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Twist and Shout
"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 for their album Twist & Shout in 1962. The song has been covered by several artists, including the Beatles, Salt-N-Pepa, and Chaka Demus & Pliers, who experienced chart success with their versions.
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, with accompaniment by saxophonist King Curtis, guitarist John Pizzarelli, drummer Panama Francis, and backing vocalists the Cookies.
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". Bert Berns, the song's co-writer, was dissatisfied with the recording and Spector's production. It failed to chart.
When the Isley Brothers decided to record the song in 1962 for their album Twist & Shout, 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":
[T]he real master trick of this rearrangement was a new bridge consisting solely of four ascending sung notes, the tempo becoming more emphatic and dramatic, ending in exultant sustained whooping before a "shake it up baby" led the Isleys back into the verse.
"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.
The Beatles' rendition of "Twist and Shout" was released on their first UK album Please Please Me in 1963, 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. At the end of the song, Lennon can be heard coughing. The Beatles' version of "Twist and Shout" has been called "the most famous single take in rock history." Mark Lewisohn called it "arguably the most stunning rock and roll vocal and instrumental performance of all time."
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Twist and Shout
"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 for their album Twist & Shout in 1962. The song has been covered by several artists, including the Beatles, Salt-N-Pepa, and Chaka Demus & Pliers, who experienced chart success with their versions.
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, with accompaniment by saxophonist King Curtis, guitarist John Pizzarelli, drummer Panama Francis, and backing vocalists the Cookies.
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". Bert Berns, the song's co-writer, was dissatisfied with the recording and Spector's production. It failed to chart.
When the Isley Brothers decided to record the song in 1962 for their album Twist & Shout, 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":
[T]he real master trick of this rearrangement was a new bridge consisting solely of four ascending sung notes, the tempo becoming more emphatic and dramatic, ending in exultant sustained whooping before a "shake it up baby" led the Isleys back into the verse.
"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.
The Beatles' rendition of "Twist and Shout" was released on their first UK album Please Please Me in 1963, 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. At the end of the song, Lennon can be heard coughing. The Beatles' version of "Twist and Shout" has been called "the most famous single take in rock history." Mark Lewisohn called it "arguably the most stunning rock and roll vocal and instrumental performance of all time."