"Knock on Wood"
One of side-A labels of the US single release of the original Eddie Floyd recording
Single by Eddie Floyd
from the album Knock on Wood
B-side"Got to Make a Comeback"
ReleasedSeptember 1966
Genre
Length3:05
LabelStax S-194
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Jim Stewart
Eddie Floyd singles chronology
"Things Get Better"
(1966)		 "Knock on Wood"
(1966)		 "Raise Your Hand"
(1967)

"Knock on Wood" is a 1966 hit song written by Eddie Floyd and Steve Cropper and originally performed by Floyd.[2] The song has become covered by later artists, most notably Amii Stewart in 1979. Stewart's disco version was the most successful on weekly music charts.

Eddie Floyd version

His recording peaked at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent one week at number 1 on the Soul Singles chart.[3] The song 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'. Floyd's version earned a Gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on July 17, 1995.[4]

Chart (1966) Peak
position
Canada RPM[5] 67
UK Singles (OCC)[6] 19
US Billboard Hot 100[7] 28
US Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles (Billboard)[8] 1

Otis Redding and Carla Thomas version

"Knock on Wood"
Single by Otis Redding and Carla Thomas
from the album King & Queen
B-side"Let Me Be Good To You"
ReleasedSeptember 1967
GenreSoul
Length2:48
LabelStax 601021
Songwriter(s)
  • Eddie Floyd
  • Steve Cropper
Chart (1967) Peak
position
Canada RPM[9] 29
UK Singles (OCC)[10] 35
UK R&B (Record Mirror)[11] 8
US Billboard Hot 100[12] 30
US Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles (Billboard)[13] 8

David Bowie version

"Knock on Wood"
Side A of 1974 UK vinyl single of the David Bowie recording
Single by David Bowie
from the album David Live
B-side"Panic in Detroit"
Released13 September 1974[14]
GenreBlues rock
Length3:08
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)
  • Eddie Floyd
  • Steve Cropper
David Bowie singles chronology
"1984"
(1974)		 "Knock on Wood"
(1974)		 "Rock 'n' Roll with Me"
(1974)

David Bowie released a live performance of the song[15] as a single in the UK in 1974; the recording was taken from Bowie's live album David Live. The B-side, "Panic in Detroit", was not on that album but was from the same concert. It was added to the 2005 release of the album.

  1. "Knock on Wood" (Eddie Floyd, Steve Cropper) – 3:03
  2. "Panic in Detroit" (Bowie) – 5:52
Chart performance for "Knock on Wood" by David Bowie
Chart (1974–2014) Peak
position
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[16] 19
France (SNEP)[17] 143
Ireland (IRMA)[18] 4
Norway (VG-lista)[19] 10
UK Singles (OCC)[20] 10

Amii Stewart version

"Knock on Wood"
side-A label
Side A of the 1979 Australian single
Single by Amii Stewart
from the album Knock on Wood
B-side"When You Are Beautiful"
ReleasedJanuary 15, 1979
Recorded1978
Genre
Length6:11 (album version)
3:53 (single version)
LabelHansa
Ariola (US)
Songwriter(s)
  • Eddie Floyd
  • Steve Cropper
Producer(s)Barry Leng
Amii Stewart singles chronology
"You Really Touched My Heart"
(1977)		 "Knock on Wood"
(1979)		 "Light My Fire"
(1979)
Music video
"Knock on Wood" on YouTube

American disco and soul singer Amii Stewart released a disco version of "Knock on Wood" in 1979. 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.[21] 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[4] when the single sold one[4] or two million units.[22] It would become one of the "anthems for the gay community".[23] Stewart's rendition of the song earned her a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 22nd Annual Grammy Awards in 1980. It was featured prominently in the video game The Warriors, as well as the trailers for the Walt Disney Pictures 1997 live-action film Mr. Magoo, starring Leslie Nielsen, and the 1998 film The Big Lebowski.

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[52] Platinum 150,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[53] Silver 250,000^
United States (RIAA)[54] Platinum 2,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Other notable cover versions

Wilson Pickett, like Floyd a former member of the band The Falcons, covered the song on his 1967 album The Wicked Pickett.

The American Breed also covered it on their 1967 self-titled debut album.[55]

Buddy Guy, on his live 1968 album This Is Buddy Guy![56]

The Mauds, on their 1968 album Hold On.[55][57]

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.[58]

In 1971, Filipino singer Victor Wood released his version of this song.[59]

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.[60][61]

Eric Clapton covered the song for his 1985 album Behind the Sun.[62]

Actress Kathleen Wilhoite and Jeff Healy performed the song in the 1989 film Road House.

Michael Bolton covered it for his 1992 album Timeless: The Classics.[63]

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.[64]

Actress Emma Stone performed the song in the 2010 movie Easy A.[65][66]

In 1993 Beatrice Magnanensi and Letizia Mezzanotte interpret the song in the compilation Non è la Rai 2.

In 1996 Fausto Leali recorded the Italian version entitled No, non tu (No, not you), for the album Non solo blues ("Not just Blues") (RTI Music, RTI 1112-4).

References

  1. 1 2 3 Breihan, Tom (January 27, 2020). "The Number Ones: Amii Stewart's "Knock On Wood"". Stereogum. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  2. ↑ Satellite & Stax singles 59-68 staxrecords.free.fr
  3. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 208.
  4. 1 2 3 "Gold & Platinum search results: "knock on wood"". RIAA. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  5. ↑ "RPM Top 100 Singles - December 26, 1966" (PDF).
  6. ↑ "Eddie Floyd: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  7. ↑ "Eddie Floyd Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  8. ↑ "Edde Floyd Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  9. ↑ "RPM Top 100 Singles - October 2, 1967" (PDF).
  10. ↑ "Otis Redding: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  11. ↑ "BRITAIN'S TOP R&B SINGLES" (PDF). Record Mirror. October 21, 1967. p. 11. Retrieved January 28, 2022 – via worldradiohistory.com.
  12. ↑ "Carla Thomas Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  13. ↑ "Carla Thomas Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  14. ↑ Clerc, Benoît (2021). David Bowie All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track. New York City: Black Dog & Leventhal. p. 213. ISBN 978-0-7624-7471-4.
  15. ↑ "Yuma Sun Newspaper Archives, Oct 11, 1974, p. 42". NewspaperArchive.com. 1974-10-11. Retrieved 2022-01-22.
  16. ↑ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava.
  17. ↑ "David Bowie – Knock on Wood" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  18. 1 2 3 "Knock on wood and Knock on Wood/Light my Fire (Remix) in Irish Chart". IRMA. Archived from the original on 2 June 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2013. Only results when searching "Knock on wood"
  19. ↑ "David Bowie – Knock on Wood". VG-lista.
  20. ↑ "1974 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive – 12th October 1974". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  21. 1 2 Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974–2003. Record Research. p. 246.
  22. ↑ Lester, Peter (July 23, 1979). "Dancer Amii Stewart Turns Disco Diva with 'Knock on Wood'". People. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  23. ↑ Baughman, Judith S.; et al., eds. (2001). "The Pulse of Black Music". American Decades. Vol. 8: 1970-1979. Gale. Retrieved August 16, 2019 – via Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale document no. GALE|CX3468302576.
  24. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 169. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  25. ↑ "Amii Stewart – Knock on Wood" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  26. ↑ "Amii Stewart – Knock on Wood" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  27. ↑ "Knock on wood in Canadian Singles Chart". Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  28. ↑ "Knock on wood in Canadian Adult Contemporary Chart". Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  29. ↑ "Knock on wood in Canadian Disco Singles Chart". Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  30. ↑ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Amii Stewart". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 246. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  31. 1 2 "Knock on wood and Knock on wood '99 in French Chart" (in French). Dominic DURAND / InfoDisc. 5 July 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-10-26. Retrieved 5 July 2013. You have to use the index at the top of the page and search "Ammi Stewart"
  32. ↑ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 7 June 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Amii Stewart".
  33. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Amii Stewart" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  34. ↑ "Amii Stewart – Knock on Wood" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  35. ↑ "Amii Stewart – Knock on Wood". Top 40 Singles.
  36. ↑ John Samson. "Knock on wood in South African Chart". Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  37. ↑ "Amii Stewart – Knock on Wood". Singles Top 100.
  38. ↑ "Amii Stewart – Knock on Wood". Swiss Singles Chart.
  39. 1 2 "Amii Stewart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  40. 1 2 3 "Knock on Wood awards on Allmusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  41. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Amii Stewart – Knock on Wood" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  42. ↑ "Knock on Wood/Light my Fire (Remix) in Belgian Chart". Ultratop and Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  43. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 27 November 1999. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  44. ↑ "Kent Music Report No 288 – 31 December 1979 > National Top 100 Singles for 1979". Kent Music Report. Retrieved January 10, 2023 – via Imgur.com.
  45. ↑ "Jahreshitparade Singles 1979". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  46. ↑ "Top Singles – Volume 32, No. 13, December 22, 1979". RPM. Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved June 19, 2014 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  47. ↑ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1979". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  48. ↑ "Top Selling Singles of 1979 | The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Nztop40.co.nz. 1979-12-31. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
  49. ↑ "Top Singles 1979". Music Week. London, England: Spotlight Publications. 22 December 1979. p. 27.
  50. ↑ "Top 100 Hits of 1979/Top 100 Songs of 1979". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
  51. ↑ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  52. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Amii Stewart – Knock On Wood". Music Canada. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  53. ↑ "British single certifications – Amii Stewart – Knock On Wood". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  54. ↑ "American single certifications – Amii Stewart – Knock On Wood". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  55. 1 2 Plasketes, George (2016) [2009]. B-Sides, Undercurrents and Overtones: Peripheries to Popular in Music, 1960 to the Present. New York City: Taylor & Francis Group. p. 28. ISBN 978-0-7546-6561-8. LCCN 2008046196. Retrieved August 15, 2019 – via Google Books.
  56. ↑ "Album Reviews: This Is Buddy Guy!". Billboard. December 21, 1968. p. 34. Retrieved August 15, 2019 – via Google Books.
  57. ↑ Schwann Monthly Guide to Stereo Records, Volume 19, Issues 10-12 – via Google Books.
  58. ↑ Dahl, Bill (2001). "The Best of the Verve Years (1995) review". In Vladimir Bogdanov; Chris Woodstra; Stephen Thomas Erlewine (eds.). All Music Guide: The Definitive Guide to Popular Music (4th ed.). San Francisco: Backbeat Books. p. 516. ISBN 0-87930-627-0. Retrieved August 15, 2019 – via Google Books.
  59. ↑ Victor Wood - Knock on Wood
  60. ↑ "Hot Country Songs: The Week of September 29, 1984". Billboard. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  61. ↑ "Razzy Bailey: Chart History – Hot Country Songs". Billboard.
  62. ↑ Clapton, Eric (2007). Clapton: The Autobiography. Broadway Books. p. 213. ISBN 978-0-385-51851-2. LCCN 2007015482. eric clapton knock on wood -wikipedia.
  63. ↑ Cooper, Lee; Wayne S. Haney (2013) [1999]. Rock Music in American Popular Culture III: More Rock 'n' Roll Resources. New York City: Taylor & Francis Group. p. 101. ISBN 978-0-7890-0489-5.
  64. ↑ Taylor, Chuck, ed. (November 14, 1998). "New & Noteworthy: Mary Griffin, 'Knock on Wood'". Billboard. p. 23. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  65. ↑ "Original Soundtrack: Satisfaction". All Music. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  66. ↑ Emmanuele, Julia (January 7, 2017). "Emma Stone's Most Magical Musical Moments". People. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
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