BEFORE IT WAS A HIT XXXVI: The Twist. Continues next week.

BEFORE IT WAS A HIT SONG…

These songs are well known but you may not know about the earlier attempts to score a hit record with prior versions of the same song.

The Twist

 

Chubby Checker scored a global hit with "The Twist" in 1960. The disc not only spent a week at #1, but launched a universal dance craze that remains unrivalled to this day. So popular was the single, that it re-entered the US chart in 1962 and returned to the top, something no other recording has managed to repeat since. Second time around, the single added 2 more weeks to its total time at #1.

Despite being forever associated with Checker, his recording was in fact a remake. The original version was released by the R&B group Hank Ballard & The Midnighters. Their take was the B-side for the single "Teardrops On Your Letter". In 1960, this disc climbed to #28 on the US chart. Checker's version did not stray too far from the sound of the original.

Each new song will be added to the spotify playlist named: ‘Before It Was A Hit Song’.  You can check out the previous 34 earlier / original versions of the hit songs you know and love.

Red Red Wine

Tainted Love

Killing Me Softly

The Best

Wind Beneath My Wings

Hanging on the Telephone

I Love Rock ‘n Roll

Mickey

Got My Mind Set On You

Rivers of Babylon

It’s All Coming Back To Me Now

China Girl

I Can’t Stand The Rain

Last Thing On My Mind

Blame It On The Boogie

Do Wah Diddy Diddy

Don’t Leave Me This Way

Rhinestone Cowboy

Pass The Dutchie

Hit The Road Jack

I Want Candy

Whatta Man

Respect

Black Magic Woman

Gloria Video Killed The Radio Star

That’s What Friends Are For

Time Is On My Side

Knock On Wood

I Swear

Bette Davis Eyes

Sorrow

It’s Oh So Quiet

Ring of Fire

The playlist and other Caffe` Latte` selections can be found at:

https://open.spotify.com/user/alanrosscaffelatte

spotify:user:alanrosscaffelatte