Knock On Wood BOTB Showdown
Hello, if you’re looking for Mondays Music Moves Me, I published it on Sundays now. You’ll find a direct link in my side menu but before you boogie off, why not take a moment to cast a vote for your favorite cover artist in this showdown?
In July 1966, Eddie Floyd recorded Knock On Wood. It was Amii Stewart’s 1978 hit cover I remember and it was her version that crossed my ears a number of times over the past few months that inspired today’s battle song pick.
Like last time, I made a mini-playlist for this showdown round. Please let me know if you dislike it. I found three artists, one female and two male vocalists, all new discoveries. I hope you enjoy the selections. Click play for non-stop listening pleasure. 🙂
Which artist steals your vote?
You may want to mark your calendar to check back a week from today for the battle results. I invite you to check out more battles underway. A list of all BOTB participants are listed in my side bar beneath the banner. Have a bandtastic day!
X💋X💋, Cathy
Polls close at noon (ET) on the 7th!
13 Comments
John Holton
Rick Price sounded the best to me, so I’ll go with him.
Brian's Home ~ Forever
I liked the Rick Price version best.
messymimi's meanderings
Rick Price. I like his voice, among other things.
diedre Knight
Good battle, great song choice. Though I feel like I’ll hear this song in my head for the rest of the day 😉 Because I do remember this song very well, I’m voting for Rachel for being different. Happy April!
Stephen T. McCarthy
CAThy! It’s That YOU!!
Great song selection. It’s so soulful & groovy, I can’t imagine anyone not liking this song!
I thought the real Battle was between Rene Anderson and Rick Price. The Rachel Stevens version was pretty lightweight by comparison.
It was a fairly close call,
but I’ll go with the Oddball.
(Uh… yeah, I mean Odd Rene Anderson. He really had his groove thang bumpin’ & grindin’!)
~ D-FensDogG
boromax
VOTE = Odd Rene Andersen
All three versions are worthy of further airtime on regular playlists! I just liked Rene’s voice a bit more, I think. My second favorite was the Rick Price version.
I agree about the two contestants v. three (or more).
Sandee
All three are good. Rachel was fun, but Rene Anderson gets my vote.
Have a fabulous day and week, Cathy. Love and hugs. ♥
Mary B
Cathy-
I’ve always liked this song so the choice was rather easy for me.
Please give my vote to Rene. Loved the soulful groove!
-Mary
Eugi
Happy April, Cathy! I remember the song well, and I think Rick Price did the best version. My vote goes to Rick Price. I agree with Debbie, I like having a choice of only 2 rather than 3.
Thomas Anderson
Hi, Cathy!
Happy April 2024, dear friend, and a special shout out to my good buddy Foghorn Leghorn! 🙂 I hope you and DH and family (including the 2 LAs) had a wonderful Easter.
I’m so glad I am here for this band battle, because Eddie Floyd’s “Knock On Wood” is one of my boomer favorites. The record topped the Soul chart in late 1966 and was a popular play at the Shady Dell. All three artists and all three covers you chose for this contest delight me. English pop singer Rachel Stevens released her cover of Amii Stewart’s up tempo, late 1970s disco-styled version in 2004 on the album DiscoMania. She does a fine job on it but, truthfully, I was never tremendously fond of the Amii Stewart remake, and therefore, Rachel’s cover lands in third place in my book.
Aussie singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Rick Price released his version of “Knock On Wood” on the 2021 album Soulville. I enjoyed Rick’s rendition and went ahead and listened to some of his other covers from the album including Otis Redding’s “Sittin’ On The Dock Of The Bay” and Dionne Warwick’s “Walk On By.” On Soulviille, Rick also tackles “Midnight Hour,” “Stand By Me,” “Grapevine,” “Chain Of Fools,” “Dancing In The Street” and other soul classics. I rank Rick’s cover of “Knock On Wood” as second best in your battle.
Hands down, the winner, in my opinion, is artist #1, Norwegian Odd Rene Andersen. Rene’s version remains faithful to the Stax Memphis sound of Floyd’s original. His gritty vocal is sweetened by a delightful chorus of backing singers. It’s simply sensational. Rene’s version comes from his own compilation of classic soul covers, the 2014 album Soul City. I was so excited hearing Rene’s recording of “Knock On Wood,” that I went to YouTube and listened to some of his other outstanding covers from Soul City, including “Man’s World” by James Brown, “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye, “A Change Is Gonna Come” (fabulous) by Sam Cooke, Pickett’s “Land Of 1000 Dances” and another absolute gem, the Ray Charles hit “Hallelujah I Love Her So.” Husky-voiced Rene Andersen nails the authentic sound of 60s soul and gritty southern style R&B, and he gets my vote for his tremendous cover of “Knock On Wood!”
Have a wonderful week and month, dear friend Cathy!
Debbie D.
I remember the original well and felt that Rick Price did the best version. I don’t mind the playlist, but to be honest, I’d rather we stick to two songs instead of three. That’s just my personal preference. Anyway, good song! 🙂
Arlee Bird
One is probably as good as the other, but my top preference would be the Rick Price version.
Lee
Birgit Bedesky
I’m here, shaky but here. I’m at work too, finally, I’ve been quite sick. Are you doing the A to Z challenge? Anyhoo, I know the middle one the best ad it got a lot of playtime but I’m voting for #1. I love the bluesy version the best. FYI, I thought you were going to do the Knock On Wood from Casablanca:)