Quick Answer

Peter & Gordon released Knight in Rusty Armour first—as a song and album in 1966–1967. Robert Fisher’s book The Knight in Rusty Armor came later, with its first edition appearing in 1987 (and more widely cited as published in 1989).

Why there’s confusion

The title is very similar across two different works in different media, which often leads to mix-ups:

  • Music (1966–1967): Peter & Gordon issued a single and an album titled Knight in Rusty Armour. The track was written by Mike Leander and Charles Mills, produced by John Burgess, and the album was aimed at the U.S. market.
  • Book (1987/1989): Robert Fisher’s allegorical self-help novel The Knight in Rusty Armor was first published by Wilshire Book Company in 1987 , with many sources listing 1989 as its main publication year.

Because the book became an international bestseller and is widely referenced in self-help circles, many people assume it’s the original—but chronologically, the Peter & Gordon release came first by about two decades.

Timeline at a glance

  • 1966: Song “Knight in Rusty Armour” by Peter & Gordon is released.
  • 1967: Album Knight in Rusty Armour by Peter & Gordon appears (dated Jan 1, 1967 on some platforms).
  • 1987: First Wilshire Book Company edition of Robert Fisher’s The Knight in Rusty Armor.
  • 1989: Commonly cited publication year for Fisher’s book in bibliographies and encyclopedic entries.

Bottom line

If your question is strictly about who released “Knight in Rusty Armour” first , the answer is Peter & Gordon in the mid‑1960s. Robert Fisher’s similarly titled book arrived in the late 1980s.

TL;DR: Peter & Gordon (1966–67) beat Robert Fisher’s book (1987/89) to the title.

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