Dave Edmunds - I Hear You Knocking.mp3 Apr 2026
A defining characteristic of the track is Edmunds’ "out-of-phase" vocal sound. This was achieved by recording his vocals through a telephone line , giving it a distant, mechanical quality that stood out on 1970s radio.
Dave Edmunds’ 1970 version of is a landmark of rootsy rock and roll that became a worldwide smash, reaching #1 in the UK for six weeks and peaking at #4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1971. Originally written by Dave Bartholomew and recorded by Smiley Lewis in 1955, Edmunds transformed the piano-driven R&B original into a guitar-heavy anthem that eventually sold over three million copies. Production & Technical Insights
During the instrumental break, Edmunds pays homage to 1950s legends by shouting: "Fats Domino, Smiley Lewis, Chuck Berry, Huey Smith!" . Historical Significance Dave Edmunds - I Hear You Knocking.mp3
Vintage vinyl copies and CD collections like EMI Gold are available through retailers like Thursday's Golden Goodies or eBay.
Edmunds originally planned to cover Wilbert Harrison’s "Let’s Work Together," but after Canned Heat released their version first, he used the same 12-bar backing arrangement he had already developed to record "I Hear You Knocking" instead. Availability & Media A defining characteristic of the track is Edmunds’
The track was a personal favorite of John Lennon, who praised it as "one of the great records of all time" and a prime example of the "simple rock" he loved.
The track was the first major hit recorded at Rockfield Studios in Wales. It proved that high-quality, chart-topping records could be produced in a residential country setting away from major London studios. Originally written by Dave Bartholomew and recorded by
Edmunds played almost all the instruments himself during the session, including the prominent slide guitar fills and the pounding, straight-quaver rhythm.