"Somebody's Knockin'" is a song recorded by American country music singer Terri Gibbs. It was released in October 1980 as her debut single and title track from her album Somebody's Knockin'. It was co-written by Jerry Gillespie and Ed Penney. Penney was a record company executive who liked Gibbs's voice when he first heard her audition tape, but felt she needed stronger material.[2] Penney was a former Boston disc jockey who had promoted records and written a number of songs before moving to Nashville.[3] He was the producer of "Somebody's Knockin'" and became Terri Gibbs's manager.[4]
| "Somebody's Knockin'" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Terri Gibbs | ||||
| from the album Somebody's Knockin' | ||||
| B-side | "Some Days It Rains All Night Long"[1] | |||
| Released | October 1980 | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 2:56 | |||
| Label | MCA Nashville | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Ed Penney, Jerry Gillespie | |||
| Producer(s) | Ed Penney | |||
| Terri Gibbs singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Somebody's Knockin'" on YouTube | ||||
Critical reception
editAn uncredited review in Billboard praised Gibbs' "unusual vocal sound" and the "Louisiana-flavored production".[5]
The song's success led to Gibbs winning the 1981 Academy of Country Music Top Female Vocalist award, and the first Horizon (now New Artist) Award from the Country Music Association.[6]
It was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Country Song.[7]
Chart performance
edit| Chart (1980–1981) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (KMR)[8] | 52 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 20 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 2 |
| Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary | 14 |
| New Zealand (RIANZ)[9] | 14 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[1] | 13 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles[1] | 8 |
| U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary[10] | 3 |
| U.S. Cash Box Top 100 [11] | 10 |
| Year-end chart (1981) | Rank |
|---|---|
| US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[12] | 51 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 157. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
- ^ Nancy Bishop. "Terri Gibbs: At Last Fame is Knockin' at her Door." Dallas Morning News, November 23, 1981 Paper, p. C8.
- ^ Dick Dew. "Rate Tony C. A 'Natural' As Singer." Boston Sunday Advertiser, January 17, 1965, p. 52.
- ^ Ken Mayer. "The Night Mayer." Boston Herald, June 26, 1982, p. B8.
- ^ "Singles: First Time Around". Billboard. September 6, 1980. p. 73.
- ^ Dillon, Charlotte. "Somebody's Knockin' review". Allmusic. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
- ^ Miller, Zell (1996). They Heard Georgia Singing. Mercer University Press. pp. 117–118. ISBN 0-86554-504-9. Retrieved 2009-08-09.
- ^ Australian Chart Book - David Kent pp124
- ^ NZ Top 40 Singles, 3 May 1981
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 102.
- ^ "Top 100 1981-05-09". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
- ^ "Number One Awards – Billboard's 1981 Year-End Charts : Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 93, no. 51. December 26, 1981. p. YE-9. Retrieved 5 April 2020.