Aired on Treasure Island Oldies – Feb 18, 2024

In 1966 an R&B and soul singer/songwriter, best known for his work at Stax Records, had a #1 hit on the Soul Singles chart that crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100, reaching the #28 position. This original version would eventually be certified as Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling over 500,000 copies.

Thirteen years later, a twenty-three year old female soul singer released a disco version that went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 1979 and to #6 on the R&B charts. It also went Platinum in the same year, selling between one and two million copies.

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The original version of the song was sung and co-written by the great Eddie Floyd. His co-writer was guitarist/songwriter/producer, Steve Cropper, who was the guitarist for Stax Records’ house band, Booker T. & The M.G.’s.

According to Cropper, there was a lightning storm the night that he and Floyd wrote the song, hence the lyrics ‘It’s like thunder, lightning, The way you love me is frightening.’

When those lyrics were heard again in 1979, they struck with a welcome vengeance internationally. In addition to topping the charts in the U.S., the record went to #1 in Canada, #2 in Australia, Italy, France, and Switzerland, #3 in New Zealand, #5 in Sweden and #9 in South Africa. In the UK, it reached the Top 10 twice, peaking at #6 in 1979 and at #7 in 1985 via a remixed version.

The 1979 disco rendition of the song earned Amii Stewart a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 1980 Annual Grammy Awards.

Ironically, when interviewed in 1985 by Paul Sexton of Record Mirror, a British weekly music newspaper, Stewart was quoted as saying, “I’ve never bought a disco record in my life. And I don’t want to buy one. When I go home and close that door, I don’t want my brains to be blown out. I go home and listen to Donald Fagen, Nik Kershaw, Phil Collins…”

The record would end up being the singer’s only international chart-topping hit. Today, Amii Stewart may consider herself very lucky, “Knock On Wood.”

YouTube video of this song:

Eddie Floyd’s original version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kceiks__PsE

Amii Stewart’s version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qavAXKEihIM

This “Moments In Time” story is yet another example of a “golden oldie” or forgotten favorite that earned its place in the evolution of Rock & Roll.