45 RPMs 97: Chubby Checker ~ The Twist

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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 

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