Sep 22, 20212 min read

Knock Three Times - Dawn (1971) 9/23/21

In 1970, songwriters Irwin Levine and L. Russell Brown challenged themselves to write a "Great Song" about "finding romance in an apartment building."

That may seem like an odd topic, until you consider that Gerry Goffin and Carole King had already written a "Great Song" about it: "Up on the Roof," a Top 10 hit by The Drifters in 1962. (Click the link below.)

Irwin and Russell came up with a tune that record producer Tony Orlando KNEW would be a hit---but only if he recorded it himself.

Unfortunately, Tony was under contract to a rival record company and had to do some sneaking around to get it done. He hired two female backup singers, Toni Wine and Linda November, recorded it under the name of "Dawn," and in early 1971, "Knock Three Times" became a worldwide hit, reaching #1 in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa--and selling more than 6 MILLION copies in the process!

Well, his cover was blown, but it didn't matter anymore because Tony was on his way to stardom.

He signed a new record deal for himself, and decided to go out on tour--so he hired Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson as his backup singers and together they became Tony Orlando and Dawn!

(Note: To clarify, neither Telma OR Joyce sang on "Knock Three Times." That's a little tidbit of trivia I bet you didn't know!)

(Note #2: Later in 1971, Billy "Crash" Craddock released a cover that reached #3 on Billboard's Country Chart.)

"Knock Three Times" by Dawn (Tony, Toni & Linda)--a "Great Song of 1971" about finding romance in an apartment building--thanks to Irwin Levine and L. Russell Brown.

(Take THAT, Goffin and King!)

Dawn: