I Hear You Knocking

Zoo Freaks, get ready for some righteous vibes as we spin I Hear You Knocking by Dave Edmunds from his album Rockpile! This 1970 banger, a cover of Smiley Lewis’s 1955 rhythm and blues tune, hit number one in the UK for six weeks and sold over three million copies worldwide. Edmunds stumbled upon the song while producing Shakin’ Stevens and the Sunsets’ album A Legend. He originally planned to record Wilbert Harrison’s Let’s Work Together, but after Canned Heat beat him to it, he adapted the arrangement for I Hear You Knocking, which he heard on the radio while driving. Edmunds played every instrument himself, using heavy compression for a raw, blues-rock sound that John Lennon praised, saying, “I always liked simple rock. There’s a great one in England now, ‘I Hear You Knocking.’” The track’s quirky production, with trippy background effects and a honky-tonk piano, made it a standout, though its lyrics about a scorned lover holding a grudge since ’52 have been called a bit careless by some critics.

Another cool tidbit comes from the song’s recording process. Edmunds and his band Rockpile nailed the studio version in just two takes, transforming the bluesy original into an up-tempo rock anthem. Edmunds drew inspiration from Chuck Berry’s guitar style, giving it that gritty edge Zoo Freaks love. The song’s raw energy even caught the ear of fans on platforms like Reddit, where users rave about its “choppy guitar” and “fried vocals.” Edmunds himself was surprised by its success, admitting in interviews he never expected it to become his signature hit. The track’s live bootleg from Rockpile’s tour was so popular it convinced the label to release the studio version, cementing its place in rock history.

Dave Edmunds, born April 15, 1944, in Cardiff, Wales, kicked off his musical journey at just ten years old, playing in the Edmunds Bros Duo, a piano act with his older brother Geoff. By 1957, the brothers formed the Heartbeats, a rock band with Dave on lead guitar, evolving into the 99ers and later the Hill-Bills. In 1961, Edmunds fronted the Raiders, a rockabilly trio, honing his love for 1950s-style rock and roll. His big break came with Love Sculpture, a blues-rock band that scored a UK Top 10 hit with a wild cover of Sabre Dance. After going solo, Edmunds’ I Hear You Knocking skyrocketed him to fame, though he stayed true to his roots, producing for acts like Paul McCartney and Stray Cats while collaborating with Nick Lowe in Rockpile.

For more on Dave Edmunds, check out his official website at daveedmunds.com. You can also follow him on Facebook and Instagram for updates, though he’s been quiet since retiring in 2017. His X account is another spot to catch fan chatter about his classics. Zoo Freaks can connect with other fans on the Dave Edmunds Fan Group on Facebook, where folks share vinyl finds and concert memories. For deeper dives, fan sites like Last.fm offer tracklists and community discussions to keep the Rockpile spirit alive.