"Twist and Shout"

Song: “Twist and Shout”

Album: Please Please Me

“Twist and Shout” (originally titled “Shake It Up, Baby”) was written by Phil Medley and Bert Russell and performed by both the Top Notes and The Isley Brothers before it appeared on the Beatles Please Please Me in 1963. It was the last of eleven songs recorded during an epic 10-hour session on February 11, 1963. George Martin knew Lennon’s voice would take a hit from the performance so he waited until the last 15 minutes of the session to record it. Lennon was even fighting a cold at the time, producing a rasp that is evident on the record (and giving him only enough oomph for one take of the song). 

But it is John’s vocal that makes it one of the finest examples of early British rock, and the song is (at least) partially credited with the dawn of Beatlemania, as their energetic live performance of the song was popularized during widely-viewed performances on Sunday Night at the London Palladium (1963), The Royal Variety Show (1963), and the Ed Sullivan Show (1964).

The song continued to be a fixture at the Beatles’ live shows until 1965, and they recorded it nine times for BBC television and radio. In 1986, following the release of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (in which “Twist and Shout” is prominently featured in an iconic scene), the song re-entered the pop-charts, peaking at No. 23.  

The performance below is from The Royal Variety Show in 1963.