very Best Of Eddie Floyd |date=2007 |last=Bowman |first=Rob |author-link=Rob Bowman (music writer) |type=CD |publisher=Stax |place=United States |id=STXCD-30305}}
- {{Cite AV media |url=https://archive.org/details/cd_knock-on-wood_eddie-floyd |title=Knock On Wood |date=1994 |last=Catron |first=Deanie |type=CD |publisher=Atlantic |place=United Kingdom |id=7 80283-2}}
- {{Cite AV media |url=https://archive.org/details/cd_the-best-of-eddie-floyd_eddie-floyd |title=The Best Of Eddie Floyd |date=1988 |last=Richardson |first=Clive |type=CD |publisher=Stax |place=United Kingdom |id=CDSX 010}}
External links
- {{YouTube|izekdRZzH_w|Eddie Floyd - Knock on Wood}}
- {{YouTube|IMUNZKiRiwA|Amii Stewart - Knock on Wood}}
{{Otis Redding}}
{{Carla Thomas}}
{{David Bowie singles}}
{{Razzy Bailey}}
{{authority control}}
Category:James & Bobby Purify songs
Category:Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band songs
Category:Songs written by Steve Cropper
Category:Songs written by Eddie Floyd
Category:Ariola Records singles
Category:Hansa Records singles
Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
Category:Cashbox number-one singles