Song #252 - "Knock Three Times" - Dawn

Recorded - summer or fall 1970

Released - November 1970

#1 for weeks of January 23 and 30 & February 6, 1971. 

     1971: The year that brought us "Stairway To Heaven", "What's Going On", "Imagine", and "I Feel The Earth Move". Not to mention some of the finest progressive, glam, and hard rock ever made. So you can imagine my disappointment that the very first song I'm reviewing for the year is by a group that is the antitheses of these innovative rock groups and singer/songwriters: Tony Orlando And Dawn. 

     Tony Orlando's career actually goes back quite a few years. In 1962, he recorded a creditable upbeat arrangement of "Beautiful Dreamer". By 1970, he was legally unable to use his name for his own records. So he created "Dawn", a studio-based group that he would record under. "Knock Three Times", written by L. Russell Brown and Irwin Levine, was the second Dawn single, and their first of two #1 hits. 

     "Knock Three Times" is also a song that was brand new to my ears. As usual, this can mean that we have a buried gem on our hands, or a well-forgotten piece of rubbish, destined for the compost heap. After seeing just how cheesy and glitzy Tony Orlando got in the mid 1970's, I didn't have high hopes...Well, after three listens, I feel this song falls somewhere in between. 

     The good: Tony Orlando gives the song a energetic and convincing vocal performance. The arrangement is mildly soulful with a heavier influence in Latin pop. The latter influence is due to the cha-cha rhythm and the ever prominent trumpets. I'll also admit that the sound effects during the chorus are rather creative.

     However, "Knock Three Times" comes across as a bit too middle of the road (MOR) for my taste. The lyrics and overall theme are squeaky clean bubblegum, aimed at a safe and family friendly market. These kind of lyrics would be fine in the early 1960's, but in the early 1970's, they sound downright reactionary. 

     Additionally, with the exception of the aforementioned sound effects and trumpet, the music track is bland and uninteresting. Why this song occupied the top of the pop charts for three whole weeks is a mystery to me. Actually, the fact that this song reached the top at all is downright mystifying. 

     After the success of "Knock Three Times", Tony Orlando assembled a real "Dawn". Compared to what the group would turn into around 1973, "Knock Three Times" sounds like pure gold. Yes, there's one final #1 by Tony Orlando And Dawn, and boy oh boy will I have words to say about this turkey when we get to '73...

Final Verdict - "Knock Three Times" features solid vocals and a chorus gimmick that adds a guilty-pleasure element to the song. However, these plus-sides can't disguise the biggest fault I have with the song: It is manufactured pop, written by outside songwriters, with overly-innocent lyrics, and performed by a then-non existent singing group. It's far from the worst I've heard, and it's not a terrible song. But it's not a classic or one I'd care to listen to again. 
                
                Coming Up Next - "One Bad Apple" by The Osmonds. 

                    Until Next Time, knock three times for Dr. Rock -