The Twist

This song is a "Kover Klassic" if there ever was one. "The Twist" is one of the very first rock 'n roll records I ever remember hearing. My parents had this single, but I think I played it more than they did. They would have been around the age of 40 at that time, so I'm guessing my Dad got it for a party they were having. This picture sleeve is the one I remember from the 1962 re-release.

In September of 1960, Chubby Checker had his biggest success ever when his recording of "The Twist" hit #1 on the national Billboard Charts. Fifteen months later, Parkway Records re-released the record. By January of 1962, it was on the top of the charts again! This feat has been duplicated only one other time, by Bing Crosby's "White Christmas".

A 78rpm copy of The Twist from 1956

In 1958, Philadelphia TV personality, Dick Clark heard Hank Ballard’s original version of "The Twist" that had appeared on the B-side of Hank Ballard’s single “Teardrops On Your Letter”. Ballard’s version of "The Twist" had become a major hit on the airwaves two years earlier. Ballard had been inspired to write the song after noticing the twisty moves of his background singers.

Chubby Checker & Dick Clark, 1960

Clark also noticed how the Philly kids on his show danced in a unique way to Ballard’s song. Although Clark liked the song and was intrigued by the dance move, Clark felt that Ballard’s band, The Midnighters, were a bit too mature and inappropriate for Clark’s younger audience, and for their parents in particular. Clark then approached Philadelphia’s Cameo/Parkway record label and asked that they record a new version of The Twist using an artist more palatable to the younger generation. The label hired session singer and part-time chicken plucker(!) Ernest Evans (who was renamed Chubby Checker by Clark as a riff on Fats Domino's name), to remake the song applying his own personal style to the song. Evans had already demonstrated his talent for copying other artists on another minor hit of his, 1959’s "The Class". However, the Chubby Checker remake sounded so close to the original that according to the New York Times, "even Mr. Hank Ballard thought it was his own version the first time he heard it on the radio."

So now, you be the judge! Here's the original recording by Hank Ballard & The Midnighters. Everybody twist!

Now, here's the Chubby Checker version. There are subtle differences in the groove on this one. It's more of a straight 4 feel and swings less than Ballard's take. Fairly sure a female backing vocal part was added too.

There's a really great Hank Ballard "Best of" disc out there that was part of Rhino's excellent King Master Series of great R&B artists like Little Willie John, Roy Brown, The 5 Royales, Wynonie Harris and others. King Records was an indie label out of Cincinnati in the '50's that may have served as the model for Atlantic Records in the '60's. Treat yourself to a few of the King Masters at Amazon and put the roll back in your rock!

Chubby Checker's original recording of "The Twist" was only recently made available again due to 2 things: the passing of legendary music business shark, Allen Klein, and the long overdue licensing by Klein's company, ABKCO, of the master recordings of the Cameo/Parkway labels, which ABKCO owned. All Chubby Checker recordings of "The Twist" that you've heard on the radio or seen in stores all these years have been remakes! You can now have the real deal. For those of you interested in Philadelphia rock 'n roll history, the Cameo/Parkway Greatest Hits disc is a must! Even if you're not a Philly kid, it's still great stuff. There's a sweet Cameo/Parkway box set that's still out there too, if you've gotta have it all.