The Beatles: “Twist and Shout” (1963)

The Beatles add their own unique twist to the Isley Brothers’ hit.

Kronomyth 1.4: Isley, Everly, oh brother what a band.

Credit The Isley Brothers with bringing Twist and Shout to life. Their arrangement of the song was a Top 20 hit the previous year. The Beatles tightened it up and almost topped that charts with it a year later. Now, I actually prefer The Beatles’ version, but the one wouldn’t exist without the other. John Lennon’s half-screamed vocals still give me chills today. In the UK, Parlophone repackaged the last four tracks from Please Please Me as an extended-play single, led by “Twist and Shout.” A Taste of Honey (featuring Paul McCartney on lead vocals) and Do You Want to Know a Secret (featuring George Harrison) showcased the band’s unusual depth. John and Paul share vocals for some Everlys-like harmonies on There’s a Place. In the US, “Twist and Shout” was released as a single the following year. The song was also an international hit in Europe and abroad, with some releases featuring a different B side.

Original 7-inch EP version (UK)

A1. Twist and Shout (Phil Medley/Bert Russell)
A2. A Taste of Honey (Bobby Scott/Ric Marlow)
B1. Do You Want to Know a Secret (Paul McCartney/John Lennon)
B2. There’s a Place (Paul McCartney/John Lennon)

Original 7-inch single version (US)
A1. Twist and Shout (Phil Medley/Bert Russell) (2:32)
B2. There’s a Place (Paul McCartney/John Lennon) (1:48)

Original 7-inch single version (Europe)
A1. Twist and Shout (Phil Medley/Bert Russell)
B1. Boys (Luther Dixon/Wes Farrell)

7-inch single version (Japan)
A1. Twist and Shout (Phil Medley/Bert Russell)
B1. Roll Over Beethoven (Chuck Berry)

Original 7-inch single version (Netherlands)
A1. Twist and Shout (Phil Medley/Bert Russell)
B1. Do You Want to Know a Secret (Paul McCartney/John Lennon)

The Players

George Harrison (lead guitar, lead vocals on “Do You Want to Know a Secret,” backing vocals), John Lennon (rhythm guitar, lead vocals on “Twist and Shout” and “There’s a Place,” backing vocals), Paul McCartney (bass guitar, lead vocals on “A Taste of Honey,” “There’s a Place,” backing vocals), Ringo Starr (drums).

The Plastic

Released on 7-inch mono EP on July 12, 1963 in the UK (Parlophone, GEP 8882), on 7-inch single in September 1963 in Germany (Odeon, O 22 581) and Denmark, Norway and Sweden (Odeon, SD 5946), in February 1964 in the Netherlands (Parlophone, HHR 125), on March 2, 1964 in the US (Tollie, 9001), and on May 5, 1964 in Japan (Odeon, OR-1078) with regional picture sleeve. Reached #2 on the UK charts and #2 on the US charts (charted on March 14, 1964 for 11 weeks). B side reached #74 on the US charts (charted on April 11, 1964 for 1 week).

1. Re-issued on 7-inch single in 1964 in the US (Oldies 45, OL-152).
2. Re-issued w. “Roll Over Beethoven” on 7-inch single in Japan (Apple, AR-1078).
3. Re-issued on 7-inch single in 1986 in the US (Capitol, B-5624) [rainbow rim label].
4. Re-issued on 7-inch single in 1994 in the US (Capitol, B-5624) [purple label].