The Top Notes - Shake It Up, Baby [Work It on Out] 1961 First Release - Prod. by Phil Spector

While most people associate "Twist and Shout" with massive hits by The Isley Brothers and The Beatles, the track WAS ORIGINALLY RECORDED by an R&B vocal group named THE TOP NOTES in 1961. The Song: "Twist and Shout" (Original Version) Origins: Written by Phil Medley and Bert Berns (under the pseudonym Bert Russell) in 1961. The Concept: The track was originally titled "Shake It Up, Baby". It was written as a high-energy dance track designed to capitalize on the massive "Twist" dance craze sweeping the United States at the time. The Production: The single was produced by a young Phil Spector for Atlantic Records. However, Spector had not yet perfected his famous "Wall of Sound" technique. HE CHANGED THE ARRANGEMENT and slowed the tempo down. The Meaning: The lyrics are incredibly simple and straightforward, centered around a man encouraging his girlfriend to dance with wild energy. Reception: Co-writer Bert Berns famously HATED Spector's sluggish production, feeling it completely killed the driving passion of the song. Not to mention the fact that it was released as the B-side to the Top Notes' A-side single "Always Late," and the record (BOTH SIDES) flopped completely and failed to chart. Berns was so frustrated that he took the song to The Isley Brothers a year later to show Spector how it should be done, turning it into a massive hit. The Singer: The Top Notes Who They Were: The Top Notes (sometimes styled as the "Topnotes") were an up-and-coming African American R&B vocal group based out of Philadelphia. Their Sound: In their live performances, the group was noted for possessing an incredibly raw, dynamic, and high-energy showmanship. SO WHY IS IT SO INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO FIND IMAGE EVIDENCE ABOUT THEIR RECORDING?? Finding images of The Top Notes' original release of "Twist and Shout" is difficult because the 1961 record was a commercial failure. It received limited distribution, lacked dedicated picture sleeves, and was quickly overshadowed by massive, iconic covers by The Isley Brothers and The Beatles. The Core Reasons for the Scarcity Original Format Limitations: The Top Notes’ version was released as a standard 7-inch vinyl single (Atlantic Records, catalog #45-2115). At the time, R&B and early rock singles of this caliber were heavily marketed to radio stations and jukeboxes in generic or plain company sleeves rather than unique picture covers. Commercial Failure: Because the 1961 record failed to chart, it was largely forgotten by the public. Atlantic Records did not invest in major promotional materials or visual art for the single. Overshadowed by Iconic Covers: When the Isley Brothers reworked and re-recorded the track with producer Bert Berns in 1962 (Wand Records), it became a massive hit. The subsequent, legendary 1963 cover by The Beatles completely eclipsed the original. As a result, historical and digital archives almost universally prioritize Isley Brothers and Beatles imagery. Lack of Album Art: The Top Notes did not release a full-length album that contained "Twist and Shout" during that era, denying fans a cohesive visual album cover to associate with the original release. Career Impact: Because of what proved to be a MASSIVE BLUNDER IN JUDGEMENT on the part of a young Phil Spector and his unfortunate recording choices, the song failed to capture the group's live energy, the single's commercial failure severely hurt the group. Atlantic Records dropped The Top Notes shortly after the release of "Twist and Shout". While they faded into relative obscurity, they hold a permanent place in music history for laying down the structural foundation of one of rock and roll's most enduring anthems.