Keep A-Knockin'

Last updated
"Keep A-Knockin'"
Single by Little Richard
from the album Little Richard
B-side "Can't Believe You Wanna Leave"
ReleasedAugust 1957 (1957-08)
RecordedJanuary 16, 1957
Washington, D.C.
Genre Rock and roll
Length2:22
Label Specialty (no. 611)
Songwriter(s) Richard Penniman
Little Richard singles chronology
"Jenny, Jenny"
(1957)
"Keep A-Knockin'"
(1957)
"Good Golly, Miss Molly"
(1958)

"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.

Contents

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] This version is usually credited to Penniman (Little Richard's legal name), Williams, and Bert Mays. Little Richard re-recorded the song four times, on the albums Little Richard's Greatest Hits (1965), Little Richard Live (1976), Shake It All About (1992), and the soundtrack to the film Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1998). The Shake It All About recording features a much simpler arrangement (the only instruments are vocals and piano), and spoken interludes of Little Richard exchanging knock-knock jokes with a group of children.

Personnel

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, as does John Bonham's introduction to the Led Zeppelin song "Rock and Roll". [7] 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".

Little Richard's version of the song has made numerous appearances in popular culture. It is featured in the Full House episode "Too Little Richard Too Late", performed by Little Richard himself. A version with alternate lyrics was recorded for as the opening theme of the NBC TV series Friday Night Videos . Film appearances include Up in Smoke , Christine , and the theatrical trailer for Home Alone .

Cover versions

Swedish rock band the Shanes recorded a version of the song in August 1964. [8] Backed by "Come On Sally", a song written by the group's lead guitarist Staffan Berggren, it was released as a single that same month. [8] It was their first vocal single following three the Shadows-inspired instrumental singles. [9] It nonetheless became a chart hit, reaching number eight on Tio i Topp on 29 August 1964, staying there for two weeks. [10] Both sides of the single are included on the group's debut album Let Us Show You released in October 1964. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'll Be Doggone</span> 1965 single by Marvin Gaye

"I'll Be Doggone" is a 1965 song recorded by American soul singer Marvin Gaye and released on the Tamla label. The song talks about how a man tells his woman that he'll be "doggone" about simple things but if she did him wrong that he'd be "long gone". The song was written by Miracles members Smokey Robinson, Pete Moore and Marv Tarplin, initially for The Temptations, who rejected the song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bad Boy (Larry Williams song)</span>

"Bad Boy" is a song written and recorded by American R&B musician Larry Williams. Specialty Records released it as a single in 1958, but it failed to reach the U.S. Billboard charts. However, music journalist Stephen Thomas Erlewine calls it one of Williams's "genuine rock & roll classics" and notes its popularity among 1960s British Invasion groups, such as the Beatles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Please, Please, Please</span> 1956 single by James Brown and the Famous Flames

"Please, Please, Please" is a rhythm and blues song performed by James Brown and the Famous Flames. Written by Brown and Johnny Terry and released as a single on Federal Records in 1956, it reached No. 6 on the R&B charts. The group's debut recording and first chart hit, it has come to be recognized as their signature song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">She's Not There</span> 1964 single by the Zombies

"She's Not There" is the debut single by the English rock band the Zombies, written by keyboardist Rod Argent. It reached No. 12 in the UK Singles Chart in September 1964, and No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States at the beginning of December 1964. In Canada, it reached No. 2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Go Now</span> 1964 single by Bessie Banks

"Go Now" is a song composed by Larry Banks and Milton Bennett and first recorded by Bessie Banks, released as a single in January 1964. The best-known version was recorded by the Moody Blues and released the same year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donna (Ritchie Valens song)</span> 1958 single by Ritchie Valens

"Donna" is a song written by Ritchie Valens, featuring a I IV V chord progression. The song was released in 1958 on Del-Fi Records. Written as a tribute to his high school sweetheart Donna Ludwig, it was Valens' highest-charting single, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart the following year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let's Dance (Chris Montez song)</span> 1962 single by Chris Montez

"Let's Dance" is a 1962 hit single by Chris Montez, written and produced by Jim Lee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Queenie</span> 1959 single by Chuck Berry

"Little Queenie" is a song written and recorded by Chuck Berry. Released in March 1959 as a double A-side single with "Almost Grown", it was included on Berry Is on Top (1959), Berry's first compilation album. He performed the song in the movies Go, Johnny Go! (1959) and Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll (1987). One year earlier, Berry had released "Run Rudolph Run", a Christmas song with the same melody.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss Mac Baren</span> 1966 single by Tages

"Miss Mac Baren" is a song by the Swedish rock band Tages, released as a single in November 1966. It was written by all five members of the group and was recorded during the sessions for their third studio album, Extra Extra, but was ultimately excluded from it. The B-side, "Get Up An' Get Goin'", was however included as the fourth track on the album. "Miss Mac Baren" got its first album release on Tages Hits Vol. 3, a compilation album released in August 1967.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Åke Gerhard</span>

Åke Gerhard was a Swedish songwriter. His songs won the title for the first three years of Sweden's Melodifestival: In 1958 "Lilla stjärna" Little star sung by Alice Babs, in 1959 "Augustin" sung by Siw Malmkvist with lyrics by Harry Sandin and in 1960 "Alla andra får varann" Everyone else gets each other with lyrics by Ulf Kjellqvist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No Response</span> Song written by Benny Andersson

"No Response" is a song written by Benny Andersson, first recorded by Swedish rock group Hep Stars and released as a single in September 1965. The song was written in response to criticism drawn from other Swedish beat groups, including Shanes and Tages for their inability to write own material.

"So Mystifying" is a song written by English musician Ray Davies, first recorded by his band the Kinks for their 1964 debut album Kinks. It appears as the second track on side one, following "Beautiful Delilah", and is the first track on the album on which Ray Davies performs the lead vocals. The best known version of the song was recorded by Swedish rock group Hep Stars, whose version of the song reached the top-five on both Kvällstoppen and Tio I Topp in 1965.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sleep Little Girl</span> 1964 Tages song

"Sleep Little Girl" is the debut single by the Swedish rock band Tages. It was written by Tommy Blom and released on 16 October 1964. The initial recording was made at a Youth center at Nylöse, a neighborhood of Gothenburg, Sweden's second biggest city, and the song has professionally been re-recorded in a studio twice.

"Crazy 'Bout My Baby" is a song first written and recorded by musician Robert Mosley in 1963. His third solo single, it failed to chart, leading to it becoming his final single released. Initially an obscure single, it was brought to light by mainstream acts such as The Swinging Blue Jeans and Tages, the latter of which charted in Sweden with it.

<i>Tages</i> (EP) 1965 EP by Tages

Tages is the first seven-inch extended play by Swedish rock group Tages, a release which features four songs, two of which showcase the early songwriting talent of the band. It was initially released on 4 June 1965 in 1000 copies on Platina Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Turn Your Back</span> 1965 single by Tages

"Don't Turn Your Back" is a song written by bass guitarist Göran Lagerberg and guitarist Anders Töpel, first recorded by their band Tages in 1965. Produced by the Violents Rune Wallebom, the song would be featured as the lead track from their debut EP Tages released three weeks later

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Should Be Glad</span> 1965 single by Tages

"I Should Be Glad" is a song by the Swedish rock band Tages, written by bassist Göran Lagerberg and rhythm guitarist Danne Larsson in 1964. Following bad press for their debut single "Sleep Little Girl", the group quickly recorded a follow-up which critics would consider good.

<i>Tio i Topp</i> Swedish record chart and radio show

Tio i Topp was a Swedish record chart and radio program broadcast by Sveriges Radio P3 between the years of 1961 and 1974. It was launched to combat pirate radio charts and was the first official Swedish record chart, predating the sales chart Kvällstoppen by a year. For a few months during the summers starting in 1962, it would turn into Sommartoppen with a separate host and a different concept. The program ceased in June 1974 following heated debates tying in with the progg movement. Both Tio i Topp and Kvällstoppen are considered official charts in Sweden during the 1960s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The One for You</span> 1965 single by Tages

"The One for You" is a song written by Swedish guitarist Danne Larsson and recorded by his group Tages in 1965. Following an intensive tour of the Sweden, while also previously having composed songs for the band, Larsson wrote the song inspired by their trip to London, allegedly about a girl he had met there. It was the first recording by Tages produced by Anders Henriksson, who would come to produce the majority of their coming output, along with being their first single recorded at Europafilm Studios in Bromma, Stockholm.

References

  1. 1 2 Prince, Patrick (July 4, 2010). "James Wiggins came 'Knocking' long before Little Richard did". Goldminemag.com. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  2. "Illustrated James 'Boodle It' Wiggins discography". Wirz.de. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  3. Little Richard interviewed on the Pop Chronicles (1969)
  4. Whitburn, Joel (1988). Top R&B Singles 1942–1988 . Record Research, Inc. p.  260. ISBN   0-89820-068-7.
  5. Vera, Billy. The Specialty Story 1944-1964 (Media notes). Various. Berkeley, California: Specialty Records. p. 11. 5SPCD-4412-2.
  6. "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone . No. 963. December 9, 2004. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  7. Cochran, Bobby (2003). Three Steps to Heaven: The Eddie Cochran Story (1st ed.). Milwaukee: Hal Leonard. p. 145. ISBN   0-634-03252-6.
  8. 1 2 "The Shanes - Keep A'Knockin". www.svenskpophistoria.se. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
  9. "The Shanes - History". www.svenskpophistoria.se. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
  10. Hallberg, Eric; Henningsson, Ulf (1998). Eric Hallberg, Ulf Henningsson presenterar Tio i topp med de utslagna på försök: 1961 - 74. Premium Publishing. ISBN   919727125X.
  11. "The Shanes - Let Us Show You". www.svenskpophistoria.se. Retrieved 2022-03-17.