A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs Episode 102: “Twist and Shout” by the Isley Brothers
Oct 26, 2020
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Twist and Shout's Flop
- "Twist and Shout" was initially a flop for The Top Notes, produced by Phil Spector.
- Bert Berns, credited as Bert Russell, co-wrote the song, originally titled "Shake It Up Baby".
Bert Berns and Latin Rhythms
- Bert Berns, real name Bert Russell Burns, co-wrote "Twist and Shout".
- Berns, inspired by Richie Valens' "La Bamba," incorporated Latin rhythms into his songwriting.
Birth of Soul
- Solomon Burke, a gospel singer signed to Atlantic, insisted his music be called "soul".
- This marked a shift from rhythm and blues, influenced by Ray Charles and Clyde McPhatter.