Frederick Knight [1975] - I Betcha Didn't Know That [Truth #TRA-3216]

Frederick Knight is celebrating his 77th birthday today. His only UK hit and only Billboard Hot 100 hit was "I've Been Lonely For So Long" in 1972. The song was actually recorded first by Rita & The Soulettes as a reggae version in 1971. Rita was Rita Marley wife of Bob Marley.

A song of his that has always stuck in my mind is one he wrote with Sam Dees (which has got his signature all through it) and recorded in 1975 on Stax subsidiary Truth (which was posted a month or so back recorded by  Ben E. King), is "I Betcha Didn't Know That". KC & The Sunshine Band also covered it in 1979 as the flip side to "Please Don't Go" which was a #3 UK pop chart hit. There are a also few other versions.

When Stax folded in 1975 Knight set up his own label Juana writing for and producing The Controllers. The label hit pay dirt with a disco song "Ring My Bell" he wrote for Anita Ward which was a world-wide #1 hit in 1979. Not his finest song, which was originally written for a 12 year old Stacy Lattisaw but she chose to sign for Cotillion so the song was given to Anita Ward.

Another killer song written by Knight & Dees was "Drop My Heart Off At The Door" recorded by Barbara Hall on the flip to her Northern/Modern soul biggie "You Brought It On Yourself" in Jun 1975. It was produced by Chicago soul legends Major Lance and Otis Leavill. Ben E. King recorded it as an album track only ("Supernatural Thing") in US but it gained a UK single release as the flip to "Happiness Is Where You Find It" in 1975. I'm not sure which was first but would guess Ben E. King.

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