Chart success
‘Twist And Shout’ was released as a single in the US on 2 March 1964 by the Tollie label. It reached number two on the Billboard chart.
In the UK the song was the title track of The Beatles’ first EP, which topped the charts following its release on 12 July 1963. The other songs on the EP were ‘A Taste Of Honey’, ‘Do You Want To Know A Secret’, and ‘There’s A Place’.
In Canada ‘Twist And Shout’ was the title track of the second Beatles album released by Capitol. It was issued on 3 February 1964.
BBC recordings
The Beatles recorded ‘Twist And Shout’ a total of ten times for BBC radio.
The earliest was for the BBC’s Talent Spot radio show on 27 November 1962 at the corporation’s Paris Studio, London. It was broadcast on 4 December 1962, but the recording is now lost. The Beatles also recorded ‘Love Me Do’ and ‘PS I Love You’ for the show.
The second recording was for Swinging Sound 63 on 18 April 1963, the day Paul McCartney met Jane Asher. The Beatles taped just two songs for the show, which was broadcast live – the other was ‘From Me To You’.
On 21 May 1963 they made an appearance on Steppin’ Out, which was broadcast on 3 June. The other songs recorded that day were ‘Please Please Me’, ‘I Saw Her Standing There’, ‘Roll Over Beethoven’, ‘Thank You Girl’, and ‘From Me To You’.
The Beatles’ fourth BBC recording of ‘Twist And Shout’ was made on 17 June 1963, for an edition of Pop Go The Beatles broadcast on 25 June. They also taped versions of ‘Anna (Go To Him)’, ‘I Saw Her Standing There’, ‘Boys’, ‘Chains’, ‘PS I Love You’, and ‘A Taste Of Honey’.
On 3 July 1963 they recorded an appearance on The Beat Show, which was broadcast the following day. The Beatles taped just three songs: ‘From Me To You’, ‘A Taste Of Honey’, and ‘Twist And Shout’.
The sixth BBC recording was made on 16 July 1963 for Pop Go The Beatles, and was broadcast on 6 August. The Beatles also recorded versions of ‘I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry (Over You)’, ‘Crying, Waiting, Hoping’, ‘Kansas City/Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey!’, ‘To Know Her Is To Love Her’, ‘The Honeymoon Song’. This day’s version of ‘Twist And Shout’ was included on 2013’s On Air – Live At The BBC Volume 2.
On 17 July 1963 The Beatles appeared on Easy Beat; the edition was broadcast four days later. They also recorded ‘I Saw Her Standing There’, ‘A Shot Of Rhythm And Blues’, and ‘There’s A Place’.
The eighth BBC recording of ‘Twist And Shout’ was for Saturday Club. It was recorded on 30 July 1963 and broadcast on 24 August. The Beatles also taped versions of ‘Long Tall Sally’, ‘She Loves You’, ‘Glad All Over’, ‘You Really Got A Hold On Me’, and ‘I’ll Get You’.
On 1 August 1963 they made another appearance on Pop Go The Beatles, which was broadcast on 27 August. The other songs recorded that day were ‘Ooh! My Soul’, ‘Don’t Ever Change’, ‘She Loves You’, ‘Anna (Go To Him)’, and ‘A Shot Of Rhythm And Blues’.
The tenth and final BBC recording of ‘Twist And Shout’ was again for Pop Go The Beatles. It was recorded on 3 September 1963 and broadcast on 24 September. The Beatles also taped versions of ‘Ask Me Why’, ‘Devil In Her Heart’, ‘I Saw Her Standing There’, and ‘Sure To Fall (In Love With You)’.
This final version of ‘Twist And Shout’ was released in 2013 on the digital download album Bootleg Recordings 1963.
Lyrics
Well, shake it up, baby now (shake it up baby)
Twist and shout (twist and shout)
C’mon c’mon, c’mon, c’mon, baby now (come on baby)
Come on and work it on out (work it on out, whoo)
Well, work it on out honey (work it on out)
You know you look so good (look so good)
You know you got me going now (got me going)
Just like I knew you would (like I knew you would)
Well, shake it up, baby now (shake it up baby)
Twist and shout (twist and shout)
C’mon, c’mon, c’mon, c’mon, baby now (come on baby)
Come on and work it on out (work it on out, whoo)
You know you twist it little girl (twist little girl)
You know you twist so fine (twist so fine)
Come on and twist a little closer now (twist a little closer)
And let me know that you’re mine (let me know you’re mine, whoo)
Well, shake it up, baby now (shake it up baby)
Twist and shout (twist and shout)
C’mon, c’mon, c’mon, c’mon, baby now (come on baby)
Come on and work it on out (work it on out)
You know you twist it little girl (twist little girl)
You know you twist so fine (twist so fine)
Come on and twist a little closer now (twist a little closer)
And let me know that you’re mine (let me know you’re mine)
Well shake it, shake it, shake it, baby now (shake it up baby)
Well shake it, shake it, shake it, baby now (shake it up baby)
Well shake it, shake it, shake it, baby now (shake it up baby)
I’m not sure.. but at the end of Twist and Shout… in PPM’s Stereo Boxset there’s a “gasp” at the end of the song.. has anybody noticed it? It’s around 2:29 or 2:30…. just after Paul’s “Hey!!”
That’s John clearing his throat. It’s found on the mono version, too.
I believe someone – possibly John – says the word “Cor!” right at the end after Paul’s “Hey!” You can hear it quite clearly if you listen to the remastered album through earphones.
I agree. I was just listening on an old vinyl and it’s very clearly there as well. I was heard ‘cor’ He’s basically like… holy moley.
The most powerful song they ever recorded. And also the most energetic finale track in their catalog. They tried to duplicate the intensity of this one as an album closer all the way until Revolver. But I can’t blame them for not being able to do it again, this was magic.
Lennon delivered one of the great vocal efforts in rock history & all their playing was amazingly in tune. Add in the great matching harmonies, one of Paul’s best screams in the middle of the climbing peak of the song & John’s howling end vocal where’s he’s pulling his last bit out his soul & you’ve got the club Beatles sound perfectly recorded forever.
Apart from the closing song ‘I’ll Be Back’ on ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ which is hardly a raucous rock song.
Am never clear on exactly how they recorded the first album. Most of the comments from George Martin, Emerick, and The Beatles are that they were recorded “live”. Does anyone know whether that means rhythm and vocal tracks at once or were the rhythm takes perfected and then vocals overdubbed? The quote here from Cris Neal about John being stripped to the waist for his vocal makes it sound like they’d recorded the rhythm track and then overdubbed the vocals on the second track.
Correct me if I’m wrong, anybody, but I do believe that “live” in terms of studio recording means that the whole band played together at the same time.
You are correct sir.
A dozen years after the last comment on this thread, I am agreeing. One reason the Beatles were so beloved and successful as recording artists was that they went in the studio as a well-rehearsed, musically-tight band. I’m no Beatles expert, but my sense is that every song they released (at least in most of the first half of their roughly decade-long recording career as a unit) was material with which they were intimately familiar and in several instances these were songs they wrote (their songwriting careers stemmed from a desire to distance their band from the many other cover bands) and had often played live many times. So the versions we hear from recordings featured them “doing their thing” more as lively entertainers than merely introspective singer-songwriters.
the basic tracks and vocals were done separately. There was also some sweetening done later, like the piano on Misery
I love the beatles and i never knew john had a sore throat in that song.I always thought his voice sounded deeper.
Lennon was a great & highly distinctive lead singer.
If Paul was the bandleader, Lennon was the icon, and carried the ‘Beatle spirit’ especially early pn.
There was no ‘bandleader’. John said so. ????
Lennon created this group…He invented the name..He was street smart enough to know that it was politically astute to have no leader, but everyone including Eppy and Martin knew who the leader was, this also added to the charm for the public, it was their branding so to speak. This had never been done before. He was also the first to divorce from the group before Paul made his statement. He was the only real rock and roll devotee in the group. Once Lennon was removed from the Beatle Brand by death, the Beatles ceased. He was the first to question the Beatle myth, that there was more to life…Macca on the other hand lives this myth via Wings and current tours, as does Ringo. George was the closest to Lennon artistically. The cake has gone only the icing remains.
nice opinion on the Beatles and on Lennon,..sometimes i mistake him with Lenin
Sorry to inform you, but without McCartney OR Lennon, we’d never have heard of the Beatles. Both were vital to their success.
“George was closest to Lennon artistically…” . SMH.
I never relaized this was a cover, but I love John’s voice on it. Couldn’t really hear too much of Paul or Geroge though.
Does anyone know if the Version they recorded in april 1964 for the AROUND THE BEATLES British TV Special has ever been released Officially ? Ive heard it in its original Form …………before it was mimed with the crowd screams added , and its A GREAT Performance. If it hasnt been officially released it NEEDS to be.
if you listen carefully to the please please me album twist and shout track you can hear lennons voice getting raspier near the end of the song
Another example of the beatles using obstacles or mistake s to their advantage with his raspy throat. Being able to make use of accidents or mistakes to work for them was a trait the beatles mastered. 2nd fav closing track.
The Beatles Twist and Shout into my life and dreams everytime I hear them. Please, Please me and Play it AGAIN John, Paul, George and Ringo (Richard). P.S. I love YOU all.
If you search youtube for “Please Please me mini documentary” at the end paul says hastily “Thats it, its a master.” Hence they were only able to take two takes of twist and shout johns voice was going and they all knew that. Paul had defended john to say that that was the end of it telling the producers its a master so they dont kill john. The reason I know that this is a small snippet of take two of twist and shout is because if you listen at the very beginning of that snippet at the instrument tone, and you raise the right channel of twist and shout take 1 stereo, the vocal track, at the very very end where its nearly all faded out, if you raise the volume you can hear the same tone, just keep replaying the please please me mini documentary ending and the twist and shout richt channel ending amplification.
The Isley brothers released “twist and shout” in 1960, not 61 nor 62
They didn’t, as they only signed to Wand Records (the US label that ‘T&S’ was issued on) in 1962 – the original recording (by the Top Notes) was only issued the year before, so 1960 doesn’t even come into it…
One of the great covers. First heard this in the 70’s when I was a kid and always loved it. Got my copy of album ” Please Pleas Me” in early 1980 and also now have this on 45 as a single and on the original British E.P. John Lennon’s vocal is amazing. What a great way to finish the marathon session that produced the first Beatles album. I love Lennon’s rave ups. ” Money” that ends ” With the Beatles” is brilliant and I love ” Bad Boy ” and ” Dizzy Miss Lizzy “.
Just on Lennon’s rave ups. I forgot to mention the brilliant “Rock and Roll Music” off “Beatles For Sale”. But then the list goes on……
That, ‘Twist And Shout’ and ‘Long Tall Sally’ – all one-take performances!
For its raw, passionate, searing power, I’ve always considered John’s singing on Twist and Shout to be the greatest rock n’ roll vocal of all time. (Runners-up might include Presley’s Jailhouse Rock, Little Richard’s Tutti Frutti, Paul’s Long Tall Sally….other candidates?)
Had the Beatles never recorded again, this performance alone would have immortalized them.
The greatest rock parentheses I ever experienced: The Beatles opened their show on Sept. 13, 1964 with Twist & Shout by John and closed the show with Long Tall Sally by Paul. As I believe George said: “A good little rock n roll band!” They kicked butt!
Has the second recording of Twist And Shout that was recorded that day ever been released?
This recording that evening has everything. The desire, the joy of music and rock and roll, high performance quality and some madness. Together this performance is a moment of a lifetime. I use this performance in my work as a neuroscientist to tell people about how the brain is working during such an ultimate performance. You have to search in your life for situations where you can play twist and shout like this.
“The Beatles recorded Twist And Shout nine times in total for the BBC, none of which appeared on the Live At The BBC collection.”
But it WAS on Volume 2. 🙂
I bow to you, paulK, you are right, it was written in 61 and released in 62, sometimes I’m wrong, I hate to admit it, but you’re absolutely right !
Doesn’t sound like Ringo on drums. Probably Andy White. Ringo could never do a drum roll.
Of course everyone knows it was Bernard Purdie on the drums…
It is 100% Ringo. Listen to the bass drum, particularly coming out of the middle 8. Ringo is kicking the band in the ass, driving the beat as a drummer should. Listen to other later recordings like London Palladium or the Command Performance and you will hear the exact same thing. It is clearly Ringo playing on this track.
Even Andy White, who claims to have played on the song Please Please Me, never claimed to have played on this track.
Yes, it sounds EXACTLY like Ringo. All studio documentation and THOSE WHO WERE THERE say so.
In addition, exactly where do you even hear a drum “roll” in this song? (And Ringo could do them. That’s him at the start of “All You Need Is Love”.)
I never knew that Lennon was sick when they recorded T and S. I always why John was lisping and slurring his words. He barely gets the last phrase out and “shake it, shake it, shake it”, sounds more like “take it, take it, take it”, LOL!
That middle section is one of the great moments in rock and roll. It’s almost orgasmic.
In the film “Backbeat”, there’s a scene where they show the group rehearsing this song backstage at the Bambi Kino. Problem is, this was during their first residency in Hamburg in 1960. Stuart was still with the group, and “Twist and Shout” hadn’t even been written yet, let alone recorded.
Lot of problems with the music in that film. They’ve got John doing “Good Golly Miss Molly”, when every Beatle fan worth their salt knows that all the Little Richard songs were the exclusive domain of Paul McCartney.
They’re also doing Frank Ifield’s “I Remember You” in ’60, when Frank’s record wasn’t released until ’62.
They got the clothes right, the hair right, the instruments right, but the music???…
They were even looser and freer recording covers. (“Twist and Shout” being an example of that.)