Keep A-Knockin': Difference between revisions
→Other recorded renditions: WP:SONGCOVER applies |
mNo edit summary |
||
| Line 22: | Line 22: | ||
}} |
}} |
||
"'''Keep A-Knockin' (But You Can't Come In)'''" is a popular song that has been recorded by a variety of musicians over the years. |
"'''Keep A-Knockin' (But You Can't Come In)'''" is a popular song that has been recorded by a variety of musicians over the years. The lyrics concern a lover at the door who will not be admitted; some versions because someone else is already there, but in most others because the knocking lover has behaved badly. |
||
Early versions are sometimes credited to [[Perry Bradford]] and [[J. Mayo Williams]]. Variations were recorded by [[James "Boodle It" Wiggins]] in 1928,<ref name="Gold">{{Cite web|url=https://www.goldminemag.com/collector-resources/james-wiggins-came-knocking-long-before-little-richard-did|title=James Wiggins came 'Knocking' long before Little Richard did|first=Patrick|last=Prince|website=Goldminemag.com|date=July 4, 2010|accessdate=August 8, 2019}}</ref> [[Lil Johnson (blues singer)|Lil Johnson]] in 1935, [[Milton Brown]] in 1936 and [[Louis Jordan]] in 1939. A similar lyrical theme appears in "[[Open the Door, Richard]]" from 1946, but from the viewpoint of the one knocking. |
Early versions are sometimes credited to [[Perry Bradford]] and [[J. Mayo Williams]]. Variations were recorded by [[James "Boodle It" Wiggins]] in 1928,<ref name="Gold">{{Cite web|url=https://www.goldminemag.com/collector-resources/james-wiggins-came-knocking-long-before-little-richard-did|title=James Wiggins came 'Knocking' long before Little Richard did|first=Patrick|last=Prince|website=Goldminemag.com|date=July 4, 2010|accessdate=August 8, 2019}}</ref> [[Lil Johnson (blues singer)|Lil Johnson]] in 1935, [[Milton Brown]] in 1936 and [[Louis Jordan]] in 1939. A similar lyrical theme appears in "[[Open the Door, Richard]]" from 1946, but from the viewpoint of the one knocking. |
||
Wiggins version was entitled "Keep Knockin' An You Can't Get In", which was recorded in [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], in around February 1928 and released by [[Paramount Records]] (12662) that year.<ref name="Gold"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wirz.de/music/wigginsb.htm|title=Illustrated James 'Boodle It' Wiggins discography|website=Wirz.de|accessdate=August 8, 2019}}</ref> |
Wiggins version was entitled "Keep Knockin' An You Can't Get In", which was recorded in [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], in around February 1928 and released by [[Paramount Records]] (12662) that year.<ref name="Gold"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wirz.de/music/wigginsb.htm|title=Illustrated James 'Boodle It' Wiggins discography|website=Wirz.de|accessdate=August 8, 2019}}</ref> |
||
Revision as of 14:02, 12 May 2020
| "Keep A-Knockin'" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Little Richard | ||||
| B-side | "Can't Believe You Wanna Leave" | |||
| Released | August 1957 | |||
| Recorded | January 16, 1957 Washington, D.C. | |||
| Genre | Rock and roll | |||
| Length | 2:22 | |||
| Label | Specialty (no. 611) | |||
| Songwriter(s) | See text | |||
| Little Richard singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Keep A-Knockin' (But You Can't Come In)" is a popular song that has been recorded by a variety of musicians over the years. The lyrics concern a lover at the door who will not be admitted; some versions because someone else is already there, but in most others because the knocking lover has behaved badly.
Early versions are sometimes credited to Perry Bradford and J. Mayo Williams. Variations were recorded by James "Boodle It" Wiggins in 1928,[1] Lil Johnson in 1935, Milton Brown in 1936 and Louis Jordan in 1939. A similar lyrical theme appears in "Open the Door, Richard" from 1946, but from the viewpoint of the one knocking.
Wiggins version was entitled "Keep Knockin' An You Can't Get In", which was recorded in Chicago, Illinois, in around February 1928 and released by Paramount Records (12662) that year.[1][2]
In 1957, when Little Richard recorded it as an uptempo rock and roll song,[3] "Keep A-Knockin'" reached number two on the U.S. R&B charts and number eight on the U.S. pop charts.[4] His version is usually credited to Penniman (Richard's legal name), Williams, and Mays. Little Richard played the song on an episode of Full House. He recorded a version of the song with different lyrics as an introduction for the NBC show Friday Night Videos. The song was also featured in the theatrical trailer for Home Alone. The song was used in the film Christine when Dennis is trying to break into the car, but is then scared off by the song that suddenly starts playing from the car radio. The song is also referenced in Cheech and Chong’s “Up in Smoke”.
Personnel
- Little Richard — vocals, piano
- Wilbert Smith, Grady Gaines, Clifford Burks — tenor saxophones
- Samuel Parker — baritone saxophones
- Nathaniel Douglas — guitar
- Olsie Robinson — bass
- Charles Connor — drums[5]
Recognition and influence
Rolling Stone magazine later ranked "Keep A-Knockin'" at number 442 in its list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".[6] An answer song titled "I Hear You Knocking", written by Dave Bartholomew and Pearl King, was recorded by Smiley Lewis in 1955. The drum part on Little Richard's song, played by Charles Connor, also inspired later songs. Eddie Cochran's "Somethin' Else" features an identical drum beat, played by Earl Palmer.[7] The drum introduction on the Little Richard recording was used by John Bonham for introduction to the Led Zeppelin song "Rock and Roll". The version of the song recorded by Louis Jordan was featured in the 2015 videogame Fallout 4, as part of the in-game radio station "Diamond City Radio".
References
- ^ a b Prince, Patrick (July 4, 2010). "James Wiggins came 'Knocking' long before Little Richard did". Goldminemag.com. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
- ^ "Illustrated James 'Boodle It' Wiggins discography". Wirz.de. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
- ^ Little Richard interviewed on the Pop Chronicles (1969)
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1988). Top R&B Singles 1942–1988. Record Research, Inc. p. 260. ISBN 0-89820-068-7.
- ^ Vera, Billy. The Specialty Story 1944-1964 (Media notes). Various. Berkeley, California: Specialty Records. p. 11. 5SPCD-4412-2.
- ^ "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone (963). December 9, 2004. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
- ^ Cochran, Bobby (2003). Three Steps to Heaven: The Eddie Cochran Story (1st ed.). Milwaukee: Hal Leonard. p. 145. ISBN 0-634-03252-6.