Twist and Shout explained

Twist and Shout
Cover:Twist and Shout by The Top Notes B-side US vinyl label.jpg
Type:single
Artist:the Top Notes
A-Side:Always Late (Why Lead Me On)
Recorded:February 23, 1961
Studio:Atlantic, New York City
Genre:Rock and roll
Length:2:05
Label:Atlantic
Producer:Phil Spector
Prev Title:Hearts of Stone
Prev Year:1961
Next Title:Wait for Me Baby
Next Year:1962

"Twist and Shout" is a 1961 song written by Phil Medley and Bert Berns (later credited as "Bert Russell"). It was originally recorded by the Top Notes, but it did not become a hit in the record charts until it was reworked by the Isley Brothers in 1962. The song has been covered by several artists, including the Beatles, Salt-N-Pepa, The Astronauts and Chaka Demus & Pliers, who experienced chart success with their versions.

Original version

The Top Notes, an American R&B vocal group, recorded "Twist and Shout" at the Atlantic Studios on February 23, 1961. The session was arranged by Teddy Randazzo and produced by Phil Spector. The Top Notes' Howard "Howie" Guyton provided the lead vocals,[1] with accompaniment by saxophonist King Curtis, guitarist John Pizzarelli, drummer Panama Francis, and backing vocalists the Cookies.[2]

In a song review for AllMusic, Richie Unterberger described the Top Notes recording as "a Latin-tinged raveup with a drab generic R&B melody" that he felt was "not very good".[3] Bert Berns, the song's co-writer, was dissatisfied with the recording and Spector's production.[4] It failed to chart.[5]

The Isley Brothers version

Twist and Shout
Cover:Twist and Shout by The Isley Brothers US vinyl 1962.jpg
Type:single
Artist:the Isley Brothers
B-Side:Spanish Twist
Recorded:New York City, 1962
Album:Twist & Shout
Genre:
  • Rock and roll
  • R&B
Label:Wand
Producer:Bert Russell
Prev Title:Shout
Prev Year:1962
Next Title:Twistin' With Linda
Next Year:1962

When the Isley Brothers decided to record the song in 1962, Berns (who also used the name Bert Russell) assumed the role of producer. According to Unterberger, the new arrangement infused the tune with more "gospel-fired soul passion":[3] "Twist and Shout" became the group's first single to reach the Top 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

This version of the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2010.[6]

Personnel

Charts

Chart (1962–1963)Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[7] 17
US Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles[8] 2
US Cash Box Top 100[9] 7
US Cash Box Rhythm & Blues Singles[10] 3
UK Singles (OCC)[11] 42

The Beatles version

Twist and Shout
Type:single
Artist:the Beatles
B-Side:There's a Place
Released:
Recorded:February 11, 1963
Studio:EMI, London
Length:2:32
Label:
Producer:George Martin
Chronology:The Beatles US
Prev Title:My Bonnie
Prev Year:1964
Twist and Shout
Year:1964
Next Title:Can't Buy Me Love
Next Year:1964

The Beatles' rendition of "Twist and Shout" was released on their first UK album Please Please Me, inspired by the Isley Brothers' version. John Lennon provided the lead vocals and initially felt ashamed of his performance in the song "because I could sing better than that, but now it doesn't bother me. You can hear that I'm just a frantic guy doing his best." A second take was attempted, but Lennon had nothing left due to a hoarse voice, and it was abandoned.[12] The Beatles' version of "Twist and Shout" has been called "the most famous single take in rock history."[13] Mark Lewisohn called it "arguably the most stunning rock and roll vocal and instrumental performance of all time."[14]

The song was released as a single in the US on March 2, 1964, with "There's a Place" as its B-side. It was released by Chicago-based Vee-Jay Records on the Tollie label and reached 2 on Billboards chart on April 4, during the week that the top five places on the chart were all Beatles singles.[15] [16] It was the only million-selling Beatles single in the U.S. that was a cover song, and the only Beatles cover single to reach the top 10 on a national record chart.[17] The song failed to hit No. 1 because the group's own follow-up single "Can't Buy Me Love" held the spot. Cash Box rated the song No. 1 that same week.[18]

In the UK, "Twist and Shout" was released by Parlophone on an eponymous EP with "Do You Want to Know a Secret", "A Taste of Honey", and "There's a Place" from the Please Please Me (1963) album. Both the EP and album reached No. 1. In Canada, it became the title track to the second album of Beatles material to be issued by Capitol Records of Canada on February 3, 1964.[19]

The song was used as the Beatles' closing number on Sunday Night at the London Palladium in October 1963 and at The Royal Variety Show in November 1963; the Royal Variety performance was included on the Anthology 1 compilation album in 1995. The Beatles performed the song on their Ed Sullivan Show appearance in February 1964, and they continued to play it live until the end of their 1965 American tour. Additionally, they recorded "Twist and Shout" on nine occasions for BBC television and radio broadcasts, the earliest of which was for the Talent Spot radio show on November 27, 1962.

In 1986, Matthew Broderick lip-synced to the Beatles' version of it in the film Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Coincidentally, the Rodney Dangerfield film Back to School (released two days after Ferris) also featured the song, this one sung by Dangerfield himself and patterned after the Beatles' arrangement. The use in the two films helped propel the single up the Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at No. 23 at the issue date September 27, 1986, giving the group their second chart single of the 1980s (the other being "The Beatles Movie Medley" in 1982).[20]

In November 2010, 47 years after its recording, the Beatles' version of "Twist and Shout" made a debut on the UK Singles Chart. One of a number of Beatles tracks re-entering the chart in the aftermath of their new availability on iTunes, it peaked at No. 48.

Personnel

Credits by Philippe Margotin and Jean-Michel Guesdon

Charts

Chart (1963–1964)Peak
position
Argentina (CAPIF)[22] 1
Australian Kent Music Report[23] 5
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[24] 38
Canada CHUM Chart[25] 5
Denmark (Danmarks Radio)[26] 18
Finland (Official Finnish Charts)[27] 1
Italy (Musica e dischi)[28] 11
New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade)[29] 1
scope=row Spain (Promusicae)[30] 5
Sweden (Kvällstoppen)[31] 2
Sweden (Tio i Topp)[32] 3
US Cash Box Top 100[33] 1

Certifications

Brian Poole and the Tremeloes version

Twist and Shout
Cover:Brian_Poole_and_The_Tremeloes_Twist_and_Shout.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Brian Poole and the Tremeloes
Album:Twist and Shout
B-Side:We Know
Genre:Rock and roll
Length:2:07
Label:Decca
Producer:Mike Smith
Prev Title:Keep On Dancing
Prev Year:1963
Next Title:Do You Love Me
Next Year:1963

In 1962, Decca Records signed Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, a British group from Dagenham, East London, in preference to the Beatles. Both groups had auditioned on the same day, and it has become legend that the Beatles were rejected by the label. Ironically, Brian Poole and the Tremeloes had no chart success until the beat boom in British rock had surfaced, following the success of the Beatles. This triggered the frenzied signing of most of the popular Liverpool rock groups of that period by the major record labels, and their distinctive "sound" became known as Merseybeat. Brian Poole and the Tremeloes imitated this style, and covered "Twist and Shout" four months after the Beatles had released their version, and achieved the No. 4 position in the UK Singles Chart.[36]

However, according to Brian Poole, "we were doing 'Twist and Shout' on stage before we knew anybody else doing it and we felt we could have a hit with it. Unfortunately, we had it in the can for about a year before Decca decided to release it as a single".[37]

Charts

Chart (1963)Peak
position
Denmark (Danmarks Radio)[38] 4
New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade)[39] 4

Salt-N-Pepa version

Twist and Shout
Cover:Salt-N-Pepa_Twist_and_Shout.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Salt-N-Pepa
Album:A Salt with a Deadly Pepa
B-Side:Get Up Everybody
Genre:Hip hop
Length:3:48
Label:FFRR
Producer:Hurby Luv Bug Azor
Prev Title:Shake Your Thang
Prev Year:1988
Next Title:Expression
Next Year:1989

American hip hop trio Salt-N-Pepa recorded a cover version on their 1988 album A Salt with a Deadly Pepa. It was released as a single and was met with success, reaching the top five in Spain, the Netherlands and the UK, where it reached No. 4, as well as the top 40 in Ireland, Belgium and Germany.

Charts

Year-end charts

Chaka Demus & Pliers version

Twist and Shout
Cover:Chaka_Demus_&_Pliers_Twist_and_Shout.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Chaka Demus & Pliers featuring Jack Radics and Taxi Gang
Album:Tease Me
Released:[42]
Genre:Reggae fusion
Label:
Producer:
  • Lloyd "Gitsy" Willis
  • Sly & Robbie
Chronology:Chaka Demus & Pliers
Prev Title:She Don't Let Nobody
Prev Year:1993
Next Title:Murder She Wrote
Next Year:1994

Jamaican reggae duo Chaka Demus & Pliers, collaborating with Jack Radics and Taxi Gang, recorded "Twist and Shout" for their fourth album, Tease Me (1993). It was released as single on December 6, 1993 by Mango and Island, and topped the UK Singles Chart for two weeks in January 1994. The song was also a top-10 hit in Ireland (No. 9), Flanders (No. 7), the Netherlands (No. 6), Denmark (No. 4), and New Zealand (No. 2).

Critical reception

Rick Anderson from AllMusic felt the song is "a fun novelty".[43] Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "Who'da thunk this Beatles evergreen would become viable fodder for a reggae reconstruction? It has, and it works far better than you might imagine." He added, "With assistance from Jack Radis and Taxi Gang, Chaka Demus & Pliers playfully skip around a fast and jaunty island groove, darting in and out of familiar lyrics with bits of chatter and toasting. Visionary programmers will find this will flow over playlists like a fresh, cool breeze."[44] Troy J. Augusto from Cash Box declared it as an "infectious cut", that "add peppy new island life to this classic made famous, of course, by The Beatles."[45]

In a review for the Gavin Report, Dave Sholin commented, "Summertime—time to hit the beach and party! And what better for the occasion than this upbeat production that puts a new twist on the Isley Brothers' original and Beatles' cover?"[46] Alan Jones from Music Week deemed it a "fine regga re-reading", that "contains all the usual Chaka Demus & Pliers hallmarks, with sweetly cooed verses alternating with rapped passages. Just right for the party season."[47] James Hamilton from the Record Mirror Dance Update described it as a "'La Bamba' based raver's reggae inflected but surprisingly conventional Sly & Robbie revival, a party season smash".[48] Leesa Daniels from Smash Hits gave "Twist and Shout" three out of five, writing, "The tune at Christmas parties this year. Chaka and Pliers and a few mates have made a mega mover of a groover."[49]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1993–1994)Peak
position
Denmark (IFPI)[50] 4
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[51] 7
Europe (European AC Radio)[52] 12
Europe (European Dance Radio)[53] 18
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[54] 12
UK Airplay (Music Week)[55] 1
UK Dance (Music Week)[56] 1
UK Club Chart (Music Week)[57] 41

Year-end charts

Chart (1994)Position
Australia (ARIA)[59] 76
Belgium (Ultratop)[60] 81
Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[61] 43
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[62] 48
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[63] 94
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[64] 26
UK Singles (OCC)[65] 60

Certifications

Sylvie Vartan version (in French)

Twiste et chante
Cover:Sylvie Vartan Twiste et chante single.jpg
Language:French
English Title:Twist and sing
Type:single
B-Side:Il faut choisir
Artist:Sylvie Vartan
Album:Twiste et Chante
Recorded:1963
Genre:Pop
Length:2:00
Label:RCA Victor
Prev Title:I'm watching
Prev Year:1963
Next Title:Si je chante
Next Year:1963

In 1963, the song was adapted into French by Georges Aber as "Twiste et chante", meaning "Twist and sing" and was recorded by French pop singer Sylvie Vartan and was released as the third and final single off of her sophomore album of the same name that October.[66] The song peaked at Number 8 in the French Belgian charts in February 1964.[67] A promotional video was also filmed for the song.[68] Vartan also performed the song on the American variety music program Shindig! on March 24, 1965 along with a cover of Barrett Strong's Money (That's What I Want) (in English).[69]

Charts

See also

References

Notes and References

  1. Book: Leszczak, Bob. Who Did It First?: Great Rhythm and Blues Cover Songs and Their Original Artists. Google Books. 228. 2013. Scarecrow Press . 978-0810888678.
  2. Book: Selvin, Joel. Here Comes the Night: The Dark Soul of Bert Berns and the Dirty Business of Rhythm and Blues. 369. 2014. Catapult. 978-1619023789.
  3. Web site: The Isley Brothers: 'Twist and Shout'Review. Unterberger. Richie. Richie Unterberger. AllMusic. October 23, 2020.
  4. Web site: The Atlantic Records Story. David . Edwards. Mike . Callahan. Bsnpubs.com. March 31, 2014.
  5. Book: Padgett, Ray . Cover me : the stories behind the greatest cover songs of all time . 2017 . 978-1-4549-2250-6 . New York . 26–35 . 978537907.
  6. https://www.grammy.com/awards/hall-of-fame-award#t
  7. Hot 100. Google Books. Billboard. August 11, 1962.
  8. Book: Whitburn, Joel. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. 2004. 277. Joel Whitburn.
  9. Book: Hoffmann. Frank W.. The Cash Box Singles Charts, 1950-1981. Hoffmann. Lee Ann. 1983. Scarecrow Press. 978-0-8108-1595-7. 291. en.
  10. Web site: Cash Box R&B Singles 8/11/62. July 28, 2020. cashboxmagazine.com.
  11. Web site: ISLEY BROTHERS full Official Chart History Official Charts Company. July 28, 2020. www.officialcharts.com.
  12. Book: MacDonald, Ian . Revolution in the Head.
  13. Web site: Please Please Me - The Beatles . AllMusic.
  14. Book: Lewisohn . Mark . The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions . 1988 . EMI . London . 26.
  15. Book: Miles, Barry . The Beatles Diary Volume 1: The Beatles Years . . 2001 . 0-7119-8308-9 . 136 . en.
  16. Book: Miles, Barry . The Beatles Diary Volume 1: The Beatles Years . . 2001 . 0-7119-8308-9 . 139 . en.
  17. Wallgren, Mark (1982). The Beatles on Record, pp. 291-293. ISBN 0-671-45682-2.
  18. Cash Box, April 4, 1964, p. 4
  19. Web site: The Capitol 6000 website - The Beatles' First Stereo LP . 2022-09-21 . www.capitol6000.com.
  20. Book: Whitburn, Joel . The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits . Billboard Books . New York . 1992.
  21. Book: MacDonald, Ian . Revolution in the head : the Beatles' records and the sixties . 1994 . New York : H. Holt . Internet Archive . 978-0-8050-2780-8.
  22. Book: Billboard . 1993-06-12 . Nielsen Business Media, Inc. . 30 . 0006-2510 . 2016-11-27.
  23. Book: Australian Chart Book (1940–1969) . Kent, David . Australian Chart Book . Turramurra . 2005 . 0-646-44439-5.
  24. Web site: The Beatles – Twist and Shout . Ultratop.be.
  25. Web site: CHUM Top 50 - April 13, 1964.
  26. Web site: The Beatles - Salgshitlisterne Top 20. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131104013806/http://danskehitlister.dk/?artist_id=26. 2013-11-04. 2022-08-02. Danske Hitlister.
  27. Web site: August 12, 2015 . Sisältää hitin: Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1960: Artistit SAR - SEM . March 26, 2022 . Sisältää hitin.
  28. Web site: Classifiche. Musica e dischi. it. May 31, 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Titolo" field, search "Twist and shout".
  29. Web site: Flavour of New Zealand, 23 April 1964 . August 26, 2018 . February 24, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210224210354/http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20lever&qartistid=8#n_view_location . dead .
  30. Book: Salaverri, Fernando. Sólo éxitos 1959–2012. 1st. 2015. Fundación Autor-SGAE. Spain. 978-84-8048-866-2.
  31. Book: Hallberg, Eric. Eric Hallberg presenterar Kvällstoppen i P 3: Sveriges radios topplista över veckans 20 mest sålda skivor 10. 7. 1962 - 19. 8. 1975. Drift Musik. 1993. 130. 9163021404.
  32. Book: Hallberg . Eric . Eric Hallberg, Ulf Henningsson presenterar Tio i topp med de utslagna på försök: 1961 - 74 . Henningsson . Ulf . Premium Publishing . 1998 . 919727125X . 53.
  33. Book: Hoffmann, Frank. 1983. The Cash Box Singles Charts, 1950-1981. The Scarecrow Press, Inc. Metuchen, NJ & London. 32–34.
  34. The Hot 100, Week of September 27, 1986. Billboard. September 9, 2021.
  35. Web site: Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 53, 2015. sv. Sverigetopplistan. May 2, 2021.
  36. Book: Roberts , David . 2006. British Hit Singles & Albums. 19th. Guinness World Records Limited. London. 1-904994-10-5. 565.
  37. Book: Leigh, Spencer . Love Me Do to Love Me Don't: Beatles on Record . 2016-09-12 . McNidder & Grace . 978-0-85716-135-2 . en.
  38. Web site: 2016-04-09. danskehitlister.dk. 2022-09-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20160312175845/http://danskehitlister.dk/?hitlist_id=12&y=1963&hitlist_item_id=1017. 12 March 2016.
  39. Web site: flavour of new zealand - search lever . 2022-09-21 . www.flavourofnz.co.nz.
  40. Book: Salaverri, Fernando. Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002. 1st. September 2005. Fundación Autor-SGAE. Spain. 84-8048-639-2.
  41. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 1988. March 31, 2018.
  42. Single Releases. Music Week. 21. December 4, 1993. June 21, 2021.
  43. Web site: Rick . Anderson . Chaka Demus & Pliers – Ultimate Collection . . November 8, 2020 .
  44. Larry . Flick . Single Reviews . . May 14, 1994 . 71 . March 18, 2021 . Larry Flick.
  45. Troy J.. Augusto. Pop Singles — Reviews. Cash Box. May 21, 1994. February 28, 2022.
  46. Dave . Sholin . Gavin Picks: Singles . . June 10, 1994 . 50 . October 18, 2020 .
  47. Alan . Jones . Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles . . December 11, 1993 . 12 . April 5, 2021 .
  48. James . Hamilton . Dj directory . Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert) . December 11, 1993 . 7 . April 5, 2021 . James Hamilton (DJ and journalist).
  49. Leesa . Daniels . New Singles . . December 4, 1993 . 57 . December 16, 2022.
  50. Top 10 Sales in Europe. Music & Media. 11. 10. March 5, 1994. 13. August 20, 2019.
  51. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 11. 4. January 22, 1994. 13. February 1, 2020.
  52. Adult Contemporary Europe Top 25. Music & Media. 11. 12. March 19, 1994. 25. May 28, 2023.
  53. European Dance Radio Top 25. Music & Media. 11. 4. January 22, 1994. 18. May 23, 2023.
  54. News: Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (27._02.02.'94). Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 20. January 27, 1994. October 1, 2019.
  55. The Airplay Chart. Music Week. January 15, 1994. 32. May 2, 2024.
  56. Dance Singles. Music Week. 24. December 25, 1993. April 9, 2021.
  57. The RM Club Chart. Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). December 11, 1993. 4. May 13, 2023.
  58. Top 100 Singles 1993. Music Week. 24. January 15, 1994.
  59. Web site: The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles 1994. Australian Recording Industry Association. Imgur. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20151025122130/http://i.imgur.com/LHigR9p.jpg. October 25, 2015. November 17, 2019.
  60. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 1994. Ultratop. nl. October 15, 2018.
  61. Top 50 Dance Tracks of 1994. RPM. Library and Archives Canada. March 31, 2018.
  62. Web site: 1994 in Review – Sales Charts. Music & Media. 11. 52. December 24, 1994. 24. February 1, 2020.
  63. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 1994. MegaCharts. nl. March 31, 2018.
  64. Web site: End of Year Charts 1994. Recorded Music NZ. February 1, 2020.
  65. Top 100 Singles 1994. Music Week. 9. January 14, 1995.
  66. Web site: EP 60 – Site officiel de Sylvie Vartan . 2024-06-17 . fr-FR.
  67. Web site: Sylvie Vartan - Twiste et chante - ultratop.be . 2024-06-17 . www.ultratop.be.
  68. Sylvie Vartan - Twiste et chante . 2019-06-27 . Oceane Rose . 2024-06-17 . YouTube.
  69. Sylvie Vartan : Money, Twiste et chante TV USA 1965 . 2021-04-15 . Sylvie Le club . 2024-06-17 . YouTube.
  70. Web site: Sylvie Vartan - Twiste et chante - ultratop.be . 2024-06-17 . www.ultratop.be.