"Twist and Shout"...The Isley Brothers

[Tikki]

written by Bill Medley and Bert (Bern) Russell (1961) First recorded
by the Top Notes in 1961
and then again in 1962...perfection..by the Isley Brothers:

Tikki

[lark]

1. Wasn't it Chubby Checkers that had the hit with this song?

I've heard this version, but it's not the one that was such a hit when I was a kid. The Twist has been my dance from the beginning. It's such fun and great exercise, but these days my bad back won't take much twisting so I have to really limit it to just a few minutes of fun.

[Tikki]

2. 1962 was a busy year for releases of "Twist and Shout"...

You are correct..Chubby Checker did release a 1962 version after the Top Notes original in 1961.
As did Dee Dee Sharp and the Isley Brother's version all before the end of 1962.

I am personally captivated by the Isley Brothers version, an all-time favourite song.

The Beatles must have found a version that they loved because they had their
own cover the next year.

There are 100+ versions out there.

Tikki

[lark]

4. Thank you!

The Beatles is the best, by far, IMO, but then I am quite partial to them.

I just remember the Chubby Checkers version because it's the one I bought and adored and danced to every day. I used to win twist contests - that's how much I loved this fun easy dance.

[argyl]

3. The Isleys did it best, no doubt about it.

The Beatles gave it a game shot. John must have been hoarse a week after recording this.

[thucythucy]

5. The Beatles version was much more raucous.

The Isleys more soulful for sure. For me it depends on what mood I'm in.

I've read "The Twist" was considered quite scandalous at the time. Fathers would slap their daughters if they found them doing it alone in their bedroom. It was seen as advertising your ass, something proper people didn't do.

Imagine the shock then when the rumor spread that Jackie Kennedy and Princess Margaret were both seen twisting at parties!

It was a whole 'nother world.