About This Footage
The clip "I Hear You Knocking" is a rare live recording from 1967, featuring the song of the same name performed by Quicksilver Messenger Service. What's striking about this footage is that it's not the typical artist-centric performance we often see in archives. Instead, it's a music publisher's take on the iconic song.
The fact that this clip is tagged as "Live" and "Rare" suggests that it's an unusual find. Music publishers typically don't get much attention for their own performances or live recordings. Their primary focus is on managing composers' intellectual property, licensing compositions, collecting royalties, and ensuring songwriters are paid when their work is used.
In this case, the music publisher EMU Unart Catalog has made a rare appearance in the spotlight. The clip's release in 2016, courtesy of Purple Pyramid Records, provides insight into the publisher's efforts to promote the song and its associated catalog. This might be an attempt by the publisher to reinvigorate interest in their repertoire or to capitalize on the renewed popularity of classic rock music.
Quicksilver Messenger Service was a prominent band during the 1960s psychedelic rock era. Their rendition of "I Hear You Knocking" is likely one of many live performances they gave during this period. The song itself, written by Jessie Hill in 1955, has been covered by numerous artists over the years.
The fact that Quicksilver Messenger Service chose to perform a cover rather than an original composition might indicate the band's musical influences and preferences at the time. By performing "I Hear You Knocking," they were likely paying homage to the song's origins in New Orleans R&B, while also adapting it to fit their own psychedelic rock style.
The clip itself is 4:01 minutes long, which suggests a relatively standard live performance length for the era. The YouTube description provides context by linking the performance to the larger collection "Live Across America 1967-1977." This compilation likely includes other performances from Quicksilver Messenger Service and possibly other bands associated with Purple Pyramid Records.
The presence of this clip in the archive highlights the complexities of music publishing and the various roles that publishers play in shaping an artist's career. While it may not be as well-known as some of the more prominent live recordings from the era, "I Hear You Knocking" offers a unique perspective on the intersection of music publishing and performance during this pivotal time in rock history.
This clip serves as a reminder to appreciate the often-overlooked contributions of music publishers to the development of popular music. By providing access to rare footage like "I Hear You Knocking," we can gain a deeper understanding of the behind-the-scenes work that goes into managing an artist's intellectual property and promoting their music.
Curated from public records and music databases.
