The verdict
Documented Sampling History
Confirmed songwriter of record (Frederick Knight), no dispute found — a clean case with a well-documented origin: written first as an innocent children’s song, then rewritten into a disco anthem.
Quick Facts
Released1979
AlbumSongs of Love
GenreDisco, R&B
LabelJuana Records
ProducerFrederick Knight
More infoWikipedia → · Discogs →
Who you need to ask
The songwriter of record — Frederick Knight
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
The current administrator — Not confirmed — originally Juana Records; needs a Songview/Discogs lookup
Unknown · checked Jul 2026
Has it been reused?
A #1 disco standard, widely covered and sampled since.
Do they allow reuse?
No standalone policy found; confirmed songwriter of record and no dispute found.
Who Owns It
Licenses explained →The two permissions you need, and who holds them
The song itself (the writing)Frederick Knight
The recording (current administrator)Not confirmed
Receipts
Every public mention of terms, policy, or past deals we've found
A children’s song rewritten into a disco anthem
Knight originally wrote the song for 11-year-old singer Stacy Lattisaw, envisioning something innocent about children talking on the telephone — he’s said a child that young “needs a special piece of material.” No lyrics reproduced.
Men’s Journal · read it →
Why it changed hands
Lattisaw signed with Atlantic’s Cotillion Records instead (reportedly on a family lawyer’s advice), leaving Knight with a finished song and no artist. He gave it to Anita Ward, a 21-year-old former substitute schoolteacher — who reportedly disliked it at first, preferring R&B ballads — then substantially rewrote the lyrics into a more suggestive, adult-themed song.
EURweb · read it →
Her only major hit
This became Ward’s only major hit — her second album later that year failed to gain similar traction, and she didn’t release a third until a decade later, in 1989.
Men’s Journal · read it →
Can You Use It for Free?
How to check PD →Is it public domain?No
Sample History
—
Times sampled
A #1 disco standard
Covers
—
First flip
Who to Contact
RB
Frederick Knight (Juana Records)
The confirmed songwriter of record
What they'll chargeNobody's shared numbers yet
Don't Want the Hassle?
Sample something pre-cleared insteadCheck Tracklib →
Find a similar sound that's 100% freeBrowse the catalog →
Was this page helpful?
Page history · 2 updates
Jul 2026Page created — full research (Research Queue Batch 12)
Jul 2026BPM/Key pending the automated GetSongBPM/Deezer pass