Twist and Shout is a rock and roll tune written by Phil Medley and Bert Berns. It was first recorded in 1961 by The Top Notes for Atlantic Records, but the song did not become a hit in that initial version. The Isley Brothers gave it a gospel‑flavored makeover in 1962 for their Twist & Shout album, turning it into a Top 20 US hit and later earning a Grammy Hall of Fame induction in 2010.
The most famous version came from The Beatles, who recorded it for their 1963 UK debut album Please Please Me with John Lennon on lead vocals. Lennon’s performance during a single, exhaustive take is legendary, and the track was released as a US single in 1964, reaching No 2 on the Billboard chart. Since then Twist and Shout has been covered many times, including Salt-N-Pepa in 1988 and Chaka Demus & Pliers in 1993, and it remains a staple of rock and roll history.
