Somebody's Knockin'

"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
Format 7" single
Genre Country
Length 2:56
Label MCA Nashville
Writer(s) Ed Penney, Jerry Gillespie
Producer(s) Ed Penney
Terri Gibbs singles chronology
"Somebody's Knockin'"
(1980)
"Rich Man"
(1981)

"Somebody's Knockin '​" is the debut single of American country music singer Terri Gibbs. It was released in late 1980 from her debut 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]

Critical reception

An 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

Chart (1980-1981) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles[1] 8
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[1] 13
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks[8] 3
Canadian RPM Country Tracks 2
Canadian RPM Top Singles 20
Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary 14

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 157. ISBN 0-89820-177-2.
  2. Nancy Bishop. "Terri Gibbs: At Last Fame is Knockin' at her Door." Dallas Morning News, November 23, 1981 Paper, p. C8.
  3. Dick Dew. "Rate Tony C. A 'Natural' As Singer." Boston Sunday Advertiser, January 17, 1965, p. 52.
  4. Ken Mayer. "The Night Mayer." Boston Herald, June 26, 1982, p. B8.
  5. "Singles: First Time Around". Billboard: 73. September 6, 1980.
  6. Dillon, Charlotte. "Somebody's Knockin '​ review". Allmusic. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  7. Miller, Zell (1996). They Heard Georgia Singing. Mercer University Press. pp. 117–118. ISBN 0-86554-504-9. Retrieved 2009-08-09.
  8. Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 102.