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Knock on Wood (Eddie Floyd song)
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Wikipedia article
"'Knock on Wood'" is a 1966 hit song written by Eddie Floyd and Steve Cropper and originally performed by Floyd.[http://staxrecords.free.fr/slist.htm Satellite & Stax singles 59-68] staxrecords.free.fr 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. 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.
Otis Redding and Carla Thomas version
David Bowie version
David Bowie released a live performance of the song 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.
# "Knock on Wood" (Eddie Floyd, Steve Cropper) 3:03
# "Panic in Detroit" (Bowie) 5:52
Amii Stewart version
{{Infobox song
| name = Knock on Wood
| cover = File:Knock on Wood by Amii Stewart US 12-inch picture vinyl disc.png
| alt =
| caption = 1979 release US 12-inch picture disc single both sides contain the same picture
| type = single
| artist = Amii Stewart
| album = Knock on Wood
| B-side = When You Are Beautiful
| released = January 15, 1979
| recorded = 1978
| studio =
| genre = Disco, Hi-NRG
| length = 6:11
| label = Ariola America/Hansa
| writer = 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 =
}}
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. 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 when the single sold one or two million units. It would become one of "anthems for the gay community". Gale document no. GALE
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
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'.
Otis Redding and Carla Thomas covered the song on their 1967 album, 'King & Queen'. Otis and Carla's version charted on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 in nine weeks, peaking at number 30 on the week of September 23, 1967. The version also peaked at number eight on the 'Billboard' R&B Songs chart.
The American Breed also covered it on their 1967 self-titled debut album
Buddy Guy, on his live 1968 album 'This Is Buddy Guy!'
The Mauds, on their 1968 album 'Hold On'.[https://books.google.com/books?id=puELAQAAMAAJ&q=mauds+%22knock+on+wood%22+-wikipedia&dq=mauds+%22knock+on+wood%22+-wikipedia&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwitt8jC64XkAhXzJDQIHWhSAPEQ6AEwAnoECAMQAg 'Schwann Monthly Guide to Stereo Records', Volume 19, Issues 10-12] via Google Books.
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'.
In 1971, a Filipino singer Victor Wood released his version of this song. Victor Wood - Knock on Wood [https://www.discogs.com/release/12450403-Victor-Wood-Knock-On-Wood]
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.
Eric Clapton covered the song for his 1985 album 'Behind the Sun'.
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'.
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.
Actress Emma Stone performed the song in the 2010 movie, 'Easy A'.
In 1993 Beatrice Magnanensi and Letizia Mezzanotte interpret the song in the compilation 'Non 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
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