The verdict
Documented Sampling History
Confirmed songwriters of record (Eddie Floyd & Steve Cropper), no dispute found — closes this batch’s Stax thread; connects to “In the Midnight Hour,” “Dock of the Bay” and “Tramp” in this catalogue.
Quick Facts
Released1966
AlbumKnock on Wood
GenreSoul, R&B
LabelStax Records
ProducerJim Stewart
Recorded atStax Studios, Memphis
More infoWikipedia → · Discogs →
Who you need to ask
The songwriters of record — Eddie Floyd & Steve Cropper
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
The current administrator — Not confirmed — originally Stax; needs a Songview/Discogs lookup
Unknown · checked Jul 2026
Has it been reused?
A much-covered soul standard (Amii Stewart’s 1979 #1 disco version, Eric Clapton, David Bowie); closes this batch’s Stax/Cropper thread.
Do they allow reuse?
No standalone policy found; confirmed songwriters of record and no dispute found.
Related Songs
Same album, answer records, and songs worth knowing about
This song’s chords are an inverted version of it — same Lorraine Motel (this batch)
Written with Otis Redding in mind; shared Stax/Cropper thread (this batch)
Otis & Carla cut both this song and “Tramp” on “King & Queen”; the catalogue’s “Tramp” is the Lowell Fulson original (already in this catalogue)
Who Owns It
Licenses explained →The two permissions you need, and who holds them
The song itself (the writing)Eddie Floyd & Steve Cropper
The recording (current administrator)Not confirmed
Receipts
Every public mention of terms, policy, or past deals we've found
An inverted “Midnight Hour,” written for Otis
Written at the same Lorraine Motel as “In the Midnight Hour” (this batch) — Cropper has said its chord progression is that song’s progression inverted, played in reverse. It was originally written with Otis Redding in mind, but Stax’s Jim Stewart turned down the idea of Redding cutting it, so Floyd recorded it himself. No lyrics reproduced.
Encyclopedia of Alabama / Wikipedia · read it →
The Otis & Carla connection to “Tramp”
Otis Redding and Carla Thomas later cut their own duet cover of “Knock on Wood” for their 1967 album “King & Queen” — the same album that included their version of “Tramp” (the catalogue’s “Tramp” is the Lowell Fulson original they were covering).
Stax Records · read it →
Can You Use It for Free?
How to check PD →Is it public domain?No
Sample History
—
Times sampled
A soul standard (Amii Stewart’s #1 disco cover)
Covers
—
First flip
Big names who used itAmii Stewart · David Bowie
Who to Contact
KW
Eddie Floyd & Steve Cropper (Stax)
The confirmed songwriters of record
What they'll chargeNobody's shared numbers yet
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References
Every source cited on this page — 3 in total
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Page history · 2 updates
Jul 2026Page created — full research (Research Queue Batch 16)
Jul 2026BPM/Key pending the automated GetSongBPM/Deezer pass