"Knock Three Times" is a popular song recorded by Tony Orlando and Dawn. It was released as a single in November 1970, paired with their other hit song, "Candida". The single hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1971 and eventually sold nine million copies, also claiming the number-one spot on the UK Singles Chart.
The composers of this song, L. Russell Brown and Irwin Levine, were thinking of the song Up on the Roof and they wanted to write a song with that kind of lyrical flavor, tenement living. Knock Three Times actually sold more than 100,000 records a day in New York City alone for ten straight days. The motion picture Now and Then also contains this song, as do some other feature films..
It was covered by Billy "Crash" Craddock in 1971 and was a number three country hit.[1]
The song was sung by Vic Reeves on the Reeves & Mortimer comedy panel show Shooting Stars, during the "Impressions Round" where Reeves sings a popular song "in the style of a club singer".
Dolly Parton performed the song on her 1976-1977 variety show Dolly!
Paul and Storm released a Larry Craig-themed parody of this song, entitled "Tap Three Times".[2]
The song was performed by Gordon Brittas in an episode of the BBC Sitcom "The Brittas Empire" after the advertised performer pulled out of a charity concert at the last minute.
Bill Murray sings the song during the movie Mad Dog and Glory
A dance/club remake of "Knock Three Times" was released in July 2008[3] by "DJ Freddy Retro featuring Jim Davis Jr." on Casa Records
