This week, a special issue of the journal Seminars in Hearing detailed 50 years of the National Insitute of Occupational Safety and Health’s (NIOSH) hearing loss prevention efforts. NIOSH has conducted extensive research into workplace noise exposure and hearing loss risks. Thus, the Song of the Week is a classic from the Rolling Stones, “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking.”
Featured on the 1971 album Sticky Fingers, the 7-minute-plus song starts off with an iconic Keith Richards riff and continues through the main portion before ending with a long jam. Recorded in one take, “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking” includes a ripping Mick Taylor guitar solo, organ work from Billy Preston and a sax solo from Bobby Keys.
The song was never released as a single, but it’s a staple of classic rock radio and live Stones performances. And sure, there’s irony in picking a loud rock song to highlight hearing loss prevention, but that’s what we do here.