Genre: soul
Rating: **** (4 stars)
Title: Knock On Wood
Company: Stax
Catalog: S-714
Year: 1967
Country/State: Montgomery, Alabama
Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+
Comments: little bit of adge staining along back cover edge; original Atlantic inner sleeve (Atlantic distributed Stax products)
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 4382
Price: $100.00
Cost: $66.00
I have no idea how many albums Stax Records released over its corporate life ... hundreds, a thousand perhaps? Regardless, this is easily among the cream of the label's crop; perhaps one of the top-10. It's certain Eddie Floyd's finest moment.
As was normal in the mid-1960s the "Knock On Wood" LP was released in an effort to capitalize on Floyd's crossover success with the title track. Written while daydreaming about superstitions, the track was originally composed with Otis Redding in mind, but Stax president Jim Stewart wasn't thrilled with wither the song, or the thought of having Redding record it. Floyd ended up recording the track after repeatedly bugging Stewart and once it was completed, Floyd and co-writer Steve Cropper ended up spending months trying to persuade a reluctant Stewart to release the track as a single. Finally giving in to the unrelenting pressure, Stax released the song as a single - 'Knock On Wood' b/w 'Got To Make A Comeback' (Stax catalog number 194). With the 45 topping the R&B charts and going top-30 pop, Stax rushed Floyd into the studio to record a supporting album.
Unlike most support LPs, this one's surprisingly consistent and enjoyable. Support from Steve Cropper and the cream of Stax sessions players certainly doesn't hurt the proceedings. Featuring a mixture of Floyd-penned originals and outside covers, the set serves as a wonderful introduction to Floyd's gruff old-school voice. There really aren't any weak tracks, though my tastes run to the less bluesier , more commercial stuff such as 'But It's Alright', '634-5789' (which Floyd wrote and Wilson Pickett scored a major hit with) and 'High-Heel Sneakers'. Stax also tapped 'Raise Your Hand' b/w 'I've Just Been Feeling Bad' (Stax catalog number S-208) as a follow-on single. Simply a classic soul album that deserves one of those rare four star ratings ...
"Knock On Wood" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Knock On Wood (Steve Cropper - Eddie Floyd) - 3:09
2.) Something You Got (Chris Kenner - Fats Domino) - 2:54
3.) But It's Alright (J.J. Jackson - Tubbs) - 2:48
4.) I Stand Accused (Jerry Butler - W. Butler) - 3:27
5.) If I Gotta Make a Fool of Somebody (R. Clark) - 2:45
6.) I Don't Want To Cry (Dixon - Jackson) - 2:45
(side
2)
1.) Raise
Your Hand (Steve Cropper - Eddie Floyd - Estelle Isbell) - 2:20
2.) Got To Make A Comeback (Eddie Floyd - Shamwell) - 2:35
3.) 634-5789 (Steve Cropper - Eddie Floyd) - 3:04
4.) I've Just Been Feeling Bad (Steve Cropper - Eddie Floyd) - 2:35
5.) High-Heel Sneakers (Higginbotham) - 2:39
6.) Warm And Tender Love (R. Robinson) - 3:30