The Styrous® Viewfinder: 2025

November 11, 2025

45 RPMs 97: Chubby Checker ~ The Twist

The "Twist" was recorded on November 11, 1958 by Hank Ballard and The Midnighters with Teardrops On Your Letter on the "A" side and The Twist on the "B" side. The song was written by Ballard.

Hank Ballard & The Midnighters - Los Angeles, May 11, 1982

photo: LA Times Photographic Collection

Chubby Checker had a runaway hit with this song in 1960 and the record label "Parkway" was quick to name him the "Twist King". Rumor has it that Checker's name was a fictitious record label invention, a twist (pun intended) on Fats Domino: Domino vs Checker and incorporating the overweight aspect of Fats vs Chubby.

Chubby Checker - 1961

photographer unknown

I hadn't heard the Ballard version before I heard the Checkder cover and to be honest, don't hear a big difference between the two. But I remember dancing furiously to The "Twist in the early sixties. What fun it was!

Chubby Checker - The Twist

45 RPM

Tracklist:

Side 1:

A - The Twist, written by [Uncredited] – Hank Ballard - 2:32

Side 2:

B - Toot, written by Kal Mann - 2:20

Companies, etc.

Published By – Jay & Cee
Published By – Kalmann Music
Published By – Armo
Record Company – Parkway Records, Inc.

Credits:

Notes:

A-side does not credit Hank Ballard on this pressing.

[A] Jay & Cee Armo B.M.I.
[B] Kalmann Music ASCAP
Parkway Records, Inc.

No date on release.
Distributed in a Parkway sleeve.
"DM" in runouts are tiny.

Barcode and Other Identifiers

Matrix / Runout (A-side etched runout): P-811 A ¹ DM
Matrix / Runout (B-side etched runout): ... P-811 B ² DM
Rights Society: ASCAP
Rights Society: BMI
Matrix / Runout (A-side label matrix): 811A
Matrix / Runout (B-side label matrix): 811B

Chubby Checker – The Twist
Label: Parkway – 811
Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: Aug 1960
Genre: Rock
Style: Rock & Roll, Twist, Rhythm & Blues

Viewfinder links:

Hank Ballard
Chubby Checker

Net links:

YouTube links:

Hank Ballard ~ The Twist

Chubby Checker ~ The Twist

Come on Baby, let's do the twist!

Styrous® ~ Tuesday, November 11, 2025

45 RPMs Archive
MAIN MENU - Blog Articles
~

Hank Ballard articles/mentions

mentions:

Chubby Checker ~ The Twist

Hank Ballard - 1960

publicity photo

Music People

MAIN MENU - Blog Articles
~

November 4, 2025

Mamdani for mayor

Zohran Kwame Mamdani is an American politician who is the mayor-elect of New York City, and will assume office on January 1, 2026. A member of the Democratic Party and the Democratic Socialists of America, he has served since 2021 as a member of the New York State Assembly from the 36th district, representing the Queens neighborhood of Astoria.

mentions:

Viewfinder Links:

Zohran Mamdani

Net Links:

YouTube Links:

Styrous® - Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Politics

MAIN MENU - Blog Articles

Zohran Mamdani articles/mentions

Mamdani for Mayor

mentions:

Zohran Mamdani - 2025

photographer unknown

Politics

MAIN MENU - Blog Articles

October 31, 2025

Halloweenies

photos by Styrous® except where noted

photo by Minoo Hamzavi

photo by Hilda Tremonto

Halloween in Sweden - 2017

photo by Kaj Bjurman

Viewfinder links:

Halloween articles/mentions

Minoo Hamzavi

Youtube links:

Addams Family Theme song

Alice Cooper ~ Welcome To My Nightmare

Brian Sisters ~ The Boogie Woogie Man

Michael Jackson ~ Thriller

Bobby Pickett ~ Monster Mash

Rockey Horror Picture Show ~ Time Warp

Warren Zevon ~ Werewolves of London

downloaded from the Net

Styrous® ~ Friday, October 31, 2025.

~
Events
MAIN MENU - Blog Articles
~

October 29, 2025

October, a good month for politics

The political events during the month of October have been good in many ways for us here in the United States over the years.

On October 7, 1765, Nine American colonies sent a total of 28 delegates to New York City for the Stamp Act Congress. The delegates adopted the "Declaration of Rights and Grievances." (link below).

On October 28, 1824 First presidential election in American history where the popular vote is important with 18 states choosing presidential electors by popular vote. Andrew Jackson wins the most votes but is short of a majority, forcing a contingent election in the House of Representatives which John Quincy Adams wins.

On October 28, 1886 - The Statue of Liberty was dedicated in New York harbor by U.S. President Cleveland. The statue weighs 225 tons and is 152 feet tall. It was originally known as "Liberty Enlightening the World."

Forty years later, on October 28, 1936 - The Statue of Liberty was rededicated by U.S. President Roosevelt on its 50th anniversary.

On October 3, 1922, Rebecca L. Felton became the first female to hold office of U.S. Senator. She was appointed by Governor Thomas W. Hardwick of Georgia to fill a vacancy, however, she served for only a day. It's a start!

On October 28, 1962, the Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev informed the U.S. that he had ordered the dismantling of Soviet missile bases in Cuba.

On October 1, 1964, The Free Speech Movement, a massive, long-lasting student protest was started at the University of California at Berkeley.

On October 1, 1968, Night of the Living Dead, an American independent zombie horror film directed, photographed, and edited by George A. Romero, premiered in Pittsburgh, PA. (Ok, maybe not so political! One of the worst films ever but I like it and it IS almost Halloween, Hardwick (link below) stands in for that; and anyway it IS my blog!)

It's an interesting month!

A lot of good things happened &

there was much more stuff!

Viewfinder Links:

John Quincy Adams

Grover Cleveland

Rebecca Felton

Thomas Hardwick

Mina

Nikita Khrushchev

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Net Links: