Twistin' the Night Away (1962)

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By:
Sam Cooke (born Samuel Cook January 22, 1931, died of gunshot wounds in a hotel December 11, 1964 in Los Angeles, California.) He added an "e" to the end of his name to add a touch of class.

He was one of eight children of (Pentecostal minister) Reverend Charles Cook and Annie Mae Cook. Cooke initially sang in gospel groups, including the Soul Stirrers, which he joined in 1950 at the age of 19, achieving fame and success within the gospel community.

He released his pop single under an alias ("Dale Cooke") because it was then considered taboo for gospel singers to perform secular music. However, the alias could not hide Sam's distinctive voice, and he soon left the Soul Stirrers.

Cooke had a total of 29 top 40 hits on the pop charts, including "Twistin' the Night Away".

"Twistin' the Night Away" was recorded December 18, 1961.

Chart position: #9 (US), #1 (US R&B), #6 (UK).

The Top Ten Songs: March 24, 1962 (US Hot Billboard 100).
  1. "Hey! Baby" (Bruce Channe)
  2. "Don't Break the Heart That Loves You" ()
  3. "Midnight in Moscow" (Kenny Ball)
  4. "Let Me In" (Sensations)
  5. "Duke of Earl" (Gene Chandler)
  6. "Dream Baby" (Roy Orbison)
  7. "Slow Twistin'" (Chubby Checker)
  8. "What's Your Name" (Don and Juan)
  9. "Twistin' the Night Away" (Sam Cooke)
  10. "Her Royal Majesty" (James Darren)

Written by: Sam Cooke.

Cooke also wrote such songs as "You Send Me" (#1 US, #29 UK), "I'll Come Running Back to You" (#18 US), "Wonderful World" (#12 US, #2 UK), "Chain Gang" (#2 US, #9 UK), "Bring it On Home to Me" (#13 US), "Another Saturday Night" (#10 US, #23 UK), and "A Change is Gonna Come" (#31 US, posthumously.)

The inspiration for "Twistin' the Night Away" came when Cooke was at home watching footage of the Peppermint Lounge in New York on the Today Show.

Also by:
Rod Stewart (born Roderick David Stewart January 10, 1945 in Highgate, North London, England.)

In 1973, Stewart released a version as a single from his album Never a Dull Moment. It reached #59 on the Billboard Hot 100. A new version by Stewart was featured in the movie Innerspace. When released as a single in 1987, that version hit #80 on the Hot 100.

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