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Saturday Night Classics: ‘Knock on Wood’ by Eddie Floyd

Andrew Troutman
@Dotorimuk
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I’ve always been more Beatles than Rolling Stones, more Kinks than Who, more Hank Sr. than Hank Jr., and more R.E.M. than Replacements. And I’ve always been more into Stax Records than Motown, especially the early years.

Eddie Floyd has had a great career as a songwriter and a singer. He’s even released good stuff in the last year or so, but probably his best-known song was this co-write with legendary Stax guitarist Steve Cropper, of Booker T. and the M.G.s. From 1966, “Knock on Wood”:

A year later, also on the Stax label, Otis Redding and Carla Thomas raised the tempo, the temperature and a lot of pulses, with their version for their immortal “King and Queen” album:

Nine years later came the somewhat psychedelic disco version from Amii Stewart. I guess this is the first version I heard — as a tyke. Gotta admit, I can do without it, but I s’pose a lot of people prefer it.

David Bowie covered it on a live album, and there are a few others I haven’t heard, but I like the Stax versions, and I give Otis and Carla the edge. You?

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Discussion (11)

  • AMD Texas@DarinJohnson

    Beatles over Stones? Yes

    Kinks over the Who? Yes

    Hank Sr over Hank Jr? Tie for me but love them both

    REM over the Replacements? REM no contest

    Frankly of all of the above I go Kinks but that's me.

    Great choice for this weeks classic.

  • JustmeinAZ@JustmeinAZ

    I’ve always been more Beatles than Rolling Stones, more Kinks than Who, more Hank Sr. than Hank Jr., and more R.E.M. than Replacements. And I’ve always been more into Stax Records than Motown, especially the early years.

    Pretty much agree all here. Although my late husband was big, big into Motown and I love it.

    Eddie #1, Otis #2 - Forget the rest.

    Guess I date myself by actually remembering these from when they were current. Sigh,

  • Andrew Troutman@Dotorimuk
    ReplyingtoJustmeinAZ

    JustmeinAZ (View Comment):

    I’ve always been more Beatles than Rolling Stones, more Kinks than Who, more Hank Sr. than Hank Jr., and more R.E.M. than Replacements. And I’ve always been more into Stax Records than Motown, especially the early years.

    Pretty much agree all here. Although my late husband was big, big into Motown and I love it.

    Eddie #1, Otis #2 – Forget the rest.

    Guess I date myself by actually remembering these when they were current. Sigh,

    I like Motown, I just prefer the rough Stax sound.

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