Knock on Wood (song)

This article is about the Eddie Floyd song. For other songs with the same title, see Knock on Wood (disambiguation).

"Knock On Wood"
Single by Eddie Floyd
from the album Knock On Wood
B-side	"Got to Make a Comeback"
Released	1966
Format	7" single
Recorded	1966
Genre	Soul
Length	3:05
Label	Stax Records S-194
Writer(s)	Eddie Floyd, Steve Cropper
Producer	Steve Cropper
Eddie Floyd singles chronology
"Things Get Better" (1966) "Knock On Wood" (1966) "Raise Your Hand" (1967)

"Knock on Wood"
Single by David Bowie
David Bowie singles chronology
"Diamond Dogs" (1974) "Knock on Wood" (1974 - UK) "Rock 'n' Roll with Me" (1974 - US)

"Knock on Wood"
Single by Amii Stewart
Length	3:37

"Knock on Wood" is a hit 1966 song written by Eddie Floyd and Steve Cropper and originally performed by Eddie Floyd. The Eddie Floyd version peaked at number twenty-eight on the Hot 100, and spent one week at number one on the soul singles.

The song has been frequently covered, first by Otis Redding and Carla Thomas, and with charting singles by David Bowie and Amii Stewart.

The song is in chromatic-minor with a tonic major chord.

Covers

1984

1984 (band) Studio demo recorded on March 31st 1967 at Thames Television in Broom Lane Studios, Teddington, UK.

1. "Knock on Wood" (Floyd, Cropper) — 3:13

Personnel

• Brian May: guitar, backing vocals
• Dave Dilloway: bass
• John Garnham: vocal
• Richard Thompson: Drums
• Tim Staffell: backing vocals

David Bowie

David Bowie's 1974 single is taken from the live album David Live.

1. "Knock on Wood" (Floyd, Cropper) — 3:03
2. "Panic in Detroit" (Bowie) — 5:52

Personnel

• David Bowie: vocal
• Earl Slick: guitar
• Herbie Flowers: bass
• Michael Kamen: keyboards
• Tony Newman: drums
• David Sanborn, Richard Grando: saxophone
• Pablo Rosario, Gui Andrisano, Warren Peace: backing vocals
• Tony Visconti: Producer

Amii Stewart

Amii Stewart recorded a disco version of the song which reached #1 in the U.S. charts in April 1979, as well as charting on the soul singles and disco charts, becoming the best-known version of the song. the song was co-produced by Simon May It also reached the Top 10 twice in the UK, first in 1979 (#6) and a remixed version reached #7 in 1985.

Guy Sebastian

In August 2007, Australian soul singer Guy Sebastian recorded a tribute version of Knock on Wood at Ardent Studios in Memphis, Tennessee for his album of soul classics The Memphis Album. Steve Cropper played on and produced this track with many of the original members of the Stax House Band including Donald "Duck" Dunn, Lester Snell, Steve Potts.

Chart positions

Chart (1979) Amii Stewart version	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	1
U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles	6
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play	5
UK Singles Chart (1979)	6
UK Singles Chart (1985 remix)	7

Other cover versions

• Wilson Pickett on the album The Wicked Pickett (1967)
• Otis Redding and Carla Thomas in a duet (1967)
• The Flames on their album Burning Soul (1967)
• Prince Buster (1967)
• Archie Bell & the Drells on the album Tighten Up (1968)
• Buddy Guy on his album This is Buddy Guy! (1968)
• Harpers Bizarre on their album 4 (1969)
• Alton Ellis featured on The Best of Alton Ellis (1969)
• The Upsetters on the album Eastwood Rides Again (1970)
• Ike & Tina Turner
• Cher on the album I'd Rather Believe in You (1976)
• In 1980 the song was performed by Pink Lady on their variety show Pink Lady and Jeff.
• Razzy Bailey (1984), whose version reached the top 30 of the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in the fall of 1984.
• Eric Clapton on his album Behind the Sun (1985)
• Jeff Healey in the movie Road House (1989)
• Lee Atwater, Chuck Jackson, and Carla Thomas on the album Red Hot & Blue (1990)
• Michael McDonald, Phoebe Snow on the album "The New York Rock and Soul Revue: Live at the Beacon" (1991)
• Michael Bolton on the album Timeless: The Classics (1992)
• Maceo Parker on his album Maceo (1994)
• Mr. Magoo trailer (1997)
• Carmen Carter in An Extremely Goofy Movie
• Safri Duo on the international edition of the album 3.0, featuring Clark Anderson (2004)
• Rachel Stevens (2004)
• Seal on the album Soul (2008)
• James Taylor in concert over the years and on his 2008 album Covers
• Dirt Bike Annie on their album It Ain't Easy Bein' Single
• Lindsey Cardinale on the American Idol Season 4: The Showstoppers album.
• jacksoul on mySOUL (2006)
• Daryl Hall and Jimmy Wayne on Episode 26 of Hall's internet concert series Live From Daryl's House (2009)
• Emma Stone in Easy A (2010)
• Ryan Shaw on his 2010 album It Gets Better.

Preceded by "Love Is a Hurtin' Thing" by Lou Rawls	Billboard Hot R&B Singles number-one single (Eddie Floyd version) November 19, 1966	Succeeded by "You Keep Me Hangin' On" by The Supremes
Preceded by "What a Fool Believes" by The Doobie Brothers	Billboard Hot 100 number one single (Amii Stewart version) April 21, 1979	Succeeded by "Heart of Glass" by Blondie
Preceded by "What a Fool Believes" by The Doobie Brothers	Canadian "RPM" Singles Chart number-one single (Amii Stewart version) May 5, 1979	Succeeded by "Heart of Glass" by Blondie